An actor playing the part of Frederick Douglass at the Battle of Olustee reenactment. Among those calling for the authorization of black soldiers in the Civil War was Frederick Douglass, who felt that military service would signal African Americans' freedom from slavery and citizenship status. Douglass said, Let the slaves and free colored people be called into service, and formed into a liberating army, to march into the South and raise the banner of emancipation among the slaves....Men of Color, To Arms! The famous all-black Massachusetts 54th regiment took part in the Battle of Olustee. Douglass' two sons were members of the regiment.