1 10 17 https://slaverymonuments.org/files/original/9ffbbe57b8ff58336d70a1eaae58679e.jpg f6467947ec45b2a9e58a984bad247900 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource United States Colored Troops (USCT) Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Renée Ater Description An account of the resource Included in this thematic collection are seventeen memorials that honor the vital contributions of the United States Colored Troops (USCT) to the Union victory during the American Civil War. The first all-Black units formed unofficially in Louisiana (Louisiana Native Guard, 1862); South Carolina (First South Carolina Volunteer Infantry, 1862-63); and Kansas (First Kansas Colored Infantry, 1862-63). The first official authorization to employ African Americans in federal service was the Second Confiscation and Militia Act of July 17, 1862. The Confiscation Act allowed Union officers to free enslaved men and put them to work as army laborers. However, Abraham Lincoln did not fully authorize the use of Black men in combat until the issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863. Beginning in late January 1863, Governor John A. Andrews of Massachusetts raised the first regiment of Black soldiers in the North, the Massachusetts 54th Volunteer Infantry. The abolitionist Frederick Douglass helped recruit men for the Massachusetts 54th, famously issuing a call to free African American men to join the Union Army. In a speech, “Men of Color, To Arms!”, delivered in Rochester, New York on March 2, 1863, Douglass urged his fellow free men of color to fight for the end of slavery and for their freedom: "By every consideration which binds you to your enslaved fellow-countrymen, and the peace and welfare of your country; by every aspiration which you cherish for the freedom and equality of yourselves and your children; by all the ties of blood and identity which make us one with the brave black men now fighting our battles in Louisiana and in South Carolina, I urge you to fly to arms, and smite with death the power that would bury the government and your liberty in the same hopeless grave." On May 22, 1863, the U.S. War Department issued General Order No. 143, authorizing the creation of the Bureau of Colored Troops. By the end of the Civil War, over 200,000 men, including white officers, served in 175 regiments of the USCT, which made up ten percent of the Union army. The compiled military records of the men who served in the USCT can be found in the National Archives and Records Administration. Updated January 26, 2026 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Written by Renée Ater Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Sculpture Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Monument to the 26th Regiment United States Colored Infantry (Ithaca, New York) Subject The topic of the resource Subject (Topic) African Americans--History New York--Ithaca Public sculpture United States Colored Troops Subject (Object Type) Commemorative sculpture Description An account of the resource Polished black granite in the shape of an upright headstone with an arched top, is dedicated to the memory of the twenty-six men of the 26th Regiment Infantry U.S. Colored Troops who enlisted between 1863 and 1864 at the St. James A.M.E. Zion Church, Ithaca, New York. The work includes an etched image of two United States Colored Troops soldiers, as well as the names of men who enlisted. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant St. James A.M.E. Zion Church, 116 Cleveland Avenue, Ithaca, New York, 14850, United States Bibliographic Citation A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible. Alan Skerrett, Jr, ed. "Monuments to the United States Colored Troops (USCT) [African American Civil War Soldiers: The List." Jubilo! The Emancipation Century Blog, May 30, 2011. Accessed February 11, 2026. https://jubiloemancipationcentury.wordpress.com/2011/05/30/monuments-to-the-united-states-colored-troops-usct-the-list/. Rights Holder A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource. Renée Ater Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource JPEG Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Visual Arts-Sculpture Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Unknown Medium The material or physical carrier of the resource. Black granite Has Part A related resource that is included either physically or logically in the described resource. Inscription on front of the black granite: Dedicated to the 26 Soldiers of the 26th Regiment United States Colored Infantry Who Enlisted Between Dec. 3, 1863 and Feb. 18, 1864 At St. James A.M.E. Zion Church, Ithaca, NY To Fight for God and Liberty. Henry W. Adams • Henry Allen • Morgan E. Dennis • Isaac Desmond • Sylvester T. Dorsey • Henry L. Green • Jacob Guess • George W. Guinn • Daniel Johnson • Jacob Johnson • George E. Jones • Thomas McChesney • George A. Richardson • John R. Ross • Henry Selby • Charles S. Shaw • Alonzo Smith • Henry Smith • James E. L. Smith • John Smith • John F. Smith • Joseph B. Smith • Edward Sorrell • John Sorrell • John Tyler • Zacharial Tyler Organized at Riker's Island, New York Harbor, Feb. 27, 1864. Ordered to Dept. of the South, April, 1864. Served at Beaufort, SC. The Unit was discharged at Brownsville, Texas on Aug. 18, 1865. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Photograph: <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Marker_dedicated_to_the_26th_Regiment_of_the_U.S._Colored_Infantry_in_the_Civil_War.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Wikimedia Commons</a> Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2009 black granite Civil War inscription names https://slaverymonuments.org/files/original/66f9b1d701996888feaa58fe133bcef4.jpg e0045fe3e58d69c6475f722db769259d Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource United States Colored Troops (USCT) Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Renée Ater Description An account of the resource Included in this thematic collection are seventeen memorials that honor the vital contributions of the United States Colored Troops (USCT) to the Union victory during the American Civil War. The first all-Black units formed unofficially in Louisiana (Louisiana Native Guard, 1862); South Carolina (First South Carolina Volunteer Infantry, 1862-63); and Kansas (First Kansas Colored Infantry, 1862-63). The first official authorization to employ African Americans in federal service was the Second Confiscation and Militia Act of July 17, 1862. The Confiscation Act allowed Union officers to free enslaved men and put them to work as army laborers. However, Abraham Lincoln did not fully authorize the use of Black men in combat until the issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863. Beginning in late January 1863, Governor John A. Andrews of Massachusetts raised the first regiment of Black soldiers in the North, the Massachusetts 54th Volunteer Infantry. The abolitionist Frederick Douglass helped recruit men for the Massachusetts 54th, famously issuing a call to free African American men to join the Union Army. In a speech, “Men of Color, To Arms!”, delivered in Rochester, New York on March 2, 1863, Douglass urged his fellow free men of color to fight for the end of slavery and for their freedom: "By every consideration which binds you to your enslaved fellow-countrymen, and the peace and welfare of your country; by every aspiration which you cherish for the freedom and equality of yourselves and your children; by all the ties of blood and identity which make us one with the brave black men now fighting our battles in Louisiana and in South Carolina, I urge you to fly to arms, and smite with death the power that would bury the government and your liberty in the same hopeless grave." On May 22, 1863, the U.S. War Department issued General Order No. 143, authorizing the creation of the Bureau of Colored Troops. By the end of the Civil War, over 200,000 men, including white officers, served in 175 regiments of the USCT, which made up ten percent of the Union army. The compiled military records of the men who served in the USCT can be found in the National Archives and Records Administration. Updated January 26, 2026 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Written by Renée Ater Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Sculpture Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Colored Soldiers Monument (Frankfort, Kentucky) Subject The topic of the resource Subject (Topic) African Americans--History Cemeteries--Kentucky Kentucky--Frankfort United States Colored Troops Subject (Object Type) Commemorative sculpture Description An account of the resource The ten-foot limestone pillar was dedicated to 142 United States Colored Troop soldiers from Franklin County, Kentucky, who fought in the Civil War. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource July 4, 1924 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Women’s Relief Corps No. 8 of the Grand Army of the Republic Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource JPEG Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Visual Arts-Sculpture Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Green Hill Cemetery, Frankfort, Kentucky, 40601, United States Has Part A related resource that is included either physically or logically in the described resource. Inscription on the front of the limestone pillar: Erected by Woman's Relief Corp No. 8 *G. A. R.