Lindsey Graham

The bartender's hands grip the edge of the bar, his knuckles going white, and his gaze full of venom.

The bartender's hands grip the edge of the bar, his knuckles going white, and his gaze full of venom.

The bartender's hands grip the edge of the bar, his knuckles going white, and his gaze full of venom.

Before you can react, the bartender throws down his rag and storms around the bar coming straight for you. You glance around the room. All eyes are on you, but no one moves to help. You and your fellow soldiers are on your own. While most white soldiers mustered out of the army and made their way home, the majority of USCT soldiers remained on active duty.

Before you can react, the bartender throws down his rag and storms around the bar coming straight for you. You glance around the room. All eyes are on you, but no one moves to help. You and your fellow soldiers are on your own. While most white soldiers mustered out of the army and made their way home, the majority of USCT soldiers remained on active duty.

Before you can react, the bartender throws down his rag and storms around the bar coming straight for you. You glance around the room. All eyes are on you, but no one moves to help. You and your fellow soldiers are on your own. While most white soldiers mustered out of the army and made their way home, the majority of USCT soldiers remained on active duty.

Some 120,000 of them were still stationed in the South even after the war ended. Many of them had enlisted in 1863 for three-year terms, and their white officers deemed their terms incomplete. But the Army also kept the black soldiers in service for practical reasons. Army officials knew that most of the soldiers were former slaves who faced an uncertain future once they mustered out.

Some 120,000 of them were still stationed in the South even after the war ended. Many of them had enlisted in 1863 for three-year terms, and their white officers deemed their terms incomplete. But the Army also kept the black soldiers in service for practical reasons. Army officials knew that most of the soldiers were former slaves who faced an uncertain future once they mustered out.

Some 120,000 of them were still stationed in the South even after the war ended. Many of them had enlisted in 1863 for three-year terms, and their white officers deemed their terms incomplete. But the Army also kept the black soldiers in service for practical reasons. Army officials knew that most of the soldiers were former slaves who faced an uncertain future once they mustered out.

The New York Times explained, they would be in great measure helpless and friendless wanderers were they disbanded en masse as our white troops have been. So for the time being, tens of thousands of black soldiers remained on duty in the South. They were tasked with maintaining order, defending the Union victory, and protecting the freedom of former slaves.

The New York Times explained, they would be in great measure helpless and friendless wanderers were they disbanded en masse as our white troops have been. So for the time being, tens of thousands of black soldiers remained on duty in the South. They were tasked with maintaining order, defending the Union victory, and protecting the freedom of former slaves.

The New York Times explained, they would be in great measure helpless and friendless wanderers were they disbanded en masse as our white troops have been. So for the time being, tens of thousands of black soldiers remained on duty in the South. They were tasked with maintaining order, defending the Union victory, and protecting the freedom of former slaves.

But many white Southerners refused to accept the presence of thousands of armed black men in uniform. White Southerners taunted and harassed the black soldiers they met in the street. And they did everything they could to damage their reputations.

But many white Southerners refused to accept the presence of thousands of armed black men in uniform. White Southerners taunted and harassed the black soldiers they met in the street. And they did everything they could to damage their reputations.

But many white Southerners refused to accept the presence of thousands of armed black men in uniform. White Southerners taunted and harassed the black soldiers they met in the street. And they did everything they could to damage their reputations.

In Texas and Louisiana, white civilians went so far as to don blackface and disguise themselves as USCT troops before committing crimes against other whites. Even in border states like Kentucky, white legislators petitioned federal officials to replace the black soldiers with white ones.

In Texas and Louisiana, white civilians went so far as to don blackface and disguise themselves as USCT troops before committing crimes against other whites. Even in border states like Kentucky, white legislators petitioned federal officials to replace the black soldiers with white ones.

In Texas and Louisiana, white civilians went so far as to don blackface and disguise themselves as USCT troops before committing crimes against other whites. Even in border states like Kentucky, white legislators petitioned federal officials to replace the black soldiers with white ones.

General-in-Chief Ulysses S. Grant expressed his own concerns, describing the need to avoid unnecessary irritation and the demoralization of labor in those states. He also feared for the safety of black soldiers if they continued serving in the South. And as time went on, clashes between white Southerners and black occupation troops only became increasingly common.

General-in-Chief Ulysses S. Grant expressed his own concerns, describing the need to avoid unnecessary irritation and the demoralization of labor in those states. He also feared for the safety of black soldiers if they continued serving in the South. And as time went on, clashes between white Southerners and black occupation troops only became increasingly common.