Frederick Douglass was an American social reformer, statesman, and writer who lived between February 14, 1818, and February 20, 1895. Frederick became a recognized person during the African American civil rights movement in the 19th century, explaining how he has managed to continue to remain recognized even after many years passing by.
Lewis Henry Douglass also established himself as a military sergeant Major. He was the son of Frederick and his first wife, Anna Murray Douglass. Lewis was the oldest son of the statesman, and like his father, he has established a presence that has made him a relevant figure in American history.
Biography
Lewis Henry was born on October 9, 1840. Lewis was born in New Bedford, Massachusetts where he grew up in the company of his father. He was educated well, given his father’s various ventures and roles. He became his father’s typesetter for the North Star and Douglass Weekly, two newspapers that his father owned.
Two months after the Emancipation Proclamation which allowed African Americans to engage in Union Combat, Lewis joined the Union Army on March 25, 1863. Lewis fought for the first official African American units, during the Civil War, marking the beginning of his career.
Shortly after joining the army, he rose through the ranks and attained the rank of Sergeant Major. He became the first black man to reach such a high rank at that time, Moreover, it was one of the highest ranks that a black man had attained at that time.
As Sergent Major, he led his troops into the Battle of Olustee and the Battle and the Second Battle of Fort Wagner. During the Second Battle of Fort Wagner, half of the sergeant’s army was killed. This battle brought attention to the sacrifices that African Americans were making for war.
While preparing to go for a third war, the sergeant wrote a letter to his future wife. In his letter, he addressed how his men had fought bravely and with dedication. While many people had been wounded during both fights, Lewis revealed to his wife that he was unwounded and healthy.
Lewis also promised his wife to write another letter, if he survived the war. Unfortunately, the later war was so fierce that he was wounded and ill. As a result of the illness, he was forced to be discharged from the army in 1864.
Career After the Army
After the Civil War, Douglass began working as a teacher. He worked for the Freedman’s Bureaus before he went on to teach reading, writing, and other subjects to adult blacks in Wagoner’s home. In 1869, he moved to Washington, DC where he began working as a typesetter, employed y the government.
Douglass also criticized the McKinley administration, especially for failing to address the racial violence that African Americans were facing. In 1907, Lewis suffered a stroke, which affected his health. He died four years later, as a result of the stroke’s impact.
