U S Army War College

Blacks in the Integrated Army of the American Revolution U S Army War College

Many, who study the history of our Army, focus on a period in the mid-twentieth century as the time when the Army was integrated. The focal point is the signing of Presidential Executive Order 9981 in 1948 by Harry S. Truman. Though commonly held as pivotal point in the era of the modern Army this is a historical misconception. This line of thought over looks and dilutes the historical involvement of integrated units in the American Revolutionary War. Blacks have been involved in fighting this nation's wars, before there was a standing national army. This book will provide insights on the presence of Blacks in the Army of the Revolutionary War period. It will examine the political climate of the period that first denied then allowed Blacks to enter the Army. It will cover elements of how Blacks came to serve, the number who served and characterize their service. It will also provide some information on the three so called Black units that served during this period.