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After the Glory: The Struggles of Black Civil War Veterans

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Though the recent attention of the 54th Massachusetts Colored Infantry- largely due to the success of the movie "Glory"- has garnered some awareness of blacks in the American Civil War, little is still known about these magnificent men who donned the blue uniforms. Blacks played an integral role in the preservation of the Union and deserve the same attention in regards to the respect shown to Civil War veterans.

Information on Civil War veterans remains rather sketchy in places with one of those pertaining to African American veterans. Until Donald Shaffer's study, very little was known on the pension availability to black soldiers. Although not surprising, Shaffer's accounts of racism and prejudice further emphasize the general reaction to African Americans. Thousands of blacks died in the war, but they still were not given the full support of white veteran groups or even the general public. After assisting the unification of this country, blacks continued to climb uphill in regards to social rights.

Lastly, it was eye-opening to see how difficult our government made it for black veterans to get a pension. The pension process was long, tiresome, and difficult for white Union veterans, nevertheless blacks had it worse. Shaffer's book will be a key addition to any Civil War library and may be a standard for a portrait on black veterans in the postwar period.

A great addition to the vast array of Civil War books/stories. Most books on black soldiers during/post Civil War tend to be dedicated to either particular units or brief disccusions, especially during the Reconstruction, mixed in a deep layer of the Civil War. Shaffer however has brought a much needed story to the history of African-Americans who have served in the United State military, dedicated solely to thier post Civil War struggles. For those who have ever asked themselves what happened to the soldiers after the end credits of "Glory" ran, Shaffer answers that question with much needed and appreciated depth and detail. It is a book that complements Foner's Reconstruction: America's Unfinished Revolution, 1863-1877 and deserves its place in the annals of African-American contributions to the foundation of this nation. If you enjoy this book I highly recommend Slotkin's Lost Battalions: The Great War and the Crisis of American Nationality