* July 1924 In Memory of the Colored Soldiers Franklin Co., KY Who Fought in the Civil War 1861-1865 The other three sides of the monument list the names of 142 African American soldiers. Extent The size or duration of the resource. 120 in. (304.8 cm) Medium The material or physical carrier of the resource. Limestone Bibliographic Citation A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible. Talbott, Tim. "Kentucky African American Civil War Memorial." Kentucky Historical Society. Accessed January 23, 2019. https://explorekyhistory.ky.gov/items/show/191. Alan Skerrett, Jr, ed. "Monuments to the United States Colored Troops (USCT) [African American Civil War Soldiers: The List." Jubilo! The Emancipation Century Blog, May 30, 2011. Accessed February 11, 2026. https://jubiloemancipationcentury.wordpress.com/2011/05/30/monuments-to-the-united-states-colored-troops-usct-the-list/. Rights Holder A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource. Renée Ater Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Unknown Alternative Title An alternative name for the resource. The distinction between titles and alternative titles is application-specific. Kentucky African American Civil War Memorial Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Photograph: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colored_Soldiers_Monument_in_Frankfort#/media/File:Colored_Soldiers_Monument_in_Frankfort_1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Wikipedia</a> Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource State of Kentucky, Frankfort, Kentucky, 40601, United States Civil War columns inscription names https://slaverymonuments.org/files/original/3d33891fdf86e182b98edac3c74ef7e9.jpg 2830a2fd6f6ca42b6d187550ac35c8d6 https://slaverymonuments.org/files/original/cdbb9b1366b0b3294724a175c441ec88.jpg 650f532e72f5e07ce8a4258d4e07656b https://slaverymonuments.org/files/original/81c94d49692d800a7d7fa7054e9112ad.jpg d1387564998ba1a03b348900408d3d1e https://slaverymonuments.org/files/original/ef293c9c334d9dff0008e3591fa6a615.jpg 6a6053438643c2c01c65555384c55006 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource United States Colored Troops (USCT) Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Renée Ater Description An account of the resource Included in this thematic collection are seventeen memorials that honor the vital contributions of the United States Colored Troops (USCT) to the Union victory during the American Civil War. The first all-Black units formed unofficially in Louisiana (Louisiana Native Guard, 1862); South Carolina (First South Carolina Volunteer Infantry, 1862-63); and Kansas (First Kansas Colored Infantry, 1862-63). The first official authorization to employ African Americans in federal service was the Second Confiscation and Militia Act of July 17, 1862. The Confiscation Act allowed Union officers to free enslaved men and put them to work as army laborers. However, Abraham Lincoln did not fully authorize the use of Black men in combat until the issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863. Beginning in late January 1863, Governor John A. Andrews of Massachusetts raised the first regiment of Black soldiers in the North, the Massachusetts 54th Volunteer Infantry. The abolitionist Frederick Douglass helped recruit men for the Massachusetts 54th, famously issuing a call to free African American men to join the Union Army. In a speech, “Men of Color, To Arms!”, delivered in Rochester, New York on March 2, 1863, Douglass urged his fellow free men of color to fight for the end of slavery and for their freedom: "By every consideration which binds you to your enslaved fellow-countrymen, and the peace and welfare of your country; by every aspiration which you cherish for the freedom and equality of yourselves and your children; by all the ties of blood and identity which make us one with the brave black men now fighting our battles in Louisiana and in South Carolina, I urge you to fly to arms, and smite with death the power that would bury the government and your liberty in the same hopeless grave." On May 22, 1863, the U.S. War Department issued General Order No. 143, authorizing the creation of the Bureau of Colored Troops. By the end of the Civil War, over 200,000 men, including white officers, served in 175 regiments of the USCT, which made up ten percent of the Union army. The compiled military records of the men who served in the USCT can be found in the National Archives and Records Administration. Updated January 26, 2026 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Written by Renée Ater Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Sculpture Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource United States Colored Troops Memorial Statue (Lexington Park, Maryland) Subject The topic of the resource Subject (Topic) African Americans--History Maryland--Lexington Park Public art Public sculpture United States Colored Troops Subject (Object Type) Commemorative sculpture Description An account of the resource The life-size bronze sculpture of a United States Colored Troop soldier, rifle held over his shoulder as he strides forward. The figure stand on 6-foot granite pedestal, which features two bronze plaques bearing a dedicatory inscription, as well as the names of the 700 Black soldiers from St. Mary’s County who fought for the Union Army during the Civil War. The plaque takes special care to note the three men from St. Mary’s County who received a Medal of Honor during the war. Two of the men, Sgt. William Barnes and Sgt. James Harris were members of the 38th Colored Troops. The third Medal of Honor recipient, a White man, was U.S. Navy Quarter Master Joseph Hayden. Just in front of the statue, is a placard with didactic information that describes the important role of African Americans during the Civil War. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource June 16, 2012 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Idolia Shubrooks; Committee for Afro-American Contributions (UCAC); Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War; Maryland General Assembly Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource JPEG Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Visual Arts-Sculpture Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant John G. Lancaster Park, 21550 Willows Road, Lexington Park, Maryland, 20653, United States Has Part A related resource that is included either physically or logically in the described resource. Bronze plaque on the front of the plinth: United States Colored Troops (USCT) This monument is dedicated in grateful tribute to the United States Colored Troops of St. Mary’s County. It honors medal of honor recipients, all Union Soldiers, and Sailors from Saint Mary’s County who served during the Civil War (1861-1865) Dedicated June 16, 2012 All honor and all glory to the emancipated slaves, freedmen, and all noble sons of St. Mary’s County who fought during the Civil War to save the Union and secure the heritage of human freedom. Includes list of names of the men who served from St. Mary's County. Information plaque at the memorial: African Americans have served in every war since the American Revolution. During the Civil War, more that 180,000 African Americans comprising 170 units served in the Union Army and 29,511 served in the Union Navy. Nearly 700 United States Colored Troops (USCT) from St. Mary’s County served in the war. The vast majority of Union soldiers from St. Mary’s County were of African descent. Muster rolls indicate USCT soldiers from the county enlisted not only in Maryland regiments, but in many regiments outside the state of Maryland and all across the country. At the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861, there were very few African Americans on the military rolls of the Union Army. The United States Navy continued to enlist Black seamen, but there was a quota and those who became regulars did menial labor. President Lincoln and his advisers believed that the regular Army and volunteers would be sufficient to win the war. Marylanders were divided over whether to remain loyal to the Union or support the Confederacy. White landowners in St. Mary’s County and other Southern Maryland counties aligned themselves with the Confederacy. Throughout the United States, African Americans were eager to enlist in the Union Army and saw southern Whites and their sympathizers as traitors who wanted to overthrow the government to perpetuate slavery. Prominent leaders including Frederic Douglass and Robert Smalls appealed to the federal government to change the military laws and allow African Americans to fight for their own freedom. The policy on enlisting African American soldiers changed as the war progressed. In July of 1862, Congress passed the Militia Act of 1862. It had become an “indispensable military necessity” to call on African American men to help save the Union. On