African American Military History Civil War 1864 Lincoln Message on Rights of Black Soldiers and Chaplains

54th Massachusetts Infantry

Pamphlets

Lincoln, Abraham. Message of the President of the United States… on the Rights of Colored Persons in the Army (1864) documents federal policy and legal interpretation concerning the status and compensation of African American soldiers and officers during the Civil War and provides direct evidence of how the U.S. government addressed racial inequality within the Union Army. Transmitting Attorney General Edward Bates’ formal opinion, the document centers on the case of Reverend Samuel Harrison, chaplain of the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, and addresses the broader question of whether Black service members were entitled to the same recognition and pay as their white counterparts. Issued during active wartime mobilization of United States Colored Troops, the pamphlet supports research into African American military service, Civil War law, and the evolving federal stance on racial equality within military institutions.

Lincoln, Abraham. Message of the President of the United States, Communicating… a Copy of the Opinion of the Attorney General on the Rights of Colored Persons in the Army. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1864. Disbound pamphlet, 9 pages. The text includes the full opinion of Attorney General Edward Bates, affirming that “Mr. Harrison was the lawfully appointed and qualified chaplain of the 54th Massachusetts regiment” and therefore entitled to full compensation. The case arose when Harrison, despite his commissioned status, was paid only ten dollars per month and one ration under interpretations of the July 17, 1862 law governing Black enlistment. Bates rejects this limitation, stating that denial of proper pay would constitute “a plain violation of the purpose of Congress.” Accompanying documents include War Department orders issued by Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton authorizing the recruitment of African American regiments under Governor John A. Andrew of Massachusetts, as well as a muster-in roll confirming Harrison’s official appointment.

Issued at a moment when the Union relied increasingly on African American troops, this document records the tension between discriminatory policy and federal efforts to formalize Black military service within established legal frameworks. The case of Samuel Harrison, connected to the 54th Massachusetts, one of the most prominent Black regiments of the war, highlights both institutional inequities and the mechanisms through which they were contested at the highest levels of government. The inclusion of legislative interpretation, executive transmission, and military documentation within a single publication makes it a concentrated record of how civil rights questions were adjudicated during wartime, illustrating the gradual expansion of legal recognition for African American service members. Light toning and minor edge wear from disbinding; overall condition very good.

Item #21472

Price: $750.00