Fueled by their own accounts with slavery and prejudice, African-American activists such as Frederick Douglass lobbied for African-Americans to enlist. Amongst the flood of African-Americans bearing arms to fight for the Union, were two of Douglass’ own sons (Black Soldiers in the Civil War). Serving as artillery, infantry, carpenters, chaplains, cooks, guards, laborers, nurses, scouts, spies, steamboat pilots, and surgeons, nearly 179,000 black men enlisted in the Union Army (Black Soldiers in the Civil War). Due to the steady stream of African-Americans flooding in to fight in the United States Army, the United States Government issued the Bureau of Colored Troops in May of 1863. Although fighting to escape the prejudice of the Southern States, black soldiers faced the very same demon they drew arms to take on, within the Union military itself, discrimination. Typically commanded by white officers, black soldiers were distributed in segregated Units (Black Soldiers in the Civil War). In addition to black soldiers being paid $3 less than white soldiers’ $13 monthly wage, another $3