September 27, 1862, the first regiment to become a USCT regiment was brought into the Union Army. After January 1, 1863, when the Emancipation Proclamation was issued, the War Department authorized the recruiting of African American soldiers. Recruitment efforts intensified and slave owners were offered monetary compensation for releasing enslaved men to enlist. By the end of 1863, General Ulysses S. Grant viewed the African American soldier as a “powerful ally.” President Lincoln made it clear to military authorities and citizens alike that African American soldiers were to be accorded the rights and privileges of bearing arms in support of the Union Army. Both freemen and slaves joined the fight. In spite of harsh conditions and inadequate supplies, these soldiers went on to participate in some of the most important and brutal battles of the war. African Americans proved themselves as reputable soldiers many times over, yet discrimination in pay and other areas remained widespread. The bravery, courage and skill demonstrated by these soldiers attested to their determination to prove themselves not just as soldiers but as individuals and as a race. When the liberated received the chance to become liberators, they fought hard and many lost their lives to uphold the virtues of freedom and equality. Text drawn from sources including curriculum developed for the Maryland Department of Education by Reginald Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History & Culture. On the Home Front Families of African American soldiers often suffered hardships as well. Women and children left behind frequently had to shoulder extra work loads and responsibilities and in some cases may have received harsh treatment from resentful slave holders. Letters from soldiers who faced danger on the battlefield were full of pride and faith in their cause and were treasured by their loved ones at home. (Photo of a Union soldier and his family, courtesy of The Library of Congress) “My dear girl, I hope again to see you. I must bid you farewell should I be killed. Remember, if I die, I die in a good cause. I wish we had a hundred thousand colored troops … We would put an end to this war.” From The Mind of the Negro as reflected in Letters Written during the Crisis: 1800-1860. Carter G. Woodson, ed. 1926. Men of Valor Sergeant James H. Harris (photo) The Civil War experiences of Maryland’s African American soldiers in general and, in particular, those from St. Mary’s County were plagued by discrimination and hardship. But, by the time the last bullets were fired and all the dust had settled, the exertions and accomplishments of these tried and proven men represented a critical step towards the greater goal of social equality for which they struggled and fought. (Brennan Davis) St. Mary’s County produced two USCT Civil War Congressional Medal of Honor recipients, Private (later Sergeant) William H. Barnes and Sergeant James H. Harris. Both were enlisted in the 38th United States Colored Infantry Regiment organized in Virginia. They were cited for their gallantry in the Battle of New Market Heights in Virginia, sometimes referred to as the Battle of Chaffin’s Farm. This battle was fought September 29-30 in 1864. Slavery was abolished in Maryland with the 1864 State Constitution. After the War Many former USCT soldiers had difficulty obtaining pensions and receiving recognition after the war. However, veterans in some parts of the country were able to become state and national political leaders and often played active roles in their local communities as well. In St. Mary’s County, veterans became teachers, ministers, and business owners. Galilee United Methodist Church in Oakville and St. Lukes United Methodist Church in Ridge were founded by veterans. Although Galilee Church no longer exists, the cemetery remains, and USCT soldiers are buried at the site. St. Luke’s continues as an active congregation. Today, many St. Mary’s County residents are proud descendants of those who served in the USCT. (Photos of St. Luke’s Methodist Church in Ridge and Galilee Cemetery in Oakville) A Granddaughter’s Mission Idolia Shubrooks worked for over 20 years to make the United States Colored Troops Memorial Monument a reality. It became her personal mission after finding her grandfather’s history with the USCT muster papers. She researched her grandfather’s history with the USCT and worked with the Unified Committee for Afro-American Contributions and Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War to educate the community about this vital part of our forgotten local heritage. The completed project creates a legacy which serves to share and preserve our history for future generations. The vision for this monument grew out of the day that Idolia Shubrooks discovered her grandfather Alexander Armstrong’s USCT muster papers in a keepsake box. Medium The material or physical carrier of the resource. Bronze; Granite Bibliographic Citation A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible. Jacqui Atkielski. "Monument Honoring St. Mary's Veterans Was a Labor of Love." Southern Maryland Newspapers Online. Accessed January 23, 2019. https://www.somdnews.com/bonus/memorial_day/monument-honoring-st-mary-s-veterans-was-a-labor-of/article_6099e2e1-0bdc-5095-9593-812d4e040f15.html. Alan Skerrett, Jr, ed. "Monuments to the United States Colored Troops (USCT) [African American Civil War Soldiers: The List." Jubilo! The Emancipation Century Blog, May 30, 2011. Accessed February 11, 2026. https://jubiloemancipationcentury.wordpress.com/2011/05/30/monuments-to-the-united-states-colored-troops-usct-the-list/. Rights Holder A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource. Renée Ater Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Casteel, Gary , 1946- Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Photographs by Renée Ater, 2012 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource St. Mary's County Maryland, 41770 Baldridge Street, Leonardtown, Maryland, 20650, United States bronze Civil War figurative granite names https://slaverymonuments.org/files/original/07e8d06b42dcd635d7893f98e3be2c35.jpg da1b4a35945d5615d44c53f4cac75845 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource United States Colored Troops (USCT) Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Renée Ater Description An account of the resource Included in this thematic collection are seventeen memorials that honor the vital contributions of the United States Colored Troops (USCT) to the Union victory during the American Civil War. The first all-Black units formed unofficially in Louisiana (Louisiana Native Guard, 1862); South Carolina (First South Carolina Volunteer Infantry, 1862-63); and Kansas (First Kansas Colored Infantry, 1862-63). The first official authorization to employ African Americans in federal service was the Second Confiscation and Militia Act of July 17, 1862. The Confiscation Act allowed Union officers to free enslaved men and put them to work as army laborers. However, Abraham Lincoln did not fully authorize the use of Black men in combat until the issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863. Beginning in late January 1863, Governor John A. Andrews of Massachusetts raised the first regiment of Black soldiers in the North, the Massachusetts 54th Volunteer Infantry. The abolitionist Frederick Douglass helped recruit men for the Massachusetts 54th, famously issuing a call to free African American men to join the Union Army. In a speech, “Men of Color, To Arms!”, delivered in Rochester, New York on March 2, 1863, Douglass urged his fellow free men of color to fight for the end of slavery and for their freedom: "By every consideration which binds you to your enslaved fellow-countrymen, and the peace and welfare of your country; by every aspiration which you cherish for the freedom and equality of yourselves and your children; by all the ties of blood and identity which make us one with the brave black men now fighting our battles in Louisiana and in South Carolina, I urge you to fly to arms, and smite with death the power that would bury the government and your liberty in the same hopeless grave." On May 22, 1863, the U.S. War Department issued General Order No. 143, authorizing the creation of the Bureau of Colored Troops. By the end of the Civil War, over 200,000 men, including white officers, served in 175 regiments of the USCT, which made up ten percent of the Union army. The compiled military records of the men who served in the USCT can be found in the National Archives and Records Administration. Updated January 26, 2026 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Written by Renée Ater Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Sculpture Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Black Soldiers Memorial (Danbury, Connecticut) Subject The topic of the resource Subject (Topic) African Americans--History Connecticut--Danbury Cemeteries--Connecticut United States Colored Troops Subject (Object Type) Commemorative sculpture Description An account of the resource Located in Wooster Cemetery, the black granite memorial, which resembles the adjacent grave markers, is dedicated to Black soldiers who served in the 29th and 30th Colored Regiments. