Black Brigade of Cincinnati

Black Brigade of Cincinnati
The Black Brigade of Cincinnati American Civil War Memorial honors the forcibly, conscripted, African American citizens, who constructed the defensive fortifications, around Cincinnati, Ohio, during the American Civil War, in preparation of a potential, Confederate attack. The Brigade would later shoulder their shovels in a military manner and march in the victory parade through the city.
Active	September 2, 1862 - September 20, 1862
Allegiance	United States of America
Branch	Cincinnati volunteer militia Union Army
Type	conscripted labor detail for construction of fortifications
Size	battalion-brigade (700)
Nickname(s)	Black Brigade
Engagements	No combat experience
Commanders
Notable commanders	Lew Wallace William M. Dickson

The Black Brigade of Cincinnati was a military unit that was organized in 1862 during the American Civil War, when the city of Cincinnati, Ohio was in danger of being attacked, by the Confederate Army. The members of the Cincinnati "Black Brigade" were among the very first African Americans to be employed in the military defense of the Union.

In the early years of the American Civil War, Ohio was a free state where slavery was illegal. In southern Ohio, the pro-slavery city of Cincinnati lies along the Ohio River, which bordered the Union-held, slave state of Kentucky. On September 2, 1862, with the imminent threat of a Confederate attack, half of the city's white citizens supported the forcible rounding up, many times at gun point, from their homes, all, available, free black, adult, male citizens, by the Cincinnati police force and impressed, into temporary, forced labor, in the construction of fortifications.

These men were treated like slaves, during the construction of the defensive perimeter, around Cincinnati, on the Ohio and Kentucky sides of the river. Between, the harsh, working conditions imposed, on the black conscripts and the extreme brutality, of the quasi-military, police guards, the fortifications were eventually completed. Soon after, Union Army officer, Major General Lew Wallace put Colonel William M. Dickson in charge and made sure the men finally received fair treatment, due to soldiers. The soldiers of Black Brigade, received their own military unit flag and $13 a month, Union Army private's pay. The Brigade continued to work, as a labor detail, until September 20. The Brigade had only one fatality: Joseph Johns who was killed, in an accident, on September 17, 1862. Because of the racial segregation, of the military, at that time, the city would not allow black men to join the all white, volunteer militia. The Black Brigade was never intended to be activated, as armed soldiers and saw no combat during the war.