This exhibit provides a window into the experiences of Black Marylanders with the military during the Civil War. From Black spies and soldiers to dockfront and domestic workers, Black Marylanders provided critical support to the Union cause. Yet as the testimonies in this collection reveal, the military often treated Black soldiers and residents as problems or inconveniences rather than as essential workers and supporters crucial to the success of the war effort.<\/p>\n
While we tend to think of the story of emancipation as a vindication of the democratic ideals enshrined in America's founding documents, the accounts in this collection offer a dramatically different perspective. In the following documents, free and formerly enslaved Black Marylanders convey, in their own words, a massive grassroots struggle against former enslavers, local officials, military policies, and even President Lincoln<\/a> to establish Black dignity and autonomy during the turmoil of the war and its immediate aftermath.\u00a0<\/p>\n The destruction of slavery in Maryland was advanced by the demands and aspirations of enslaved people themselves. Whether it was Matilda Johnson's struggle<\/a>\u00a0to gain the return of children and household goods from her former enslaver or the efforts of Reason Brown<\/a>, drummer boy for Company D of the 19th Maryland U.S. Colored Volunteers, to obtain a furlough to visit his family, these endeavors were bound up in Black communities.\u00a0<\/p>\n Although topics and themes are interrelated, this exhibit highlights the experiences of Black Marylanders with the military. While it is designed to highlight several items and themes in greater detail, you can view the full collection related to Black Maryland and the military here<\/a>, or by scrolling to the end of the exhibit.<\/p>\n <\/p>","credits":"","featured":0,"public":1,"theme":"default","theme_options":"a:1:{s:7:\"default\";a:14:{s:10:\"text_color\";s:7:\"#444444\";s:16:\"background_color\";s:7:\"#FFFFFF\";s:10:\"link_color\";s:7:\"#555555\";s:12:\"button_color\";s:7:\"#000000\";s:17:\"button_text_color\";s:7:\"#FFFFFF\";s:18:\"header_title_color\";s:7:\"#000000\";s:4:\"logo\";N;s:17:\"header_background\";N;s:11:\"footer_text\";s:0:\"\";s:24:\"display_footer_copyright\";s:1:\"0\";s:25:\"display_featured_subtitle\";s:1:\"0\";s:17:\"item_file_gallery\";s:1:\"1\";s:19:\"use_advanced_search\";s:1:\"1\";s:27:\"use_original_thumbnail_size\";s:1:\"0\";}}","slug":"blackmarylandandthemilitary","added":"2026-03-26 09:25:04","modified":"2026-04-20 06:11:08","owner_id":1,"use_summary_page":0,"cover_image_file_id":null},"item":{"id":19,"item_type_id":1,"collection_id":1,"featured":0,"public":1,"added":"2026-02-20 13:17:09","modified":"2026-04-17 08:10:58","owner_id":1}}