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource May 21, 2007 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource JPEG Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Visual Arts-Sculpture Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Wooster Cemetery, 20 Ellsworth Ave, Danbury, Connecticut 06810, United States Has Part A related resource that is included either physically or logically in the described resource. Inscription on the front of the memorial: Dedicated to the memory of the black soldiers of Greater Danbury who served in the 29th and 30th Regiments Conn. Volunteer Infantry during the Civil War 1861-1865. Above the inscription is an image of the Grand Army of the Republic medal. Inscription on the back of the memorial: 29th Conn Infantry Pvt James Adams • + Cpl Charles Aray • Pvt William Armstrong • Pvt William Avery • Cpl Allen Banks • Pvt Willis Banks • Pvt Joseph Barker • Cpl James Brewster • + Pvt Elbert Brown • Pvt Jerome Brown • Pvt Thomas Burr • Pvt Henry Butler • Cpl Joseph Butler • Sgt George Carpenter • Pvt John Carpenter • + Cpl Lewis Claggett • + Pvt John Colley • Pvt Hiram Cornell • Pvt Richard Deming • + Pvt Francis Dennis • Pvt Lewis Drake • Pvt Joseph Edwards • + Sgt James Evans • Pvt Henry Franklin • Pvt Sylvester Freeman • Pvt George Gaull • Cpl Isaac Gaull • Pvt Jeremiah Godfrey • Pvt George Green • Pvt John Hall • + Pvt Albert Halstead • Cpl George Halstead • + Pvt William Hammer • + Pvt James Hawley • Pvt Richard Heacock • Pvt Charles Jackson • Pvt Daniel Jackson • Cpl Henry Jackson • Pvt William Jackson• Pvt Cato Johnson • Pvt William Johnson • Pvt John Jones • + Pvt John Knapp • + Sgt William Morrison • Pvt Andrew Nash • + Pvt Theodore Nelson • Pvt Ezra Nichols • + Pvt Charles Overton • Sgt James Parker • Pvt Henry Pease • Pvt Chauncey Phillips • + Pvt Chester Phillips • Pvt Granville Phillips • Pvt Albert Pine • Cpl William Pine • Pvt Albert Prince • Pvt Henry Randolph • 1Sg Charles Richards • Pvt Matthew Rigby • Pvt John Scott • Pvt Tallman Simons • + Pvt John Smalley • Pvt Charles Smith • Cpl Martin Tallman • Cpl Charles Thomas • Cpl Edward Voorhies • Pvt John Watson • Pvt Robert West • Pvt John Weston • + Pvt Lafayette Williams 30th Conn Infantry Pvt Charles Clark • Pvt Granville Coy • + Cpl Mcalister Craig • Pvt Asa Franklin • + Pvt William Jemmison • Pvt Samuel Johnson • + Pvt Thomas Sherman • Pvt John Steadwell • Pvt John Wood 8th Conn Infantry + Pvt Philip Jacklin 2nd U.S.C.T. Pvt William Brooks 26th U.S.C.T. Pvt William Brown • Pvt George Dunbar • Pvt Milton Dunbar • Pvt Lewis Hines U.S. Navy Moses Blake • William Phillips • James Walter • George Washington 62nd NY Infantry Pvt Charles Dobbs + Died in Service to His Country Medium The material or physical carrier of the resource. Black granite Bibliographic Citation A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible. Alan Skerrett, Jr, ed. "Monuments to the United States Colored Troops (USCT) [African American Civil War Soldiers: The List." Jubilo! The Emancipation Century Blog, May 30, 2011. Accessed February 11, 2026. https://jubiloemancipationcentury.wordpress.com/2011/05/30/monuments-to-the-united-states-colored-troops-usct-the-list/. Rights Holder A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource. Renée Ater Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Unknown Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Photograph: <a href="https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=248825" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Historical Marker Database</a> Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource City of Danbury; Wooster Cemetery Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource City of Danbury, 155 Deer Hill Avenue, Danbury, Connecticut, 06810, United States black granite Civil War inscription https://slaverymonuments.org/files/original/7a209a02b934d468734c38e1d233cdd0.jpg cf3e22d46f30d9288228a02b2b1631ad Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource United States Colored Troops (USCT) Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Renée Ater Description An account of the resource Included in this thematic collection are seventeen memorials that honor the vital contributions of the United States Colored Troops (USCT) to the Union victory during the American Civil War. The first all-Black units formed unofficially in Louisiana (Louisiana Native Guard, 1862); South Carolina (First South Carolina Volunteer Infantry, 1862-63); and Kansas (First Kansas Colored Infantry, 1862-63). The first official authorization to employ African Americans in federal service was the Second Confiscation and Militia Act of July 17, 1862. The Confiscation Act allowed Union officers to free enslaved men and put them to work as army laborers. However, Abraham Lincoln did not fully authorize the use of Black men in combat until the issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863. Beginning in late January 1863, Governor John A. Andrews of Massachusetts raised the first regiment of Black soldiers in the North, the Massachusetts 54th Volunteer Infantry. The abolitionist Frederick Douglass helped recruit men for the Massachusetts 54th, famously issuing a call to free African American men to join the Union Army. In a speech, “Men of Color, To Arms!”, delivered in Rochester, New York on March 2, 1863, Douglass urged his fellow free men of color to fight for the end of slavery and for their freedom: "By every consideration which binds you to your enslaved fellow-countrymen, and the peace and welfare of your country; by every aspiration which you cherish for the freedom and equality of yourselves and your children; by all the ties of blood and identity which make us one with the brave black men now fighting our battles in Louisiana and in South Carolina, I urge you to fly to arms, and smite with death the power that would bury the government and your liberty in the same hopeless grave." On May 22, 1863, the U.S. War Department issued General Order No. 143, authorizing the creation of the Bureau of Colored Troops. By the end of the Civil War, over 200,000 men, including white officers, served in 175 regiments of the USCT, which made up ten percent of the Union army. The compiled military records of the men who served in the USCT can be found in the National Archives and Records Administration. Updated January 26, 2026 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Written by Renée Ater Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Sculpture Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource The 29th Colored Regiment Monument (New Haven, Connecticut) Subject The topic of the resource Subject (Topic) African Americans--History Connecticut--New Haven Public art Public sculpture United States Colored Troops Subject (Object Type) Commemorative sculpture Description An account of the resource The memorial features a black granite obelisk, partially encircled by eight stone markers featuring the names of the members of the 29th Colored Regiments. The obelisk itself includes images and/or texts on all four sides. The west side features a bronze plaque with a bronze bas-relief that depicts soldiers carrying the flag of the 29th Regiment and the U. S. flag. The plaque also shows the unit’s dates of engagement and the names of those killed in battle or who died of disease. The south side of the obelisk gives a history of the regiment. The east side presents two photographs etched into the granite of Alexander H. Newton and Daniel S. Lathrop, the two members who achieved the unit’s highest rank of sergeant major. The north side includes the work’s dedicatory information. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Hamilton, Ed, 1947- Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource September 20, 2008 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource JPEG Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Visual Arts-Sculpture Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Criscuolo Park, Chapel and James Streets, New Haven, Connecticut, 06513, United States Has Part A related resource that is included either physically or logically in the described resource. Inscription on the west face of the obelisk: The Connecticut Twenty-Ninth Colored Regiment C.V. Infantry Battle Engagements New Market Road-- October 13, 1864 Darbytown Road--October 13, 1864 Kell House/Fair Oaks-- October 27-28, 1864 Chaffins Farm-- September 29, 1864 Petersburg-- September 24, 1864 Richmond-- September 29, 1863 Officers died of disease: 1 Officer killed or mortally wounded: 1 Enlisted men killed or mortally wounded: 44 Enlisted men died of disease or accident: 152 Inscription on the south face of the obelisk: History of Regiment Recruiting for the 29th Regiment Connecticut Volunteers Colored began early in the autumn of 1863. Most of the men came to the regiment for training at a place called Grapevine Point now called Criscuolo Park. This part is located at East Chapel Street and James Street. The 29th Connecticut Infantry was organized at Fair Haven and mustered in on 8 March 1864. On this date, the regiment was formally mustered into the service of