The Black Confederate or Soldier

On The Lighter Note

Images and Text

By Tony Dorty


Enter the body servant or the personal attendant to the Soldier or the conqueror.
   

In the beginning this profession required that the individual so disposed, cared for the weapons and arms of the combatant who defeated or enslaved him. It would not be long before this particular practice caught on with the higher echelons of civilian society, were it would become one of the “pillars” or strengths of slavery.  A clearly visible sign to all, of the complete power one human being executed over another.
 

Neo- confederates would turn the Slave who was a Body Servant into a soldier and multiply him by thousands.

 
A famous and widely used image of a confederate body servant said to be a confederate soldier. Note the lack of personal weapons or any for that matter. Who he is and what he does is given away by the pair of canteens draped around his chest. The image was most likely taken in a parlor, again note the curtain and the props the individual is seated and resting his arm on.  In many cases photographers traveled from campaign to campaign hauling their wares in wagons that carried all the tools of the trade.  The tools of the trade also included weapons to be used in the photographs. There is enough photograph evidence to provide us with an insight has to how the photographer viewed this particular subject. Had this individual been a soldier the photographer would have had him “propped up” with weapons. I guess in all fairness, a canteen full of water could cause quite a "Mole Hill" aside ones head, might even lead to death.

 
Another example of an image said to be a Black Confederate soldier, note the “weapons of choice”.  Imagine having all of this stuff flying at you at once, "felled" by a flying Haver sack? "Private Williams died bravely, paring the projectiles to the left and right, wasn't quite fast enough for that last canteen".

 
Another, highly publicized image of a Body Servant with his Master. In all likely hood, all of the weapons that are visible are props. The White rebel soldier sports 2 side arms, one in his left hand the other tucked in his belt. He also carries a rather large “ Bowie ” knife which at that size would have been quite cumbersome and more of a hindrance to him when he was not engaged in combat. The body servant holds a smaller version of the “ Bowie ”, (how appropriate the photographer didn’t miss a trick did he?) and what appears to be a musket laid across his lap and that of the White soldier. It is difficult to suggest what arm of the service these two men served in. The revolvers and the Knives suggest cavalry. The musket in most cases is an infantry weapon.

 
The power of imagery and suggestion. Note the position of the Black Soldier. He is center the image and his face is framed by the “ Battle Flag”. Notice he is "dead center", surrounded on all sides and "Stonewall Jackson" is giving orders that he be placed in the line nearest the colors, where he would not be missed if shot at. What's a Brother to do?

 
In this romanticized painting below, a Body Servant mourns over the body of his master. The mounted figure most prominent in the image is Stonewall Jackson. Again I would be wailing too, at the top of my lungs, if I had that many armed Rebels standing around me, "Shall We Gather At The River" would never have sounded sweeter!

 
A painting that suggests a bond between the body servant and his master. In this case the lengths the dedicated slave would go to, to protect his critically wounded master. If you were to ask me to evaluate this image, it appears the "Brother" has himself a hostage and a shield, then again it is only me being obnoxious.

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