More than one noted historian has said Martin Delany lived several lifetimes rolled into one. His fertile mind and the principled conscience to which he felt absolutely beholden led him across three continents and countless experiences and challenges. This timeline captures the scope of his vast and important odyssey. (NOTE: Capitalized words denote names of major new residences of MRD. Entries within parentheses are "indirect influences" on MRD's life path.)
(1/1/1863 Lincoln abolishes slavery in rebelling states).
(7/13/1863 Lincoln calls for a draft, triggering riots in most major Northern cities, killing 50 to 75 blacks in New York City alone).
(7/30/1863 Lincoln issues General Order No. 233 in reply to Jefferson Davis's warning that captured black soldiers would be either killed or enslaved by the Confederacy. Lincoln declares the same policy would hold for every captured Confederate, who, instead of enslavement be "placed at hard labor on the public works." Lincoln, thereby, confirmed that black soldiers were full, legally protected citizens, the earlier Dred Scott decision by the U.S. Supreme Court notwithstanding).
MRD recruits black men for the army, recruiting men for Massachusetts' 54th Regiment, raising 2,500 enlistees for Rhode Island, enlisting 5,000 black men for Connecticut, continuing efforts later in Cleveland and Chicago.
MRD sends a written request to Secretary of War Stanton: "to command all of the effective black men as Agents of the United States. . ." The request is ignored.
MRD purchases home and four acres for his family in WILBERFORCE, OH.
(1/1865 Confederate General Robert E. Lee recommends to Jefferson Davis that slaves in the South be armed to fight for their cause).
MRD goes to Washington, D.C. and succeeds in getting an interview with President Lincoln, to propose a corps of black men, led by black men who, when marched into the south would serve to "win over" Southern blacks. Lincoln is much more impressed with Delany's personal attributes after disregarding appeals of a similar nature by Frederick Douglass two years prior.
"Major" Delany is commisioned as the first black line field officer in the U.S. Army.
Major Martin Delany
