Defenders of Liberty Tapa dura - 2000

Información de la editorial

Lt. Col. Michael Lee Lanning reveals the little-known, critical, and heroic role African Americans played in the American Revolution. These soldiers served in integrated units -- for the last time until the Korean War, more than 150 years later.

At first, neither George Washington nor the Continental Congress approved of enlisting African Americans in the new army. Nevertheless, blacks both slave and free filled the ranks and served in all of the early battles. By the third year of the war manpower shortages overcame prejudices as both the militia and the Continental army accepted blacks and integrated them into their ranks. Each state approved the integration of blacks differently, but even regiments in the South accepted African Americans in order to maintain their units' fighting strength. Black sailors also saw action in every major naval battle of the Revolution, including members of John Paul Jones's crew aboard the Bonhomme Richard. At least thirteen blacks served in the newly formed U.S. Marine Corps during the war.