JULY 17, 1862:
The U.S. Congress passes two Acts that have a major impact
on the prosecution of the war.
The Second Confiscation Act allows the U.S. to
seize any and all property of “rebellious persons”; this includes all slaves,
who are automatically manumitted by seizure. Thus, the country moves another
step closer to general emancipation.
The Militia Act formally allowed blacks to
join the Union army as soldiers. However, black soldiers were to receive only
$10.00 a month with an additional reduction of three dollars for clothing---$7.00. A black soldier's pay would thus be less than half as much as a white soldier's
wage of $13.00 plus three dollars for clothing---$16.00
Many black regiments struggled for equal
pay, some refusing any money until June 15, 1864, when Congress vacated that
portion of the Militia Act and granted equal pay for all black soldiers.
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