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Civil War Union Army Discharge Certificate for Robert Brown, a Black Private in the 2nd Louisiana Na

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Historical Memorabilia Start Price:425.00 USD Estimated At:600.00 - 1,200.00 USD
Civil War Union Army Discharge Certificate for Robert Brown, a Black Private in the 2nd Louisiana Na
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Louisiana, (Discharge given at Ship Island, Mississippi). March, 1865. Fascinating and Rare Discharge Certificate Issued to Robert Brown, a Black Private who was a member of Company 'C 'of the 2nd Regiment of the Louisiana Native Guards Volunteers in the Union Army. Certificates such as this were provided to volunteers at the time of their discharge, which enabled them to receive pay. Brown joined the Volunteer Regiment in New Orleans, Louisiana in the fall of 1862, for a term of three years. This document, issued at Ship Island, Mississippi, states that as of March of 1865, Brown was entitled to a discharge due to a disability, and was owed $32.30 for his service. Interestingly, the Louisiana Native Guards started out as a Confederate unit in 1861, where over 1,500 free Black men volunteered. However, the group was soon disbanded, and the city of New Orleans was captured by Union forces in April of 1862. General Benjamin F. Butler afterward called for the enlistment of men of color into the Union's Louisiana Native Guards, and was met with enthusiastic support. Over 10% of the Confederate Native Guards went on to join the Union iteration of the Native Guards. The regiment's initial strength was 1,000 men, and this number continued to grow as more Black regiments joined the Union Army. During this period, some slaves who escaped from nearby plantations joined the regiment, but the Union Army's official policy discouraged such enrollments. In November 1862, the number of escaped slaves seeking to enlist became so great that the Union organized a second regiment and, a month later, a third regiment. Organized in October of 1862, the 2nd Louisiana Native Guards were mustered into service and initially all but one of the company officers were considered men of color. Colonel Nathan Daniels was in command, with the enlisted men signing up for three years of infantry service. Early on, the regiment guarded railroads and key points in the greater New Orleans and La Fourche areas. The regiment performed patrols and confiscated supplies intended for Confederate forces. Company 'C' of the 2nd Louisiana Native Guards operated in Louisiana until January 1863, when it was sent to Ship Island, Mississippi, where the soldiers guarded prisoners, operated military drills, and maintained defenses. In May of 1863, the 1st and 3rd Louisiana Native Guards assaulted Confederate fortifications at Port Hudson, Louisiana, becoming the first African-American regiment to see battle in the Civil War. Despite their heroism, racial tensions were ever present among the troops and officers of the Louisiana Native Guards, and by the summer of 1863, most, if not all, of the non-white officers had been purged by review boards or asked to resign. Military reorganization and consolidation led to the 2nd Louisiana Native Guard to being re-designated the 2nd Regiment, Corps de Afrique, in June of 1863, and again the following April, 1864, to the 74th Regiment of United States Colored Infantry. The Regiment remained on garrison at Ship Island and mustered out on October 11, 1865. A significant piece of history which highlights the crucial role that Black Americans played in the Union Army during the Civil War. VF condition, especially for its age.