What was the importance of the general order 143?

General Order 143, issued by the U.S. War Department on May 22, 1863, was significant because it established the United States Colored Troops (USCT), allowing African American soldiers to serve in the Union Army during the Civil War. This order marked a pivotal step toward racial equality in the military and acknowledged the crucial contributions of Black soldiers in the fight for freedom. Approximately 180,000 African Americans served in the USCT, playing a vital role in Union victories and paving the way for greater civil rights advancements post-war.