Quote of the day: “He’s seen enough now, he can’t take it anymore.”
-Mitchel
Before anyone enjoys yet another defaced or melted historical figure, consider this old white guy Lincoln was assassinated for taking on racism and injustice, just as have many others, white, black, indigenous, and “other.”
There were a multitude of reasons for that war, or for joining that war. Life is complicated and full of hurt and partial information and opinions. But know this:
Lots of old white guys, old black guys, or young persons — would STILL give their lives — to stop racism or injustice — against ANYONE.
The Union Army, all risking life to fight racism and injustice to have a nation of equals, had 2,672,341 soldiers:
– 2,489,836 white soldiers
– 178,975 African American soldiers
– 3,530 Native American troops
The total number of Union military deaths is estimated to be around 360,222. This figure includes deaths from battle, disease, and other causes.
The National Park Service provides a detailed breakdown of Union casualties:
– 110,100 killed in battle
– 224,580 died from disease
– 30,192 died as prisoners of war
Given that the vast majority of the Union Army was composed of white soldiers (approximately 93.2%), we can estimate the number of white soldiers, old and young, who died for the Union, root-word “UNITY.”
Plenty of old white guys, or young of any particular race, gender, or religion, would die to defend the rights and safety of ANYONE being discriminated against. Not all, but more than 93.2%.
Estimated white soldier deaths = 0.932 \times 360,222 \approx 335,726
Approximately 335,726 white men in the Union Army risked and died during the Civil War to build TOWARDS unity and civil rights for ALL.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN WAS ONE OF THEM.
“That from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion — that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain — that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom — and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”
— Abraham Lincoln
You and I can take that Stand — for ALL — also.
But as the song says, and the statue photo reminds, “Don’t forget the sunscreen.”
Sources
[1] Facts – The Civil War (U.S. National Park Service) https://lnkd.in/ecJC49j9
[2] Civil War Casualties | American Battlefield Trust https://lnkd.in/eYpe5tRg
[3] New Estimate Raises Civil War Death Toll – The New York Times https://lnkd.in/erQyMhkR
[4] [PDF] Casualties and Costs of the Civil War https://lnkd.in/eHAz9Pt7
[5] Who, What, Why: How many soldiers died in the US Civil War … – BBC https://lnkd.in/evCWjyMQ
[6] 0. The Health Struggles of Black Soldiers during the Civil War https://lnkd.in/erw72y-m
[7] Union Army – Wikipedia https://lnkd.in/eBVa_DYF
[8] American Civil War – Wikipedia https://lnkd.in/e7zWhXX3
