Originally captain of Company B of the 1st Regiment, was promoted to major in the 2nd Louisiana Native Guards, thus becoming the highest ranking non-white, Dumas inherited a plantation but proceeded to enlist his slaves for service in the Union Army.

 

Thank God My Regiment was an African One... Major Dumas,Pinchback, Octave Ray, Arnold Bertonneau, and many more Black Officers, not to mention the enlisted men, are represented in this second regiment of the Louisiana Native Guard on Ship Island and at Fort Pike where P.B.S. Pinchback was stationed Excellent Reading Click here

 

The only wealthy man among the officers of the 1st Louisiana Native Guards, Captain Francis E. Dumas of Company B, had recently returned from France and had inherited a sugar plantation and a large number of slaves.

Dumas left the regiment, however, to accept a major's commission in the 2rd Regiment, thus becoming

the first non white field officer in the United States Army.

 

In the process, he also freed his slaves and enlisted approximately one hundred of them into his regiment.

The Louisiana Native Guards by James G. Hollandsworth, Jr.

A Black Patriot and a White Priest By Stephen J. Ochs

A refined educated Slave owning plantation owner , Dumas spoke five languages and his abilities impressed both Daniels and General Butler..

Dumas enlisted his one hundred slaves into one company of the native guard, calling upon them to break the bonds of their fellow men . As a Major, Dumas, was the highest nonwhite commissioned officer to see combat in the civil war