Lindsey Graham

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.

In May 1866, a group of soldiers in Memphis who had recently mustered out of the USCT got into an argument with white police officers. Crowds gathered on the scene, and the argument escalated into gunfire that ignited violence across the city. After three days, 46 black people and two white people had been killed, and five black women had been raped.

In May 1866, a group of soldiers in Memphis who had recently mustered out of the USCT got into an argument with white police officers. Crowds gathered on the scene, and the argument escalated into gunfire that ignited violence across the city. After three days, 46 black people and two white people had been killed, and five black women had been raped.

In May 1866, a group of soldiers in Memphis who had recently mustered out of the USCT got into an argument with white police officers. Crowds gathered on the scene, and the argument escalated into gunfire that ignited violence across the city. After three days, 46 black people and two white people had been killed, and five black women had been raped.

Dozens of black homes, schools, churches, and businesses were burned. The New York Times placed part of the blame on the behavior of the USCT soldiers, declaring, Since the muster out, they have frequented whiskey shops and been guilty of excesses and disorderly conduct.

Dozens of black homes, schools, churches, and businesses were burned. The New York Times placed part of the blame on the behavior of the USCT soldiers, declaring, Since the muster out, they have frequented whiskey shops and been guilty of excesses and disorderly conduct.

Dozens of black homes, schools, churches, and businesses were burned. The New York Times placed part of the blame on the behavior of the USCT soldiers, declaring, Since the muster out, they have frequented whiskey shops and been guilty of excesses and disorderly conduct.

This tension and violence between black soldiers and white civilians made the long-term future of black men in the Army uncertain. By the spring of 1866, a year had passed since the end of the Civil War, and most USCT regiments had been disbanded. Now the debate turned to the question of whether black men would have a permanent place in the regular peacetime Army, and resistance was fierce.

This tension and violence between black soldiers and white civilians made the long-term future of black men in the Army uncertain. By the spring of 1866, a year had passed since the end of the Civil War, and most USCT regiments had been disbanded. Now the debate turned to the question of whether black men would have a permanent place in the regular peacetime Army, and resistance was fierce.

This tension and violence between black soldiers and white civilians made the long-term future of black men in the Army uncertain. By the spring of 1866, a year had passed since the end of the Civil War, and most USCT regiments had been disbanded. Now the debate turned to the question of whether black men would have a permanent place in the regular peacetime Army, and resistance was fierce.

Some Democratic legislators used racist arguments to insist that Black men were inherently unfit to serve. Other opponents pointed to recent evidence of animosity between white civilians and Black soldiers, arguing that enlisting Black soldiers would be contrary to the goal of restoring peace and harmony after the war. Delaware Senator Willard Salisbury Sr.

Some Democratic legislators used racist arguments to insist that Black men were inherently unfit to serve. Other opponents pointed to recent evidence of animosity between white civilians and Black soldiers, arguing that enlisting Black soldiers would be contrary to the goal of restoring peace and harmony after the war. Delaware Senator Willard Salisbury Sr.

Some Democratic legislators used racist arguments to insist that Black men were inherently unfit to serve. Other opponents pointed to recent evidence of animosity between white civilians and Black soldiers, arguing that enlisting Black soldiers would be contrary to the goal of restoring peace and harmony after the war. Delaware Senator Willard Salisbury Sr.

declared, If you were to send Negro regiments into the community in which I live to brandish their swords, pistols, and guns, their very presence would be a stench in the nostrils of the people.

declared, If you were to send Negro regiments into the community in which I live to brandish their swords, pistols, and guns, their very presence would be a stench in the nostrils of the people.

declared, If you were to send Negro regiments into the community in which I live to brandish their swords, pistols, and guns, their very presence would be a stench in the nostrils of the people.

Republican Senator Benjamin Wade responded to Salisbury, declaring, If it is necessary to station troops anywhere to keep the peace in this nation, I do not care how obnoxious they are to those who undertake to stir up sedition. Most Republican politicians wholeheartedly supported Black enlistment, pointing to Black soldiers' strong record of service in the Civil War.

Republican Senator Benjamin Wade responded to Salisbury, declaring, If it is necessary to station troops anywhere to keep the peace in this nation, I do not care how obnoxious they are to those who undertake to stir up sedition. Most Republican politicians wholeheartedly supported Black enlistment, pointing to Black soldiers' strong record of service in the Civil War.

Republican Senator Benjamin Wade responded to Salisbury, declaring, If it is necessary to station troops anywhere to keep the peace in this nation, I do not care how obnoxious they are to those who undertake to stir up sedition. Most Republican politicians wholeheartedly supported Black enlistment, pointing to Black soldiers' strong record of service in the Civil War.

And those lawmakers were well aware of the reliability of black soldiers during the war. Senator Wade insisted that black soldiers would be less likely to desert their posts than their white counterparts because of the lack of employment opportunities for black men outside the Army.