Extremely Rare 1863 Civil War CDV of Black Conscription

  

Extremely Rare 1863 Civil War CDV of Black Conscription. By John Tenniel, September 26, 1863. This cartoon, pictured above, depicts African American soldiers in the American Civil War. Drawn in the Southerner perspective, the cartoon plays on humor and the ridiculousness of African American soldiers fighting in the war. Ultimately the cartoon argued that African American soldiers make as good of soldiers as whites.

The cartoon exaggerates various characteristics of the two African Americans depicted, hinting that they were not fit to be soldiers. These men were probably slaves due to the way they carry themselves, their speech, and their physical attributes. The artist drew them with big lips with buck teeth standing improperly. Notably, the two men slurred and misspoke their words as if they were illiterate. This cartoon was targeted towards the southerners as many did not want African Americans to be conscripted in the military.

The CDV, a small, mass-produced photograph type, was used to circulate this propaganda among the populace to cement white Southern solidarity. 2 ½" x 3 ¾".