Help sustain and improve this project by donating to the American Social History Project.

Home
About
Search
Teaching WBA?
Textbook

“What do I want, John Henry?”

Former enslaved African Americans, termed “contrabands,” were caught somewhere between slavery and freedom. They also were viewed by many northerners as a new burden—despite their work as teamsters, cooks, and laborers in Union camps. That attitude was conveyed in many photographs of northern encampments, such as this November 1862 Virginia scene, that showed former enslaved men in subordinate positions as servants beside white soldiers.

Source: Alexander Gardner, “What do I want, John Henry?,” Warrenton, Va., November 1862. Source: Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress.

Who Built America? An Open Educational Resource has been made possible in part by a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities and funding from The Ford Foundation, Digital Scholar, and the City University of New York Central Office of Library Services. Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this Open Educational Resource, do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Contact
Terms of Use and Permissions
Feedback
Login

© American Social History Project, Inc. 2026