The Militia Act of 1862 that Made Black Soldiers Legal

In 1862, the United States Congress enacted legislation during the American Civil War to enable Black Americans to join the Union Army in order to free up frontline troops who were in combat. This act was known as the Militia Act of 1862. According to this act, Blacks were supposed to be paid as much as White Regiments and receive the same uniforms.

The Militia Act of 1862 created a lot of controversy. One such controversy was that abolitionists felt that Blacks would not see combat, but be used for manual labor only. The second controversy was that Black soldiers would not receive the same pay as their White counterparts due to discrimination. It was widely stipulated due to the fact that discrimination was still widespread. Many Black regiments had to struggle to gain respect and dignity behind the fact that pay would not be the same for them as their White counterparts. This is why the United States War Department created the Bureau of Colored Troops on January of 1863 during the American Civil War. Its main responsibility was to handle all personnel matters, rations pay, and other things which were related to Black American soldiers. The United States Colored Troops were the forerunners to the famous Buffalo Soldiers of the United States 9th and 10th Cavalry Regiments. Also included were the 24th and 25th Regiments which were formed on September 21, 1866. On June 15, 1864, United States Congress vacated a spot for the Militia Act which would grant equal pay for all Black soldiers. The United States Colored Troops were the first step of the act which included seeing combat out on the field during the war.