Place students into pairs, and give each pair George Cole’s description of mutiny by his all-Black brigade in the Union army. Explain that the Union army released soldiers in the same order that they enlisted, and because Black soldiers weren’t permitted to enlist until later in the Civil War, they were kept in the army after fighting ended and sent to Texas (and elsewhere) rather than home to their newly emancipated families. This document describes the reaction and defiance of some Black soldiers, who wanted to return to their families as soon as possible.

Students should use the OPCVL document analysis protocol to analyze the  source, and should prepare a short oral presentation to the class to summarize their analyses. After each pair shares their analysis, ask the class the following questions and facilitate a closing discussion:

• What is the tone of this report? What is Cole’s main idea, and is it convincing to you? Explain.
• What opportunities and what obstacles did formerly enslaved people, including Black soldiers, face in reunifying their families and gaining government support?
• How was the federal government helpful to those experiencing emancipation? How was it harmful?
• To what extent did emancipation’s promise match its reality for Black Americans?