the United States. On March 4th LT. Colonel William B. Wooster, Formerly of the 20th Connecticut Volunteers assumed command of the regiment. On March 19th, the regiment formed in line, and after the presentation of a flag by the Colored Ladies of New Haven, marched on board the transport “Warrior”. On March 10th, the regiment sailed out of the New Harbor and disembarked an Annapolis, Maryland. Service Moved from Beaufort, SC to Bermuda Humored, VA 8-13 August 1864, Siege operations against Petersburg and Richmond 13 August 1864 to 2 April 1864. Inscription on the north face of the obelisk: Dedicated By the Descendants of the Connecticut 29th Colored Regiment C.V. Infantry 2008 Bibliographic Citation A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible. Tedeschi, Bob. "An Honor for Troops Who Withstood Dishonor." New York Times, August 29, 2008. Accessed January 23, 2019. https://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/31/nyregion/nyregionspecial2/31colct.html. Alan Skerrett, Jr, ed. "Monuments to the United States Colored Troops (USCT) [African American Civil War Soldiers: The List." Jubilo! The Emancipation Century Blog, May 30, 2011. Accessed February 11, 2026. https://jubiloemancipationcentury.wordpress.com/2011/05/30/monuments-to-the-united-states-colored-troops-usct-the-list/. Rights Holder A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource. Renée Ater Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Photograph: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/29th_Colored_Regiment_Monument#/media/File:29th_Colored_Infantry_Monument_Front1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Wikipedia</a> Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Descendants of the Connecticut 29th Colored Regiment C.V. Infantry 2008 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Arts, Culture & Tourism, City of New Haven, 165 Church Street, 2nd Floor, New Haven, Connecticut, 06510, United States Medium The material or physical carrier of the resource. Black granite bas-relief black granite Civil War inscription names obelisk https://slaverymonuments.org/files/original/dc6552f089a8f073f878fa3309650f88.jpg fa4f19de999f8b4dfc99dd9ccd429b8c https://slaverymonuments.org/files/original/2469f2e8ad4cb00a8143f4245cd44c3c.jpg d1d0e5b5da2b0e4d72ba24e38ebfc198 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource United States Colored Troops (USCT) Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Renée Ater Description An account of the resource Included in this thematic collection are seventeen memorials that honor the vital contributions of the United States Colored Troops (USCT) to the Union victory during the American Civil War. The first all-Black units formed unofficially in Louisiana (Louisiana Native Guard, 1862); South Carolina (First South Carolina Volunteer Infantry, 1862-63); and Kansas (First Kansas Colored Infantry, 1862-63). The first official authorization to employ African Americans in federal service was the Second Confiscation and Militia Act of July 17, 1862. The Confiscation Act allowed Union officers to free enslaved men and put them to work as army laborers. However, Abraham Lincoln did not fully authorize the use of Black men in combat until the issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863. Beginning in late January 1863, Governor John A. Andrews of Massachusetts raised the first regiment of Black soldiers in the North, the Massachusetts 54th Volunteer Infantry. The abolitionist Frederick Douglass helped recruit men for the Massachusetts 54th, famously issuing a call to free African American men to join the Union Army. In a speech, “Men of Color, To Arms!”, delivered in Rochester, New York on March 2, 1863, Douglass urged his fellow free men of color to fight for the end of slavery and for their freedom: "By every consideration which binds you to your enslaved fellow-countrymen, and the peace and welfare of your country; by every aspiration which you cherish for the freedom and equality of yourselves and your children; by all the ties of blood and identity which make us one with the brave black men now fighting our battles in Louisiana and in South Carolina, I urge you to fly to arms, and smite with death the power that would bury the government and your liberty in the same hopeless grave." On May 22, 1863, the U.S. War Department issued General Order No. 143, authorizing the creation of the Bureau of Colored Troops. By the end of the Civil War, over 200,000 men, including white officers, served in 175 regiments of the USCT, which made up ten percent of the Union army. The compiled military records of the men who served in the USCT can be found in the National Archives and Records Administration. Updated January 26, 2026 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Written by Renée Ater Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Sculpture Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 56th United States Colored Infantry Monument (St. Louis, Missouri) Subject The topic of the resource Subject (Topic) African Americans--History Cemeteries--Missouri Missouri--St. Louis United States Colored Troops United States--Missouri--Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery Subject (Object Type) Commemorative sculpture Description An account of the resource The marble obelisk, which stands on a square stone base, honors the memory of the 173 African American soldiers of the 56th United States Colored Infantry who died of cholera in August 1866. The soldiers were originally buried at the city's old quarantine hospital near the Mississippi River. In 1939, responding to the organizing efforts of local citizens, the War Department reburied the soldiers at the Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. In the summer of 2014, the Veterans Administration, at the urging of local community members, placed a marker next to the obelisk that includes the names of the 118 soldiers of the 56th U.S. Colored Infantry who are buried at the site, plus 55 soldiers whose remains were never recovered. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource May 1936 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Members of the 56th United States Colored Infantry; Joseph E. Mitchell; Jacob Kuhl; War Department Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource JPEG Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Visual Arts-Sculpture Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, 2900 Sheridan Rd, St. Louis, Missouri 63125, United States Has Part A related resource that is included either physically or logically in the described resource. Inscription on obelisk: To the memory of 175 non com. officers and privates of the 56. U.S.C. Infty. Died of cholera in August 1866. Bronze plaque on base of obelisk: 1863- 1866 56th U.S. Colored Infantry Their Memory Will Not Perish Brigadier General N. B. Buford July 27, 1864 This Monument and Remains Were Removed from Quarantine Station, M.O. By Authority of War Department Collaborating with Citizens Committee, And Dedicated May 1939 Joseph E. Mitchell, Chairman Bronze plaque added August 2014: Dedicated to the soldiers of the 56th Regiment U. S. Colored Troops who died of cholera while in transport along the Mississippi River and at St. Louis, Missouri, in summer 1866. In 1939, the remains of many of these soldiers , buried in the Koch Hpspital Cemetery, were reinterred here. A marble obelisk that was placed at the hospital cemetery was also moved here. The soldiers buried here are: <a href="https://www.slaverymonuments.org/files/original/2469f2e8ad4cb00a8143f4245cd44c3c.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">See photograph for list of names</a> Other soldiers in the same regiment who died while in transport along the Mississippi River and whose remains are unrecoverable are memorialized here: <a href="https://www.slaverymonuments.org/files/original/2469f2e8ad4cb00a8143f4245cd44c3c.