When the war was in action, African Americans began to abandon their owners and find shelter behind state lines. Over 10,000 had crossed this border and this was a new symbol of freedom. Hispanics, some with deep roots in the US and others who were newer arrivals, faced the tough choice of siding with the Union or the Confederacy.
By the end of the war, more than 20,000 Hispanics participated in this bloody war. Thousands of Hispanic civilians lent a hand on the battlefield and in their homes. Many Hispanics in the North decided to become soldiers, thinking it was the quickest way to become more American. Many of the Hispanics did not serve as soldiers, but as sailors. American Indians joined the fight, hoping that by helping the winning side, they might gain or get back some of their land. Many of the American Indian tribes tried to