Celebrating Black History Month: John S. Rock, first African-American lawyer to practice in US Supreme Court

John Stewart Rock, born October 13, 1825 Salem, New Jersey, was a teacher, doctor, dentist, lawyer, and abolitionist.  His parents were free African-Americans and they encouraged him to study and provided him with formal schooling.  At 19, he became a teacher in Salem, teaching in a one-room school.  During this time, he began studying medicine under two white physicians, but was denied entry into medical school based on his race.

He transferred to dentistry and did an apprenticeship with a white dentist.  Rock opened  his dental practice in Philadelphia in January 1850. He was finally admitted to medical school, and graduated from American Medical College in Philadelphia in 1852, becoming one of the first African-Americans to attain a degree in medicine.  

He moved to Boston in 1853 and opened his dentist and medical practice, treating many fugitive slaves making their was to Canada via the Underground Railroad.  After a trip to Europe to seek treatment for health problems, he gave up his medical and dental practices and began to study law.  In September 1861, Rock gained admittance to the Massachusetts Bar where he advocated for the rights for African-Americans. 

On February 1, 1865, the day after Congress approved the Thirteenth Amendment to end slavery, Charles Sumner introduced a motion that made Rock the first black attorney to be admitted to the bar of the US Supreme Court.  He became the first African-American to be received on the floor of the US House of Representatives.

Rock passed away in December 1866 from tuberculosis at the age of 41. 

Celebrating Black History Month - Andre Cailloux, Civil War officer

Andre Cailloux, born 1825 in Louisiana, was one of the first black officers in the Union Army to be killed in combat during the Civil War, during an unsuccessful attack on Port Hudson, Louisiana, a Confederate fort.

After he gained his freedom, he became a successful cigar maker and was a well-respected member of the 10,000 "free men of color" in New Orleans.

When the Civil War broke out, Cailloux was commission as a lieutenant in the Confederate regiment the Native Guard, which consisted entirely of free men of color, but the regiment was just for show and the Confederates never supplied them with uniforms or weapons.  They disbanded the Guard in February 1862, just two months before New Orleans fell to Union Admiral David Farragut in April.

Union General Benjamin Butler, now headquartered in New Orleans, ordered an all-black Union Army, 1st Louisiana Native Guard in September.  Cailloux was comissioned as captain of Company E and his was considered the best in the Guard.

In December 1862, Nathaniel Banks replaced Butler and in May 1863, moved most of his army to surround Port Hudson, a Confederate fort, strategically located on a bend in the Mississippi River.  Banks launched a poorly coordinated attack.  Cailloux was ordered to lead his company of 100 men into a suicide assault against the Confederate sharpshooters.    Cailloux led his troops on several charges, but on the last charge a ball hit his arm and left it hanging by his side.  He continued to charge until an artillery shell killed him.

Confederates granted a truce the next day so Union troops could recover their dead, but the rebel sharpshooters kept them from collecting the black casualties.  Cailloux's body lay for 47 days until Port Hudson surrendered to Banks July 9, 1863.

His body was retunred to New Orleans and he was honored by thousands of attendees.



https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andre_Cailloux