It has often been said that, “the history of the Civil War is the stories of its soldiers.” That statement is particularly true for those men who served in United States Colored Troops regiments. Often met with discrimination at nearly every turn, they persevered under extremely trying and dangerous circumstances, always striving to make a difference. Whether formerly enslaved or born free, most black soldiers drew motivation from future possibilities. These men understood that as long as slavery survived in the United States their prospects for citizenship and receiving equal acknowledgement before the law were limited. Once finally allowed to enlist in the United States army they proved themselves as men and demonstrated that they were worthy of enjoying the rights outlined in the Constitution. Time after time, African American Union soldiers performed heroic actions during battle. At the Battle of New Market Heights examples of determination, sacrifice, and devotion to duty abound and provide us (regardless of race) with stories which remain inspiring and relevant in 21st Century America. Here, you will find a few of their amazing stories.
Fallen, but not Forgotten – Corp. Pompey Cotton, Co. D, 38th USCI
Photograph courtesy of Wisteria Perry “Penetrating gunshot wound, ball [...]
Fallen, but not Forgotten – Sgt. John Grinnell, Co. E, 38th USCI
In the Border States of Maryland, Delaware, Kentucky, and Missouri the process of emancipation [...]
Sister Lydia Penny – “Like a Ministering Angel”
We are fortunate that several United States Colored Troops (USCT) soldiers chose to write [...]
Fallen but not Forgotten – Pvt. Henderson Taborn, Co. A, 5th USCI
During the mid-nineteenth century, Oberlin, Ohio, known as a “hotbed of abolitionism,” and even [...]
Fallen, but not Forgotten: Pvt. James Chaney, Co. I, 1st USCI
Historians estimate that perhaps as many as twenty percent of Civil War soldiers enlisted [...]
Dying Far From Home – Pvt. Edward Williams, Co. C, 6th USCI
During the Civil War, soldiers sometimes attempted to describe the nature of combat to [...]
Fallen, But Not Forgotten – Pvt. Emanuel Patterson, Co. D, 6th USCI
On October 10, 1858, Emanuel Patterson stood beside Elizabeth Perrill in the home of William [...]
Profile in Courage: Sergeant-Major Thomas R. Hawkins, 6th USCI
Image From Library of Congress Ever since I first started blogging back [...]
Brushing Up Against History
As you all know, it’s one thing to read about an event for an [...]
Christian Fleetwod Diary Entry
Since I posted the picture of Christian Fleetwood's Medal of Honor a few days [...]
The Perils of Preservation
While the nation’s attention is riveted upon the ongoing dispute over the proposed casino on [...]
Profile in Courage: Sgt. James Gardner, Co. I 36th USCT
Image From Library of Congress Judging from the positive response that I [...]
Profile in Courage: Lt. Nathan Edgerton, 6th USCT
In anticipation of the upcoming release of my first book, The Battle of New [...]
Profile in Courage: Milton M. Holland, Part 2
When we last left Sgt. Milton Holland of the 5th USCT, he had described [...]
Profile In Courage: Milton M. Holland, Part I
One of the things that I’m sure nags many Civil War authors is the [...]
Ferro iis libertas perveniet
Medal of Honor Recipients for the Battle of New Market Heights, September 29, 1864: [...]
“Beast” Butler’s Finest Speech
History has not been kind to Benjamin Franklin Butler. In most general histories of [...]
“Three Medals of Honor” by Don Troiani
Well, the Philadelphia Inquirer has finally given the world a glimpse of Don Troiani’s [...]
The Black Barber Who Received the Medal of Honor
On this date 153 years ago, Col. Charles Paine's United States Colored Troops division [...]
Different Points of Views Result in Different Accounts
Image From Library of Congress There was a great deal of skepticism [...]
New Market Heights Used as a Recruiting Tool
Image From Library of Congress Taken From: View of transparency in front [...]
Lest We Forget: New Market Heights Medals of Honor Issued 150 Years Ago Today
While the nation is busy commemorating the Battle of Sailor’s Creek and Lee’s [...]
An Interview with a USCT: Cornelius Garner
Photo Courtesy of National Archives and Records Administration I completed reading Weevils [...]
Personality Spotlight: Christian Fleetwood
Image From Library of Congress One of the many heroic soldiers I [...]