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">See photograph for list of names</a> May They Rest in Peace. August 2014. Medium The material or physical carrier of the resource. Marble; Bronze Bibliographic Citation A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible. Leonard, Mary Delach. "African-American Union Army Soldiers Died on Their Way Home from War; Then History Lost Their Names." St. Louis Public Radio. Accessed January 23, 2019. https://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/african-american-union-army-soldiers-died-their-way-home-war-then-history-lost-their-names#stream/0. Alan Skerrett, Jr, ed. "Monuments to the United States Colored Troops (USCT) [African American Civil War Soldiers: The List." Jubilo! The Emancipation Century Blog, May 30, 2011. Accessed February 11, 2026. https://jubiloemancipationcentury.wordpress.com/2011/05/30/monuments-to-the-united-states-colored-troops-usct-the-list/. Rights Holder A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource. Renée Ater Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Unknown Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Photograph: <a href="https://www.stlpr.org/arts/2015-05-24/african-american-union-army-soldiers-died-on-their-way-home-from-war-then-history-lost-their-names#stream/0" target="_blank" rel="noopener">St. Louis National Public Radio</a> Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource National Cemetery Administration, U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC, United States Civil War granite inscription obelisk https://slaverymonuments.org/files/original/79d9392eef3adff22ced0e36fec19835.jpg 34d864584fc8cf8f1890c19c0d2aa3a9 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource United States Colored Troops (USCT) Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Renée Ater Description An account of the resource Included in this thematic collection are seventeen memorials that honor the vital contributions of the United States Colored Troops (USCT) to the Union victory during the American Civil War. The first all-Black units formed unofficially in Louisiana (Louisiana Native Guard, 1862); South Carolina (First South Carolina Volunteer Infantry, 1862-63); and Kansas (First Kansas Colored Infantry, 1862-63). The first official authorization to employ African Americans in federal service was the Second Confiscation and Militia Act of July 17, 1862. The Confiscation Act allowed Union officers to free enslaved men and put them to work as army laborers. However, Abraham Lincoln did not fully authorize the use of Black men in combat until the issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863. Beginning in late January 1863, Governor John A. Andrews of Massachusetts raised the first regiment of Black soldiers in the North, the Massachusetts 54th Volunteer Infantry. The abolitionist Frederick Douglass helped recruit men for the Massachusetts 54th, famously issuing a call to free African American men to join the Union Army. In a speech, “Men of Color, To Arms!”, delivered in Rochester, New York on March 2, 1863, Douglass urged his fellow free men of color to fight for the end of slavery and for their freedom: "By every consideration which binds you to your enslaved fellow-countrymen, and the peace and welfare of your country; by every aspiration which you cherish for the freedom and equality of yourselves and your children; by all the ties of blood and identity which make us one with the brave black men now fighting our battles in Louisiana and in South Carolina, I urge you to fly to arms, and smite with death the power that would bury the government and your liberty in the same hopeless grave." On May 22, 1863, the U.S. War Department issued General Order No. 143, authorizing the creation of the Bureau of Colored Troops. By the end of the Civil War, over 200,000 men, including white officers, served in 175 regiments of the USCT, which made up ten percent of the Union army. The compiled military records of the men who served in the USCT can be found in the National Archives and Records Administration. Updated January 26, 2026 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Written by Renée Ater Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Sculpture Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource The Forgotten Soldier Memorial (Key West, Florida) Subject The topic of the resource Subject (Topic) African Americans--History Florida--Key West Public art Public sculpture United States Colored Troops Subject (Object Type) Commemorative sculpture Description An account of the resource The bronze sculpture depicts a uniformed USCT soldier holding a rifled musket in his left hand, while his right arm is outstretched over his head. He wears a standard Union military uniform, including a forage cap; a collared button-down coat; a wide belt with a U. S. brass buckle and a leather cap box attached to the belt; trousers; and boots. The memorial sits in the Key West Veterans Memorial Garden in Bayview Park. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource February 16, 2016 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Edward Knight Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource JPEG Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Visual Arts-Sculpture Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Key West Veterans Memorial Garden, Bayview Park, José Martí Drive and Truman Drive, Key West, Florida, 33040, United States Has Part A related resource that is included either physically or logically in the described resource. Bronze plaque on base: In January of 1863, Col. James Montgomery of Kansas was authorized to raise regiments of troops consisting entirely of free blacks and former refugee slaves. The following month, he arrived in Key West to recruit men for that regiment. All Africans between the ages of 15 and 50 not in the services were ordered to report for medical examination and, if capable of bearing arms, to embark on the US Steamer Cosmopolitan for transport to Hilton Head to serve in the 2nd South Carolina Regiment. Some of these men returned to Key West after the war and started families. Several more were injured. At least 18 of them paid the ultimate price. These men served with great distinction, but their names were lost to time. This monument honors their courage, their actions, and their sacrifice, but most importantly, stands to make sure these men are never forgotten again. Medium The material or physical carrier of the resource. Bronze; concrete Bibliographic Citation A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible. City of Key West. "Forgotten Soldier Sculpture Unveiled In Key West, February 16, 2016." YouTube. Accessed February 15, 2026. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cvbte6dNCAM. Alan Skerrett, Jr, ed. "Monuments to the United States Colored Troops (USCT) [African American Civil War Soldiers: The List." Jubilo! The Emancipation Century Blog, May 30, 2011. Accessed February 11, 2026. https://jubiloemancipationcentury.wordpress.com/2011/05/30/monuments-to-the-united-states-colored-troops-usct-the-list/. Rights Holder A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource. Renée Ater Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Unknown Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Photograph: <a href="https://key-west-veterans-memorial-garden-at-bayview-park.wheree.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Wheree</a> Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource City of Key West, 1300 White Street, Key West, Florida, 33040, United States bronze Civil War figurative https://slaverymonuments.org/files/original/ab0b45d719441db1ceefdcaad737dbd7.jpg 3afb8822f98079b1ddd7eb0c14c3083d Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource United States Colored Troops (USCT) Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Renée Ater Description An account of the resource Included in this thematic collection are seventeen memorials that honor the vital contributions of the United States Colored Troops (USCT) to the Union victory during the American Civil War. The first all-Black units formed unofficially in Louisiana (Louisiana Native Guard, 1862); South Carolina (First South Carolina Volunteer Infantry, 1862-63); and Kansas (First Kansas Colored Infantry, 1862-63). The first official authorization to employ African Americans in federal service was the Second Confiscation and Militia Act of July 17, 1862. The Confiscation Act allowed Union officers to free enslaved men and put them to work as army laborers. However, Abraham Lincoln did not fully authorize the use of Black men in combat until the issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863. Beginning in late January 1863, Governor John A. Andrews of Massachusetts raised the first regiment of Black soldiers in the North, the Massachusetts 54th Volunteer Infantry. The abolitionist Frederick Douglass helped recruit men for the Massachusetts 54th, famously issuing a call to free African American men to join the Union Army. In a speech, “Men of Color, To Arms!”, delivered in Rochester, New York on March 2, 1863, Douglass urged his fellow free men of color to fight for the end of slavery and for their freedom: "By every consideration which binds you to your enslaved fellow-countrymen, and the peace and welfare of your country; by every aspiration which you cherish for the freedom and equality of yourselves and your children; by all the ties of blood and identity which make us one with the brave black men now fighting our battles in Louisiana and in South Carolina, I urge you to fly to arms, and smite with death the power that would bury the government and your liberty in the same hopeless grave." On May 22, 1863, the U.S. War Department issued General Order No. 143, authorizing the creation of the Bureau of Colored Troops. By the end of the Civil War, over 200,000 men, including white officers, served in 175 regiments of the USCT, which made up ten percent of the Union army. The compiled military records of the men who served in the USCT can be found in the National Archives and Records Administration. Updated January 26, 2026 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Written by Renée Ater Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Sculpture Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource West Point Monument (Norfolk, Virginia) Subject The topic of the resource Subject (Topic) African Americans--History Cemeteries--Virginia United States Colored Troops Virginia--Norfolk Subject (Name) Carney, William Harvey, 1840-1908 Subject (Object Type) Commemorative sculpture Description An account of the resource Atop a large square column of limestone, the figure of the Norfolk native Sergeant William H. Carney of the Massachusetts 54th Volunteer Infantry Regiment is depicted, dressed in his military uniform. Carney is the first African American to receive the Medal of Honor for his courageous actions at the Battle of Fort Wagner in South Carolina. The base of the monument, built as a tribute to African American veterans of the Civil War and Spanish American War, contains a number of bronze and marble plaques. The concrete and granite base were installed in 1906; the statue of Sgt. William H. Carney Jr. was installed and dedicated in 1920. