Italian Americans in the Civil War facts for kids
Many people of Italian heritage lived in the United States during the American Civil War. Between 1861 and 1865, this war divided the country. Thousands of Italian Americans joined the fight. Most of them fought for the Union (the North). A smaller group fought for the Confederacy (the South). These Confederate soldiers were often from the former Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. They had been prisoners of war who fought against Giuseppe Garibaldi in Italy. About 5,000 to 10,000 Italian Americans served in the Civil War.
Italian Americans in the Union Army
Most Italian Americans who joined the Union Army came from New York City. Many important Italians joined the army. They often reached high ranks.
Brigadier General Edward Ferrero was a key leader. He first commanded the 51st New York Regiment. He led large groups of soldiers in battles across the eastern and western parts of the war. Later, he commanded a division of United States Colored Troops. These were African American soldiers.
Colonel Enrico Fardella also served in the 51st New York. He later joined the 85th New York regiment. He was made a brigadier general at the end of the war. This was an honorary rank.
Francis B. Spinola recruited four regiments in New York. President Abraham Lincoln quickly made him a brigadier general. Spinola then led his own group, called the Spinola Brigade. He later commanded another famous unit, the Excelsior Brigade.
Colonel Luigi Palma di Cesnola was a former soldier from Italy and Britain. He had fought in the Crimean War. In America, he led the 4th New York Cavalry. He also started a military school in New York City. Many young Italians trained there and later joined the Union army. Di Cesnola received the Medal of Honor. This is the highest military award in the U.S. He earned it for his bravery during the Battle of Aldie.
Francesco Casale and Luigi Tinelli were also important. They helped create the 39th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment.
Italian Americans in the Confederate Army
Some Italian American soldiers in the Confederate States Army were veterans from Italy. They had fought against Giuseppe Garibaldi. They were captured during the Expedition of the Thousand. This was part of Italy's unification. They were later released.
In late 1860 and early 1861, these soldiers traveled to New Orleans. They arrived on ships like the Elisabetta and Olyphant. Most Italian Americans in the Confederacy settled in Louisiana.
Louisiana's local army had an Italian Guards Battalion. It became part of the 6th Regiment. However, many soldiers protested. They did not feel like Italian citizens because they had fought against Italy's unification. So, in 1862, it was renamed the 6th Regiment, European Brigade.
Italian companies also existed within regiments from other states. These included Louisiana, Virginia, Tennessee, and Alabama. Parts of a company from South Carolina also had Italian soldiers.
General William B. Taliaferro served in the Confederate Army. His family had some Italian roots from the 1500s.
Giuseppe Garibaldi and the Civil War
When the American Civil War began, Giuseppe Garibaldi was very famous. He was a hero in Italy. The 39th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment was even named the Garibaldi Guard in his honor.
In 1861, Garibaldi offered to help President Abraham Lincoln. He was offered a high rank, Major General, in the U.S. Army. This offer came from Secretary of State William H. Seward.
Garibaldi had a condition for joining. He said he would only serve as the Commander-in-Chief of the Union forces. He also wanted the power to declare an end to slavery. He believed that without ending slavery, the world would not care much about the war.
According to an Italian historian, Garibaldi was ready to accept Lincoln's offer in 1862. But he insisted that ending slavery must be the war's main goal. At that time, Lincoln was not ready to make such a statement. He worried it would make things worse.
Garibaldi politely declined Lincoln's offer. However, the U.S. still recruited many of Garibaldi's former officers. They came to fight for the Union.
On August 6, 1863, Garibaldi wrote to Lincoln. This was after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued. This proclamation declared many enslaved people free. Garibaldi told Lincoln: "History will call you the great emancipator. This is a better title than any crown."
