Black Militants

Though Lincoln needed legal justifications for emancipation, the real force moving his thoughts was the military potential of the southern slaves. By 1862, thousands of southern slaves had escaped to the North. Captured property of the enemy, they became known as “contrabands of war.” Their presence forced lawmakers to reckon with difficult questions. Were the contrabands legally free? If peace should come, would the contrabands have to return to the South? In the interim, could they fight for the Union? And if so, could war veterans later be re-enslaved?

Over 1837-1838, General Jesup had confronted some of the same issues with regards to the Black Seminoles. Like the contrabands, the Black Seminoles initially "belonged" to the side fighting the federal U.S. army. And like the contrabands, the Black Seminoles ultimately forged a pragmatic alliance with the federal army, based on mutual strategic interests.