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1920 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Norfolk Memorial Assocation; James E. Fuller Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource JPEG Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Visual Arts-Sculpture Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Elmwod Cemetery, 238 E. Princess Anne Road, Norfolk, Virginia, 23510, United States Has Part A related resource that is included either physically or logically in the described resource. The top bronze plaque on north face of the monument: A shield with a relief of a Maltese Cross placed over crossed rifles and an eagle with outstretched wings with the dates 1861 - 1865 and 1920. The bottom square bronze plaque on north face of the monument: Erected by the Norfolk Memorial Association to the Memory of our Heroes 1861-1865 Left marble plaques on the east face: Langston Camp No. 1 -- United Spanish War Vets Middle marble plaque on east face: The Whole of Section No. 20 Donated to the Union Veterans Hall Association by a resolution proposed by Comrade James E. Fuller; adopted by the Common Council March 3rd 1886, and by the Select Council April 13th 1886. This monument Alter[sic} Laid for dedication May 30th 1906 by the Norfolk Memorial Association to receive the shalt already pledged by the citizens in honor of all the colored soldiers and sailors buried in West Point Cemetery and Berkley from 1860 to the last veteran to be buried in these Cemeteries, as amended and approved by contributors March 2nd 1906. Founders of Norfolk Memorial Asso. Jas E. Fuller, 1st President Mrs. R. Langley, 1st Vice President Mrs. L. J. Lynch, 1st Secretary James P. Carter, President Abel C. Carter, Secretary Magnes Riggins Treasurer James E. Fuller, Custodian Right marble plaque on east face: National Camp No. 2 - United Spanish War Vets Marble plaque on north face: Shaw Post No. 5 - G.A.R.- Shaw Woman Relief Corps No. 3 Left marble plaque on west face: John C. Fow - Post No. 67 - G.A.R. Middle marble plaque on west face: Caillioux Post No. 2 - G. A. R. - Cailloux Woman Relief Corps No. 1 Right marble plaque on west face: Ladies Aux. No. 4 - U.S.W.V. Marble plaque on south face: Dahlgren Post No 4. - G.A.R. - Dahlgren Woman Relief Corps No. 12 Bibliographic Citation A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible. Leib, Jonathan. "A Tale of Two Civil War Statues: Teaching the Geographies of Memory and Heritage in Norfolk, Virginia." Southeastern Geographer 52, no. 4 (Winter 2012): 398-412. Alan Skerrett, Jr, ed. "Monuments to the United States Colored Troops (USCT) [African American Civil War Soldiers: The List." Jubilo! The Emancipation Century Blog, May 30, 2011. Accessed February 11, 2026. https://jubiloemancipationcentury.wordpress.com/2011/05/30/monuments-to-the-united-states-colored-troops-usct-the-list/. Rights Holder A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource. Renée Ater Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Unknown Medium The material or physical carrier of the resource. Limestone; Granite; Concrete Alternative Title An alternative name for the resource. The distinction between titles and alternative titles is application-specific. Norfolk African-American Civil War Memorial Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Photograph: <a href="https://smarthistory.org/the-lost-cause-and-confederate-memory/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Smarthistory</a> Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Virginia Department of Historic Resources, 2801 Kensington Avenue, Richmond, Virginia, 23221, United States bronze Civil War columns figurative inscription https://slaverymonuments.org/files/original/b22e80b6d990d15a15e756e2ddc19160.JPG 17ad5a3a41e8aaa30e5041b5319f1b27 https://slaverymonuments.org/files/original/73476e653e703c6172b45686eb68dcd8.JPG f5005b92a659f1d4b916efdb4d0c2a39 https://slaverymonuments.org/files/original/1d0776149861e8e92b56d81ad66140f9.JPG 83c43f171b4f23b7874f30ff1cd1a945 https://slaverymonuments.org/files/original/059eed7b5d4e9d26ae42c44356c6bff8.JPG fe3063224e1a5aa991efc1dc55abba15 https://slaverymonuments.org/files/original/2ef9f07b66ce6d92b070645700a9faa3.JPG e22be2b88ea9495ba0e9405857ed4ea4 https://slaverymonuments.org/files/original/6035294d1c8595df0dd744e6f920b5d4.JPG 6a4d86e6253a6b446b33206a8c4d9dd9 https://slaverymonuments.org/files/original/76e0de8bef2e574b8c427c7cac4be599.JPG 31b81c47f564e025ef8b04d23fca00fd Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource United States Colored Troops (USCT) Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Renée Ater Description An account of the resource Included in this thematic collection are seventeen memorials that honor the vital contributions of the United States Colored Troops (USCT) to the Union victory during the American Civil War. The first all-Black units formed unofficially in Louisiana (Louisiana Native Guard, 1862); South Carolina (First South Carolina Volunteer Infantry, 1862-63); and Kansas (First Kansas Colored Infantry, 1862-63). The first official authorization to employ African Americans in federal service was the Second Confiscation and Militia Act of July 17, 1862. The Confiscation Act allowed Union officers to free enslaved men and put them to work as army laborers. However, Abraham Lincoln did not fully authorize the use of Black men in combat until the issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863. Beginning in late January 1863, Governor John A. Andrews of Massachusetts raised the first regiment of Black soldiers in the North, the Massachusetts 54th Volunteer Infantry. The abolitionist Frederick Douglass helped recruit men for the Massachusetts 54th, famously issuing a call to free African American men to join the Union Army. In a speech, “Men of Color, To Arms!”, delivered in Rochester, New York on March 2, 1863, Douglass urged his fellow free men of color to fight for the end of slavery and for their freedom: "By every consideration which binds you to your enslaved fellow-countrymen, and the peace and welfare of your country; by every aspiration which you cherish for the freedom and equality of yourselves and your children; by all the ties of blood and identity which make us one with the brave black men now fighting our battles in Louisiana and in South Carolina, I urge you to fly to arms, and smite with death the power that would bury the government and your liberty in the same hopeless grave." On May 22, 1863, the U.S. War Department issued General Order No. 143, authorizing the creation of the Bureau of Colored Troops. By the end of the Civil War, over 200,000 men, including white officers, served in 175 regiments of the USCT, which made up ten percent of the Union army. The compiled military records of the men who served in the USCT can be found in the National Archives and Records Administration. Updated January 26, 2026 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Written by Renée Ater Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Sculpture Physical Dimensions The actual physical size of the original image 108 in. (274.32 cm) Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource United States Colored Troops National Monument (Madison, Tennessee) Subject The topic of the resource Subject (Topic) African Americans--History Cemeteries--Tennessee Tennessee--Madison United States Colored Troops Subject (Object Type) Commemorative sculpture Description An account of the resource The life-sized bronze statue of a single Black soldier honors the contributions of the over 20,000 African American men from Tennessee who served in the Union Army. Standing among rows of white headstones, the soldier gazes solemnly into the distance. He wears Union military attire—complete with forage cap, collared coat, belt, trousers, and boots—and grips the barrel of his rifled musket, its butt resting on the ground beside his right foot. A cartridge box hangs at his right hip, its leather shoulder strap slung across his chest, the brass circular eagle plate prominently displayed in the center. A socket bayonet hangs from his belt, and a canteen, cup, and satchel are slung over his back. The statue rests on a square white stone pedestal, with a bronze plaque bearing an inscription. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Butler, Roy W. