It is estimated,that there were 225,000 black civilians who worked for the Union Army and the U.S.Government during the Civil War. They were: Teamsters, Laundry Workers, Nurses, Cooks, Spies, Stevadores, Foragers, Servants, Blacksmiths, Scouts and any other jobs that they could perform. Many were "contrabands",(escaped slaves) and many were free who needed work . Some probably carried water and other duties as assigned.