Author Bryan Prince says Canadians played a big role in the American Civil War.
More than 48,000 men went down to fight – over 1,000 of those were freed African American slaves who risked everything to fight.
Speaking to the Probus Club of Pelham, the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Award winner for work in Canadian Heritage told the story of a few men he uncovered while researching his book.
He wrote My Brother’s Keeper: African Canadians and the American Civil War.
“I love to find out not just the battles of the soldiers, but the whole broad story on where each person came from and what happened to them after the war.”
Prince says the notion of helping the Union was quite controversial.
Abraham Lincoln had stated the war not to end slavery, but to keep the Union together.
Prince says those coming down also risked recapture due to strict rules on slavery remaining in many of the states.
“So many got away from the horrors of slavery, made it to Canada and started new lives. Why would they risk everything going back to fight in the war?”
Prince says there were many.
Adventure, high paying bounties and the promise of the same pay as white soldiers were big ones although many found out most promises were not true.
“The biggest draw was the hope to reconnect with lost loved ones,” Prince said.
While those above the border could taste freedom, they often left loved ones behind or had become separated at auctions.
With many changing their names to avoid detection in Canada, it was no easy task.
“We think of the Civil War as an American story, but it’s so much a part of our Canadian history.”
The next Probus meeting will be on March 26 featuring Dr. Kimberly Gammege of Brock University.
She will speak on exercise and balance to conclude PROBUS Month in Canada.
