Honoring the Blue and the Gray

[Reprinted from Issues & Views Spring 1998]

Dr. Emerson Emory’s laugh is infectious. And he laughs often. He doesn’t have to work at maintaining a sense of humor; it seems to come naturally. For a listener, it’s hard not to chuckle at Emory’s telling of his recent collision with the powers who run the African American Civil War Memorial Freedom Foundation.

The story began this year in April when Emory, a Dallas physician who is black, learned about two special ceremonies scheduled to take place in July at the Arlington National Cemetery and in Washington, DC. The first ceremony was to be a commemorative service for the 200,000 black soldiers who fought for the Union in the Civil War. Two days later, at the second event, there was to be an unveiling of a national monument to honor these soldiers.

It occurred to Emory that this might be a good occasion to pay respects to all the blacks who fought in the War--those who fought for the Union, as well as those who fought for the Confederate States of America. Among the many people in this country for whom Civil War history is a part of life, Emory knew of the historical accounts of blacks on the battlefields and of the letters and other memorabilia describing encounters between southern black soldiers and Union troops. He thought it fitting that a gesture be made to pay tribute to the Union troops on behalf of the black Confederate soldiers. This would be in keeping with the spirit of the Memorial.

He contacted the Foundation and discussed the matter with Lyndia Grant, the Project Director. He suggested that, although this was to be a Union commemoration, that there be also a recognition of the combatants of the South. Since an official wreath was to be laid for the Union soldiers, he asked if he could lay a wreath to commemorate the Union men on behalf of the black soldiers who had fought for the South.

Grant could not give an immediate response. However, several days later, Dr. Emory received a letter from the Foundation inviting him to lay a wreath at the ceremony. The letter, signed by Grant, stated, "The committee has agreed that your wreath should be placed at the Arlington Cemetery, when the Civil War Memorial Freedom Foundation places a wreath." Grant also informed Emory that he would be part of the official program and would be expected to read a poem he had composed in honor of black combatants of the North and South. It appeared that Emory had accomplished his goal, and he looked forward to participating at the events scheduled for July 15.

Throughout the South, there are memorials to black Civil War combatants, usually in the form of plaques, formal and informal. However, none has the national recognition that comes from a commemoration at Arlington.

Dr. Emory’s satisfaction was to be short-lived. In May, he unexpectedly received a letter from the Foundation’s "Chief Historian" Walter Hill, who had learned of Emory’s membership in the Sons of Confederate Veterans and his wish to represent the SCV at the event. Hill now uninvited Emory’s participation in the ceremonies, informing him that he would not be able to place his wreath.

In his letter, Hill wrote, "While the African American Civil War Project and Foundation recognize and acknowledge the heritage and history of the Confederacy as a part of American History, it does not share and believe in the tradition and symbolism of the Confederate States of America. . . . We view the existence of the Confederacy as a barrier to this cause and the freedom of African American slaves and free people of color." In later discussions, the Chief Historian went on to claim that "There were no African-Americans who fought for the Confederacy." His firmness on the subject appeared to be based in his belief that there is no "federal documentation" of such soldiers.

Emory was stunned by Hill’s letter and responded immediately. He wrote, "It was my impression that the memorial was to honor the Colored Troops who fought for the Union and not about the institution of slavery. As an historian you should know that the war between the states was not about slavery and, in fact, Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation did not include slaves in all states but only those in the Confederate states. Slavery would have continued in the border states. You also must know that blacks, free and slave, also fought for the Confederacy. My purpose in participating in your event was an effort to pay respect to the troops you honor and in no way in support of the institution of slavery."

In an interview, Emory elaborated on his position. "I tried to explain to him that it is very common for troops to pay homage to the enemy that fought well in battle. But he couldn’t understand." Commenting on his rejection by the Foundation, in an interview in the Atlanta-Journal Constitution, Emory remarked, "It’s ridiculous that just because you’re on the other side you can’t honor them. It’s just one soldier trying to honor another. It had nothing to do with slavery."

Rejection by the Foundation was not the end of the story for Emerson Emory. This World War II Army veteran, who went on to spend 30 years as a Naval Reserve Medical Officer, was not to be deterred. "I decided," he says, "that I was going to place my wreath at the monument even if I had to do it in the dead of night." And that’s exactly when he did it.

Armed with his wreath and a camera, Dr. Emory and a friend, in the wee hours of the morning after the official ceremony, took themselves to the new monument. There he placed his wreath and paid homage to the War’s combatants, as his friend photographed the solitary ceremony. "I don’t know how long that wreath stayed there," laughs Emory, "but I’m satisfied that it was done."

The whole episode brought the quiet-living Emerson Emory more notoriety than he expected. There was newspaper coverage, editorials and commentaries, each taking sides on the issue. There were radio talk shows that took up the subject. On one show in Dallas, in which Emory participated, a woman called to say that she supported the exclusion of Dr. Emory from the Civil War event because "the blacks who fought for the Confederacy did so only because they were promised their freedom."

This call was followed by another from a black man who vigorously disagreed with the previous caller, and said he was a descendant of free blacks in East Texas, who had willingly fought "just like others who wanted to protect their property" from the northern invaders. Emory elaborated, "Many southern blacks remained loyal to the states in which they lived. Some persons today do not understand such loyalty but such has been our nature over the years, regardless of the conditions under which we lived."

Dr. Emory’s poem, that did not get read at the official Arlington ceremony, is entitled, "A Salute to the Blue From the Gray," two verses of which read:

As others fought brothers and kin,
in the war between the states,
So did we don the gray or blue;
and we did not hold this a mistake.

For while gray and blue are colors
for which men have fought and died,
There was no color to the courage
that was shown by either side.

 

Dr. Emerson Emory after laying his wreath at the new African American Civil War Memorial.

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