On August 25, 1862, during the Civil War, Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton authorized Major General Rufus Saxton to enlist and arm up to 5,000 enslaved individuals. This decision was part of the broader efforts to enlist African Americans into the Union army. General Saxton was stationed in South Carolina, and his command included overseeing the recruitment of formerly enslaved people for military service. This was a significant step in the shift toward the official inclusion of African American soldiers in the Union Army, which would be formally recognized later with the creation of the United States Colored Troops in 1863.
© 2025 KnowThyHistory.com. Know Thy History
