alternatehistory.com

Okay, even in OTL, proprtionate to their number, free blacks were more likely toj oin the fray than white Aemricans. There were Black militiamen at Bunker Hill, and they served throughout the war. But IMO it could have gone further.

Rhode Island's First Regiment was raised from the state's slae population, and they were all freed after the war.

Lord Dunmore, the Royal Governor of Virginia, tried something similar in 1775. His decision to arm the slaves led to a wave of hysteria throughout the South. Over the next few month, thousands of slaves in Virginia either fled to Dunmore or were caught trying to do so; he raised the "Ethiopian Regiment," where men were uniformed with sashes declaring "Liberty to Slaves."

Unfortunately, Dunmoer's forces were defeated, and he had to withdraw to some offshore ships; packed together, smallpox decimated their ranks, carrying off many blacks. This ended Dunmore's plan, at least for a while; and indeed Congress, unprder pressure from the southern states, tried to keep blacks from enlisting in the Continental Army until the lack of manpower became crippling. When the British marched the south in 1778 and 1779, Continental Congress urged Georgia and south Carolian to raise three thousand black troops.

Congress's plan had the support of Hamilton, Henry Laurens, and others within the military; but washington withheld support, worried that it would "render slavery more irksome for those who remain in it."

South Carolina was so indignant about the proposeal that it considered sending a flag of truce to the British commander in the region; but meanwhile, thier own slaves fled. (Loyalist slaves were returned). It's estimated that some twenty thousand slaves fled to British lines in South Carolina alone.

So, hrmm. Suppose that Washington was persuaded to go along with raising regiments of black soldiers. The British respond in kind, even more than OTL.

Hrmm. Something's missing, but it's an interesting idea. Thoughts?
Top