Black Union Soldiers

I know as a Southern man I am supposed to have latent racist feelings that others can diagnose but that I blindly do not recognize. I'm supposed to play the role of the southern stereotype that has a grudge against minorities, wants Blacks to remain in their place, yada, yada, yada...

But in the real world, I like stories of popular uprisings, and my heart swells at stories of people fighting for their freedom, no matter who they are. This is one of my favorite photos, two black Union soldiers aiming their weapons. Gleaned from old-photos.blogspot.com, which states the picture was taken near the Dutch Gap Canal in Virginia.