Front caption: “Our Protection./ Rosa, Charley, Rebecca/ Slave Children from New Orleans.” Back-Mark information: “ No. 9/ 1864/ The nett proceeds from the sale of these Photographs will be devoted to the education of colored People in the Department, now under the command of General Banks./  Chas. Paxson, Photographer, New York/  N.B.—All orders must be addressed to H.N. Bent, No. 1 Mercer St., New York.

This image has the three children, freed slaves Rosina Downs, Charley Taylor, and Rebecca Huger, each wrapped in a portion of the U.S. flag. All three exhibit “white” features, in illustration of the “one drop of blood rule” that governed racial classification in the ante-bellum south.

By December of 1863, much of Louisiana was occupied by the Union army. Ninety-five schools serving over 9,500 students--including almost half of the black children in Louisiana--were running under its auspices (Clinton 58). But keeping these schools up and running would require ongoing financial support. Toward this end, the National Freedman's Association, in collaboration with the American Missionary Association and interested officers of the Union Army, launched a new propaganda campaign. Five children and three adults, all former slaves from New Orleans, were sent to the North on a publicity tour. A drawing of them was printed in the 30 January 1864 issue of the popular Harper's Weekly, bearing the intriguing caption: "EMANCIPATED SLAVES, WHITE AND COLORED." The authors of this campaign were pursuing a surprising, and quite effective, strategy for arousing sympathy for blacks - they portrayed them as white.

Image is crisp and clear, exhibiting slight wear. Else VG plus. An extraordinary image. Great collectible.