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource February 18, 2006 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource African American Cultural Alliance of Nashville United; Association for Black Veterans; Creative Artists of Tennessee Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource JPEG Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Visual Arts-Sculpture Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Nashville National Cemetery, 1420 Gallatin Pike South, Madison, Tennessee, 37115, United States Has Part A related resource that is included either physically or logically in the described resource. Bronze plaque on base of statue: In Memory of the 20,133 Who Served As United States Colored Troops In the Union Army Dedicated 2003 Sculptor: Roy W. Butler Model: William C. Radcliffe Presented by: The African American Cultural Alliance United Association for Black Veterans Creative Artists of Tennessee Extent The size or duration of the resource. 108 in. (274.32 cm) Medium The material or physical carrier of the resource. Bronze; White granite Bibliographic Citation A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible. Alan Skerrett, Jr, ed. "Monuments to the United States Colored Troops (USCT) [African American Civil War Soldiers: The List." Jubilo! The Emancipation Century Blog, May 30, 2011. Accessed February 11, 2026. https://jubiloemancipationcentury.wordpress.com/2011/05/30/monuments-to-the-united-states-colored-troops-usct-the-list/. Rights Holder A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource. Renée Ater Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Photographs by Renée Ater Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource National Cemetery Administration, U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC, United States bronze Civil War figurative granite https://slaverymonuments.org/files/original/694c3f9bb6adb28056360aa5529a9a6d.jpg f62c0b945df2ad6ace3df80a9d6bf072 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource United States Colored Troops (USCT) Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Renée Ater Description An account of the resource Included in this thematic collection are seventeen memorials that honor the vital contributions of the United States Colored Troops (USCT) to the Union victory during the American Civil War. The first all-Black units formed unofficially in Louisiana (Louisiana Native Guard, 1862); South Carolina (First South Carolina Volunteer Infantry, 1862-63); and Kansas (First Kansas Colored Infantry, 1862-63). The first official authorization to employ African Americans in federal service was the Second Confiscation and Militia Act of July 17, 1862. The Confiscation Act allowed Union officers to free enslaved men and put them to work as army laborers. However, Abraham Lincoln did not fully authorize the use of Black men in combat until the issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863. Beginning in late January 1863, Governor John A. Andrews of Massachusetts raised the first regiment of Black soldiers in the North, the Massachusetts 54th Volunteer Infantry. The abolitionist Frederick Douglass helped recruit men for the Massachusetts 54th, famously issuing a call to free African American men to join the Union Army. In a speech, “Men of Color, To Arms!”, delivered in Rochester, New York on March 2, 1863, Douglass urged his fellow free men of color to fight for the end of slavery and for their freedom: "By every consideration which binds you to your enslaved fellow-countrymen, and the peace and welfare of your country; by every aspiration which you cherish for the freedom and equality of yourselves and your children; by all the ties of blood and identity which make us one with the brave black men now fighting our battles in Louisiana and in South Carolina, I urge you to fly to arms, and smite with death the power that would bury the government and your liberty in the same hopeless grave." On May 22, 1863, the U.S. War Department issued General Order No. 143, authorizing the creation of the Bureau of Colored Troops. By the end of the Civil War, over 200,000 men, including white officers, served in 175 regiments of the USCT, which made up ten percent of the Union army. The compiled military records of the men who served in the USCT can be found in the National Archives and Records Administration. Updated January 26, 2026 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Written by Renée Ater Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Sculpture Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Colored Union Soldiers Monument (Hertford, North Carolina) Subject The topic of the resource Subject (Topic) African Americans--History North Carolina--Hertford United States Colored Troops Subject (Object Type) Commemorative sculpture Description An account of the resource The memorial consists of obelisk resting on a square plinth. It is engraved with text on two sides and is accompanied by a North Carolina Civil War Trails marker and informational placard. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1910 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource First Baptist Church; United Daughters of Union Veterans Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource JPEG Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Visual Arts-Sculpture Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Academy Green, King and Hyde Park Streets, Hertford, North Carolina, 27944, United States Has Part A related resource that is included either physically or logically in the described resource. Inscription on the front: In Memory Of the Colored Union Soldiers Who Faught in the War of 1861-1865 Inscription on the rear: Erected by the United Daughters of Veterans Informational placard, North Carolina Civil War Trails: News of the bombardment of Fort Sumter inspired many African American men to enlist in the U.S. armed forces, but federal law prohibited their service. Frederick Douglass and other black leaders urged changes to allow black enlistments. By mid-1862, as the numbers of white volunteers diminished, the needs of the U.S. Army grew, and the announcement of the Emancipation Proclamation became imminent, more voices called for black recruitment. The Proclamation, issued on January 1, 1863, formally authorized African American military service. By the end of the war, about 180,000 blacks – including some from Perquimans County – had borne arms in the U.S. Army (almost 10 percent of total enlistments) and about 19,000 had served in the U.S. Navy. To remember the county’s African American Union soldiers, women of the black community, many of them the wives and widows of those men, erected one of the few such monuments in the nation on Academy Green in 1910. Coordinated by First Baptist Church and the United Daughters of Union Veterans, the monument is inscribed “In Memory of the Colored Union Soldiers Who Fought in the War of 1861-1865.” Academy Green was the location of the county’s first black school, library, and church (present-day First Baptist Church), which freed-men formed in a bush shelter in 1866. The congregation later built a church across the street. They Answered the Call Three of the men whom this monument commemorates are buried in Perquimans County. Sgt. John Gordon served in Co. A 1st U.S.C.T., organized in Washington, D.C., in May-June 1863. The regiment fought in Virginia (Wilson’s Wharf, The Crater, New Market Heights) and North Carolina (Fort Fisher). It also participated in Gen. Edward A. Wild’s eastern N.C. expedition in Dec. 1863 and burned a Confederate camp near Hertford. It mustered out on Sept. 29, 1865. Pvt. John Sharp enlisted in Co. B. 37th U.S.C.T. at age 19 on Jan. 21, 1864, in Plymouth, N.C. His regiment fought at New Market Heights and Fort Fisher and mustered out on Feb. 11, 1867. Pvt. Arthur Mixon served in Co. G, 40th U.S.C.T., organized in Aug. 1864 in Tennessee, where it guarded railroads and bridges. It mustered out in Oct. 1865. Bibliographic Citation A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible. "Colored Union Soldiers Monument, Hertford." Commemorative Landscapes of North Carolina. Accessed January 22, 2019. https://docsouth.unc.edu/commland/monument/117/. Alan Skerrett, Jr, ed. "Monuments to the United States Colored Troops (USCT) [African American Civil War Soldiers: The List." Jubilo! The Emancipation Century Blog, May 30, 2011. Accessed February 11, 2026. https://jubiloemancipationcentury.wordpress.com/2011/05/30/monuments-to-the-united-states-colored-troops-usct-the-list/. Rights Holder A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource. Renée Ater Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Unknown Medium The material or physical carrier of the resource. Granite Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Photograph: <a href="http://ncblackheritagetour.com/historic_site/colored-union-soldiers-monument/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">African American Experience</a> Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Town of Hertford North Carolina, 114 West Grubb Street, Hertford, North Carolina, 27944, United States Civil War granite inscription obelisk