Chronicles the Civil War experience of a representative African American regiment The Black Civil War Soldiers of Illinois tells the story of the Twenty-ninth United States Colored Infantry, one of almost 150 African American regiments to fight in the Civil War and the only such unit assembled by the state of Illinois. The Twenty-ninth took part in the famous Battle of the Crater at Petersburg, joined Grant's forces in the siege of Richmond, and stood on the battlefield when Lee surrendered at Appomattox. In this comprehensive examination of the unit's composition, contribution, and postwar fate, Edward A. Miller, Jr., demonstrates the value of the Twenty-ninth as a means of understanding the Civil War experience of African American soldiers, including the prejudice that shaped their service. Miller details the formation of the Twenty-ninth, its commendable performance but incompetent leadership during the Petersburg battle, and the refilling of its ranks, mostly by black enlistees who served as substitutes for drafted white men. He recounts the unit's role in the final campaign against the Army of Northern Virginia; its final, needless mission to the Texas border; the tragic postwar fate of most of its officers; and the continued discrimination and economic hardship endured after the war by the soldiers.

Historian Edward A. Miller, Jr., chronicles the Civil War experience of a representative African American regiment--the 29th United States Colored Infantry. In a comprehensive examination of the unit's composition, contribution, and post-war fate, Miller demonstrates the value of the 29th as a means of understanding the Civil War experience of African American soldiers, including the prejudice that shaped their service. 67 photos.

Prior to the Civil War, it was not allowed to have African Americans in the military, but some were accepted into the Navy. It was thought that they had neither the courage or the discipline to make good soldiers and follow orders. In the beginning the Union had man-power problems and with the draft riots and the initial victories of the Confederacy posed a huge problem. African Americans were considered as a last result. On January 1, 1863, the final version of the Emancipation Proclamation was released, and the war changed from a political one to save the Union, to a moral one to free the slaves. African Americans were allowed to join the military but under special conditions. Each unit was to be commanded by white men. All facilities were to be segregated including hospitals (9) and cemeteries. Eventually, some 170,000 men joined the ranks and served in the field. Most regiments were raised in the North, but many were organized when Confederate territory was captured and newly freed slaves were organized into regiments. In Kane County, Illinois, there were 40 African American veterans. As in most areas, monuments and publications contained the names of white veterans, while the African American names were missing. One exception was in Batavia, Illinois where a small stone marker listed a dozen names. This book is the only reference to these brave men. Only about a dozen were from the area but comrades in the field returned with them and made their mark as full-fledged citizens of the area from Elgin south to St. Charles, Geneva, Batavia and Aurora. Hazards in combat was expected but disease was a bigger killer. The 29th United States Colored Infantry lost 43 in battle but lost 188 to sickness.

Amatielle's first novel "A real man go ta chuch", is the spectacularly hot, yet inspirational first novel of this BRANDNEW author's four book series, "A town unknown" and a must read. Amatielle takes us on a powerful journey to present day Atlanta inside the lives of four captivating characters, their struggles, pain, and triumph. This highly entertaining work of African/American realistic fiction is a nonstop page turner, and a sure hit. This brilliant new author/singer/songwriter (Check for her upcoming mp3 lp 'A List' featuring the smash hit 'Go ta chuch' on Angelsound/Amsexy2 recordings) takes us on a tour of hotlanta from the down side up, reminding us like our ancestors that, "A real man go ta chuch! "

Victor Hicken tells the richly detailed story of the common soldiers who marched from Illinois to fight and die on Civil War battlefields. The second edition of the 1966 classic includes a new preface, twenty-four illustrations, and a twenty-five-page addendum to the bibliography that provides many new sources of information on Illinois regiments.