War Department General Order 143 (1863)
The U.S. War Department General Order 143 was issued on May 22, 1863, to organize and provide uniform recruitment and governance of black troops. The order established the Bureau of U.S. Colored Troops, and after that date most existing and all newly recruited African American units were incorporated and administered with the bureau's supervision.
One of the biggest controversies during the American Civil War revolved around the role that African Americans should play in the Union war effort. From the onset of the conflict African Americans such as Frederick Douglass and other abolitionists urged President Abraham Lincoln to make ending slavery a war aim. African Americans also demanded a more active role in fighting the war. President Lincoln was hesitant to include black troops for several reasons. Racial prejudice was deep-seated in the northern states, and many, including Lincoln, feared that white soldiers would not fight side by side with African Americans. Many...
