African Americans in the U.S. Military

Black men served on both sides during the War of 1812. Black enslaved men were a major reason the U.S. military won the final battle of the war, the Battle of New Orleans.

U.S. Army Center of Military History

During the War of 1812, the British military was better equipped, better trained, and often had larger numbers. This is why the American military needed as many men as they could get.

At the start of the war, Black men were not allowed to serve in the military, especially if they were enslaved. The legal justification was that enslaved people were property, and property could not enter a binding contract with the American government. However, many enslavers brought their enslaved people with them to war to serve in lower-level jobs, like cooks or carpenters.

There were also free and enslaved Black men who willingly joined the U.S. military. Although it might be hard to believe that enslaved people would fight alongside the very people enslaving them, there are several possible reasons that may have motivated them to do so. Some fought in hopes of gaining their freedom, as several states had enacted laws that demanded the manumission of enslaved people who served in the military. Others joined the American forces, rather than escape with the British, because they had family scattered across the states and did not want to leave them.

There are numerous instances of Black Americans, free and enslaved, who fought for the U.S. military against the British. Learn about a few of those individuals below.

 

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  Charles Ball

  Charles Ball joined the US Navy Flotilla during the war and participated in Battles of St. Leonard Creek and Bladensburg.

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  William Willams (Frederick Hall)

  Frederick Hall, a runaway enslaved person, enlisted in the 38th US Infantry as William Williams and was one of the defenders of Fort McHenry

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  George Roberts

  George Roberts, a free African American seamen who was a gunner on the privateer CHASSEUR, participated in several battles while at sea.