Corporal Miles James – A Superior Soldier
Image From The National Archives and Records Administration The last few weeks [...]
Recollections of a Colored Troop by Capt. John McMurray, Co. D, 6th USCI
A little known source from a white officer in the United States Colored Troops is [...]
Lt. William H. Appleton, 4th USCI, Medal of Honor Recipient
The 14 African American soldiers who earned the Medal of Honor for their [...]
Dying Far From Home – Pvt. Richard Armstrong, Co. A., 38th USCI
The USCT regiments who participated in the primary assaults at New Market Heights [...]
The Butler Medal in the General’s Own Words
Image From Library of Congress Much like the Battle of New Market [...]
A Battlefield Monument at New Market Heights: The Time Has Come
In the epilogue to my first book, The Battle of New Market Heights: [...]
6th USCI White Officer Casualties at the Battle of New Market Heights
“Three Medals of Honor” by Don Troiani: Courtesy of Don Troiani As I [...]
Dying Far From Home – Pvt. Henry Winslow, Co. H, 5th USCI
At this time of the year, I can not help but think how hollow [...]
The Fighting Bantums of the 4th USCI
I have made a conscious effort to read just about everything that I can [...]
Dying Far From Home – Richard Varney, Co. K, 4th USCI
In my ongoing efforts to recognize the service and sacrifice of the soldiers [...]
The Liberation of Alfred B. Hilton
Students of the United States Colored Troops and the Battle of New Market [...]
Dying Far From Home – Pvt. John Henry Gough, Co. D, 38th USCI, and Pvt. Thomas Gough, Co. F, 38th USCI
The Chesapeake Bay area proved to be a particularly fruitful recruiting ground for the [...]
Dying Far From Home – Sgt. James Lea, Co. K, 22nd USCI
The lack of surviving pre-war personal information about men who served in Civil [...]
Dying Far From Home – Pvt. William Richfield, Co. B, 4th USCI
Courtesy of the Maryland Historical Society [...]
Dying Far From Home – Sgt. Lafayette Tibbs, Co. H, 5th USCI
The Civil War was by and large a young man’s conflict. Most enlisted men [...]
Capt. Charles Volney York, Co. B, 6th USCI
Image Courtesy of the Pamplin Historical Park Photographic images of Civil War soldiers are [...]
“Will Miss Him Sadly:” Capt. Samuel W. Vannuys, Co. E, 4th USCI
The research process often uncovers helpful evidence that fill in otherwise exasperating gaps [...]
Dying Far From Home – Pvt. Perry Hamilton, Co. K, 6th USCI
The 6th United States Colored Infantry (USCI) recruited its soldiers largely from the [...]
Dying Far From Home: Sgt. Jacob A. Moss, Co. H, 5th USCI
What’s in a name? For a Civil War soldier, in a day before carrying [...]
Dying Far From Home – Pvt. John Miles, Co. B, 38th USCI
When the Civil War began in 1861, many men enlisted under what historians [...]
Dying Far From Home – Corp. James A. Kane, Co. C, 6th USCI
Drafted! Imagine getting word that the government demanded your service in its military. Since [...]
Is that You, Lt. Hoag?
Image courtesy of the Library of Congress. When I first saw a photograph [...]
Dying Far From Home – Pvt. William Roy Wright, Co. B, 5th USCI
The obvious purpose of Civil War-era’s minie ball was to inflict damage. The soft [...]
Dying Far From Home – Pvt. Joseph S. Money, Co. C, 6th USCI
Conscripting (drafting) men for United States military service and the expanded enlistment of African [...]
Dying Far From Home – Lt. William W. Moore, Co. C, 38th USCI
Image courtesy of Pamplin Historical Park and the National Museum of the Civil War [...]
Dying Far From Home – Sgt. Richard Servant, Co. D, 6th USCI
Although our soldier-focused articles are often titled “Dying Far From Home,” this one [...]
“Displayed the Greatest Courage:” Lt. James B. Backup, Co. I, 36th USCI
Image Courtesy of the Pamplin Historical Park Too often, when viewing battlefield maps, [...]
Dying Far From Home – Pvt. Thomas Young, Co. A, 5th USCI
African Americans in mid-nineteenth century America experienced the road to freedom differently. Some [...]