'Black Patriots Revealed' at New Windsor Cantonment

NEW WINDSOR — Several thousand African-Americans served in the Patriot ranks during the Revolution. Both freemen and slaves fought alongside white soldiers, in integrated regiments — a practice that would not occur again until the Korean War. Learn about the vital role African-Americans played in securing American independence at the New Windsor Cantonment State Historic Site is Though some enslaved soldiers were granted freedom for serving in the Patriot army, the successful struggle for independence doomed generations of African-Americans to continued bondage. Great Britain abolished slavery 31 years before the United States did, so it was possible that the American Civil War might have been averted had the 13 colonies not rebelled. Why would black soldiers agree to fight for a country that held many of their people in chains and excluded the remainder from all but the most menial tasks? The answer was quite simple actually: the deep-seated desire to be accepted and respected. Gifted African-American leader and orator Frederick Douglass, proudly proclaimed during the Civil War: "Once let the black man get upon his person the brass letter, U.S., let him get an eagle on his button, and a musket on his shoulder and bullets in his pocket, there is no power on earth that can deny that he has earned the right to citizenship." African-Americans, of the Revolutionary War Patriot forces, were willing to fight and die to be accepted by white society as did their descendents “four score and seven years” later. New Windsor Cantonment State Historic Site is part of the Palisades Interstate Park Commission. The Palisades Interstate Park Commission administers 27 parks, parkways and historic sites for the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation in New York as well as the Palisades Interstate Park and parkway in New Jersey. For more information about New York State Parks and Historic Sites, visit www.nysparks.com. "Once let the black man get upon his person the brass letter, U.S., let him get an eagle on his button, and a musket on his shoulder and bullets in his pocket, there is no power on earth that can deny that he has earned the right to citizenship." Frederick Douglass If you go What: “Black Patriots Revealed: African-Americans in the Continental Army” Where: New Windsor Cantonment, 374 Temple Hill Rd., New Windsor When: 2-2:30 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 12 Information: Call 561-1765 ext. 22