In the fall of 1863, Union forces took control of parts of Virginia and North Carolina. The newly formed African Brigade, made up of former slaves, is tasked with hunting down rebel guerillas in these parts, as well as rescuing slaves left behind. Some of the men are returning to areas where they have previously been enslaved and finding family members and friends to bring back to the Freedmen's Colony.
David Wright Falade's novel Black Cloud Rising tells the story of this little-known historical episode through the eyes of Richard Etheridge, the son of a slave and her master. Richard was treated almost like a son by his white father and half-siblings, receiving an education at the hand of his half-sister, which gave him the opportunity to gain a higher rank in the African Brigade. But serving alongside other former slaves, Richard knows his situation was unique. Where Richard tries to lead his men from a place of restraint, others seek revenge for the wrongs done against them. Richard struggles to reconcile the connection he has with the white side of his family and his fight for freedom.
I can't imagine what it must have been like to leave a plantation for freedom only to enlist in an army that makes you march back down there. Obviously, not everyone welcomed the African Brigade into town, and the soldiers had to deal with fighting rebels, taking prisoners, and rebuilding destroyed bridges and other passageways. They also had to deal with racism within their own ranks! Not everyone in the Union army felt that black men should have equal status.
If you're looking for historical fiction that will really shine a light on a part of Civil War history, then you'll want to pick up this book.
Black Cloud Rising is published by Atlantic Monthly Press and will be available to purchase tomorrow, February 8, 2022. I received a free ARC in exchange for this review.
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