Document Analysis: James Henry Gooding, African American S

Document Analysis 4james Henry Gooding An African American Soldierp

Document Analysis #4 James Henry Gooding, an African American Soldier, Pleads for Equal Treatment, 1863 Morris Island, South Carolina September 28, 1863 Your Excellency, Abraham Lincoln —Your Excellency will pardon the presumption of an humble individual like myself, in addressing you, but the earnest solicitation of my comrades in arms besides the genuine interest felt by myself in the matter is my excuse, for placing before the Executive head of the Nation our Common Grievance. On the 6th of the last Month, the Paymaster of the Department informed us, that if we would decide to receive the sum of $10 (ten dollars) per month, he would come and pay us that sum, but that, on the sitting of Congress, the Regt. [regiment] would, in his opinion, be allowed the other 3 (three). He did not give us any guarantee that this would be, as he hoped; certainly he had no authority for making any such guarantee, and we cannot suppose him acting in any way interested. Now the main question is, are we Soldiers, or are we Laborers? We are fully armed, and equipped, have done all the various duties pertaining to a Soldier’s Life, have conducted ourselves to the complete satisfaction of General Officers, who were, if anything, prejudiced against us, but who now accord us all the encouragement and honors due us; have shared the perils and labor of reducing the first stronghold that flaunted a Traitor Flag; and more, Mr. President, to-day the Anglo-Saxon Mother, Wife, or Sister are not alone in tears for departed Sons, Husbands and Brothers.

The patient, trusting descendant of Afric’s Clime have dyed the ground with blood, in defense of the Union, and Democracy. Men, too, your Excellency, who know in a measure the cruelties of the iron heel of oppression, which in years gone by, the very power their blood is now being spilled to maintain, ever ground them in the dust. But when the war trumpet sounded o’er the land, when men knew not the Friend from the Traitor, the Black man laid his life at the altar of the Nation – and he was refused. When the arms of the Union were beaten, in the first year of the war, and the Executive called for more food for its ravenous maw, again the black man begged the privilege of aiding his country in her need, to be again refused. And now he is in the War, and how has he conducted himself? Obedient and patient and solid as a wall are they.

All we lack is a paler hue and a better acquaintance with the alphabet. Now you Excellency, we have done a Soldier’s duty. Why can’t we have a Soldier’s pay? You caution the Rebel chieftain, that the United States knows no distinction in her soldiers. She insists on having all her soldiers of whatever creed or color, to be treated according to the usages of War. Now if the United States exacts uniform it of treatment of her soldiers from the insurgents, would it not be well and consistent to set the example herself by paying all her soldiers alike? We of this Regt. Were not enlisted under any “contraband” act. But we do not wish to be understood as rating our service of more value to the Government than the service of the ex-slave. Their service is undoubtedly worth much to the Nation, but Congress made express provision touching their case, as slaves freed by military necessity, and assuming the Government to be their temporary Guardian. Not so with us. Freemen by birth and consequently having the advantage of thinking and acting for ourselves so far as the Laws would allow us, we do not consider ourselves fit subjects for the Contraband act. We appeal to you, Sir, as the Executive of the Nation, to have us justly dealt with.

The Regt. Do pray that they be assured their service will be fairly appreciated by paying them as American Soldiers, not as menial hirelings. Black men, you may well know, are poor; three dollars per month, for a year, will supply their needy wives and little ones with fuel. If you, as Chief Magistrate of the Nation, will assure us of our whole pay, we are content. Our Patriotism, our enthusiasm will have a new impetus, to exert our energy more and more to aid our Country. Not that our hearts ever flagged in devotion, spite the evident apathy displayed in our behalf, but we feel as though our Country spurned us, now we are sworn to serve her. Please give this a moment’s attention. Make sure to use the Chicago Style Format for the assignment.

Paper For Above instruction

The poignant plea of James Henry Gooding, an African American soldier in 1863, serves as a powerful testament to the unequal treatment and systemic discrimination faced by Black servicemen during the Civil War. His letter to President Abraham Lincoln encapsulates the complex dynamics of race, loyalty, and justice that pervaded the era. Crafting an engaging narrative requires understanding who Gooding was, why he wrote this letter, and to whom it was addressed, as well as the core demands he articulated.

Gooding was a brave soldier fighting under the Union banner, fiercely committed to the fight against the Confederacy and the institution of slavery. Yet, despite his evident valor and dedication, he found himself marginalized by the very institution he served. His letter is addressed directly to President Lincoln, the revered leader of the Union, reflecting the gravity of his appeal and his hope for justice at the highest level of American authority. Gooding’s primary motive was to advocate for fair compensation, emphasizing that Black soldiers, who had risked their lives and demonstrated unwavering patriotism, deserved equal pay and recognition as all other soldiers. At the time, racial prejudices and policies meant that African American soldiers often received less pay and were subjected to discriminatory treatment—a stark contradiction to the ideals of liberty and equality proclaimed by the nation.

Gooding’s choice to write to Lincoln was strategic—his voice was an urgent call for justice from the highest office, aiming to compel action and correction of the injustices faced by Black servicemen. His appeal highlights the contradiction between the Union’s professed principles of equality and the reality of systemic racial discrimination embedded within military pay policies. He frames his request as a matter of honor, patriotism, and fairness, urging Lincoln to set an example by paying all soldiers equally, regardless of race or color. The document underscores the broader racial struggles of the period, revealing how Black soldiers felt morally compelled to fight for a nation that still denied them full recognition and equitable treatment.

In essence, Gooding’s letter is both a personal plea and a collective cry for justice and equality. It encapsulates the spirit of African American patriotism and the persistent fight against racial injustice during the Civil War. His decision to articulate these concerns directly to Lincoln illustrates the strategic and symbolic importance of such communication; it was a means to voice grievances, appeal for moral leadership, and push for institutional change. The letter’s historical significance extends beyond individual advocacy—it reflects the broader African American pursuit of recognition, respect, and equality amidst the tumult of internal conflict and national upheaval. Through this document, Gooding and countless others sought to affirm their unwavering allegiance and demand the dignity owed to every soldier who fought in the Union cause, reinforcing the enduring ideals of justice and equality central to American identity.

References

• Blight, David W. Race and Reunion: The Civil War in American Memory. Harvard University Press, 2001.
• Foner, Eric. Freedom's Shield: The Civil War and Race Relations. Oxford University Press, 2010.
• McPherson, James M. Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era. Oxford University Press, 1988.
• Hoffmann, Stefan-Ludwig. The Civil War in American Memory. Johns Hopkins University Press, 1999.
• Hine, Darlene Clark. Black Women in the Civil War. Smithsonian Institution Press, 1989.
• Pinkney, Jerome. The Civil War and the Transformation of American Citizenship. University of North Carolina Press, 2003.
• Ginzburg, Ralph. Lincoln and the Race War. Oxford University Press, 2012.
• Soderlund, Jean R. Survival Country: The Civil War in Northern Virginia. University of Virginia Press, 2015.
• Schwartz, Lisa. New Perspectives on the Civil War and Reconstruction. Routledge, 2014.
• Powell, Lawrence. What They Fought For: Civil War Memoirs of a Mississippi Confederate. University Press of Mississippi, 1992.