War’s Turning Points

Emancipation Day (January 1, 1863)

January 1, 1863 (public)

Beaufort, South Carolina, January 1, 1863

“And I hereby enjoin upon the people so declared to be free to abstain from all violence, unless in necessary self-defence; and I recommend to them that, in all cases when allowed, they labor faithfully for reasonable wages. And I further declare and make known, that such persons of suitable condition, will be received into the armed service of the United States to garrison forts, positions, stations, and other places, and to man vessels of all sorts in said service.”

—Emancipation Proclamation

Find out more about Prince Rivers, one of the black soldiers holding the flag at the Emancipation Day ceremony in Beaufort

January 1, 1863 (private)

Gen. Henry W. Halleck (House Divided Project)

“You know what Gen. Burnside’s plan is; and it is my wish that you go with him to the ground, examine it as far as practicable, confer with the officers, getting their judgment, and ascertaining their temper, in a word, gather all the elements for forming a judgment of your own; and then tell Gen. Burnside that you do approve, or that you do not approve his plan. Your military skill is useless to me, if you will not do this.”

[REVERSE]

Withdrawn, because considered harsh by Gen. Halleck.

A.L. Jan. 1. 1862 [sic]

–Lincoln to Henry W. Halleck, January 1, 1863

Gettysburg & Vicksburg (July 1863)

Special resources

Discussion Questions

What can we learn from the griping of ordinary soldiers like John Cuddy or William Stoker?

Warfare and Technology

Black Soldiers (Summer 1863)

By war’s end, nearly 180,000 men served in the United States Colored Troops, close to 10 percent of the entire Union army. Another nineteen thousand served in the navy. –Masur, 58