An African American Soldier and Civil Rights Advocate

Stephen Swails was an important individual in the story of African American involvement in the Civil War, and in South Carolina’s Reconstruction experience. He made significant contributions to the advancement of African Americans, but failed to achieve full equality for Black veterans. In this book Gordon Rhea covers the story of how Swails devoted much of his life trying to secure Blacks parity with whites, but white supremacists in the South and in the Union Army and national leadership prevented him from helping to attain this goal.

A free African American volunteer in the 54^th Massachusetts, Swails distinguished himself in battle and was wounded twice fighting for the Union cause. He served and fought with the 54^th Massachusetts, fought through the war in Georgia, South Carolina, and Florida, at Legare Island, Fort Wagner, Olustee Station, and Boykin’s Mill, proving consistently brave and cool under fire, and gaining acceptance by many white solders. Rhea reminds us that one of the great challenges for Swails and his fellow Black soldiers was securing equal pay with white Federal troops. He gives us a look at how Swails and his fellow African American soldiers felt under fire and dealt with the stress not only of battle, but also from news of mobs, slaughter and bloodshed in riots in the North at places like New York City.

Swails overcame discrimination to become the first Black man to be commissioned a combat officer in the Union Army. Following the Civil War, he practiced law, was a political boss, served with the Freedman's Bureau, and was a Republican member of the South Carolina state legislature. Swails remained active in South Carolina politics after Reconstruction until the violent Redeemers threatened him with death, and drove him from the state during the Jim Crow era.

Following his passing in 1900, Swails became a footnote until distinguished historian Gordon Rhea helped this important figure to come alive in this valuable new book, which draws upon many previously unpublished documents and manuscripts. Readers will find much about Swails, as soldier, politician, and reformer, one of the few people who spoke up about racial prejudice, especially in the military and in South Carolina’s white community. Some readers may find Swails’ story relevant to today’s events, especially for those facing the loss of their voting rights in several states, just as happened to Swails and others in the late nineteenth century.

Combining fresh historical detail with a very compelling, readable, and informative text, and several maps by the notable cartographer, George Skoch, makes for a book that will be enjoyable for novice readers and as well as serious students of the Civil War. Highly recommended.

Note: A volume in LSU’s Southern Biography Series, Stephen A. Swails is also available in e-editions.

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