BLACK SOCIAL HISTORY: AFRICAN AMERICAN AND THE U.S. NAVY - 1861 - 1865 (CIVIL WAR YEARS)

African American were present in the crews of U.S. Navy ships through out the 19th century. This was greatly enhanced during the Civil War as newly freed slaves and a greatly expended Navy worked together in a common purpose. In addition African American civilians provided support services that were essential to keeping the war time Navy functioning effectively.  In the early days of the Civil War, escaped slaves were viewed as  "Contraband" and took up a variety of occupations and many joined the U.S. Navy. During the civil war the U.S. Navy was fully racially integrated unlike the U.S. Army which was segregated. It has been estimated that nearly 18,000 men and 11 women served in the U.S. Navy during the Civil Wars in America.