The Freedom Fighter Who Helped Enslaved People Become Soldiers and Citizens

Following Abraham Lincoln's issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation, thousands of enslaved people escaping from their masters headed to St. Louis and joined the United States Colored Troops (USCT). They had a champion for human rights who helped them transition into the military and prepare them for citizenship-Col. William A. Pile.
"Life on the Civil War Research Trail" is hosted by Ronald S. Coddington, Editor and Publisher of Military Images magazine. Learn more about our mission to showcase, interpret and preserve Civil War portrait photography at militaryimagesmagazine.com and shopmilitaryimages.com.
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Image: Library of Congress
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[@lewdachris7721]

Real hero’s that don’t get talked about enough. Thanks for the work Ron

[@owensomers8572]

In his auto-biographical work "Army Life in a Black Regiment" (1870), Col Thomas Wentworth Higginson recounted an incident with the then 1st South Carolina Volunteer Infantry Regiment (Colored). There had been a decision made to pay colored soldiers less than their counterparts (I believe it was $9 vs $13 a month). In protest, the colored troops refused to accept their pay. Of the officers of the regiment (all white), a single major refused to accept his pay, in solidarity with his men. Upon reflection, Higginson considered it a failure on his part to not recognize, as the major did, that paying the colored soldiers less than their counterparts was prejudicial. After a public outcry, the pay for colored troops was raised to the same as their counterparts.

[@MrDubyadee1]

Great story about a great man. Thank you.

[@oliverbeckwith2963]

Thank you for sharing this story about General William A. Pile. Pile came to Monrovia, California in 1886 to retire and look after his health. He became an important promoter of the fledgling town and he built a beautiful Queen Anne Victorian home there which still stands today. He was the second Mayor of Monrovia, but in July of 1889 he came down with pneumonia and passed away. More information about William A. Pile can be found in Richard Singer's book, "1887: A History of Early Monrovia."

[@nanavango9374]

Splendid.

[@Paulftate]

And he had a descendant named Gomer👋🏻

[@oldgeezerproductions]

You have dishonored yourself, not William Pile, with that tasteless joke.

[@Paulftate]

You can always spot a woke by progressive liberal by the comment that they leave

[@johnbeechy]

another good story. if i had been there as an advisor to Pile, i would have suggested including the Bible in his words to the freed men. after all, regardless of what Faith a man or woman has, the Bible was written by only black (men). and that is something to be Proud of. to know whites follow the words of men that r not the same skin tone as they be. And at the same time, Justifying the freeing of the men/women that shared the same skin tone as the authors of the Bible. JC was not a white man, nor did He ever preach His ideas on Judaism to any whites, as per Judaist Law.