Hidden in plain sight: Cemeteries and civil rights ;
To watch a video of the placecard dedication click here
The life-size bronze sculpture of a United States Colored Troop soldier, rifle held over his shoulder as he strides forward. The figures stand on 6-foot granite pedestal, which features two bronze plaque 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.
Inscription on the work:
"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.”
Below the inscription is an image of the Grand Army of the Republic medal. The rear of the monument includes the names of the 70 members of the 29th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry Regiment; the names of the 9 members of the 30th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry Regiment, as well as the names of those who served as part of the 8th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry Regiment; the 2nd USCT; the 26th USCT; US Navy; 62nd New York Infantry.
The camp was established in 1863 as a depot for the Union Army during the Civil War, becoming a recruiting ground for new soldiers from Eastern Tennessee and escaping freedom seekers.
Among the many African American freedom seekers who arrived at Camp Nelson, were the families— wives, children, elderly parents— of the men who would later enlist and serve in the Union Army. The women, children, and parents built (makeshift) settlements on the outskirts of the camp, fueled by racist assumptions about African American women’s sexuality, a number of the white officers erroneously feared that the African American women would spread venereal disease among the black soldiers and began to agitate for their removal (Richard Spears. “John G. Fee, Camp Nelson, and Kentucky Blacks, 1864-1865.” The Register of the Kentucky Historical Society, Vol. 85, No. 1 (Winter 1987), 34).
Moreover, the freedom seekers from Kentucky were particularly vulnerable as they were still legally owned by Kentuckians who never officially join the Confederacy. At various points over 1864 Commander Speed Smith Fry successfully expelled unwanted refugees from Camp Nelson.
On November 23, 1864, Fry ordered the forcible expulsion of more than 400 women and children. Leaving almost no time to gather their possessions, mounted Union soldiers drove the women and children from the camp in freezing temperatures and then destroyed their makeshift homes. More than 100 freedom seekers perished in the freezing weather. To read an affidavit of a USCT soldier from Kentucky whose family was forcibly removed in November 1864 from Camp Nelson, click here.
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Camp Nelson National Monument, formerly Camp Nelson Civil War Heritage Park, is a 525-acre national monument, historical museum, and park located in southern Jessamine County, Kentucky, 20 miles south of Lexington, Kentucky.
The camp was established in 1863 as a depot for the Union Army during the Civil War, becoming a recruiting ground for new soldiers from Eastern Tennessee and escaping freedom seekers.
Among the many African American freedom seekers who arrived at Camp Nelson, were the families— wives, children, elderly parents— of the men who would later enlist and serve in the Union Army. The women, children, and parents built (makeshift) settlements on the outskirts of the camp, fueled by racist assumptions about African American women’s sexuality, a number of the white officers erroneously feared that the African American women would spread venereal disease among the black soldiers and began to agitate for their removal (Richard Spears. “John G. Fee, Camp Nelson, and Kentucky Blacks, 1864-1865.” The Register of the Kentucky Historical Society, Vol. 85, No. 1 (Winter 1987), 34).
Moreover, the freedom seekers from Kentucky were particularly vulnerable as they were still legally owned by Kentuckians who never officially join the Confederacy. At various points over 1864 Commander Speed Smith Fry successfully expelled unwanted refugees from Camp Nelson.
On November 23, 1864, Fry ordered the forcible expulsion of more than 400 women and children. Leaving almost no time to gather their possessions, mounted Union soldiers drove the women and children from the camp in freezing temperatures and then destroyed their makeshift homes. More than 100 freedom seekers perished in the freezing weather. To read an affidavit of a USCT soldier from Kentucky whose family was forcibly removed in November 1864 from Camp Nelson, click here.
The memorial features a black stone 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 Westside features a bronze plaque with a relief depicting soldiers carrying the flag of the 29th Regiment and the United States. The plaque also includes the unit’s dates of engagement and the names of those killed in battle or who died of disease. The Southside provides a detailed history of the unit. The Eastside includes etched images of Alexander H. Newton and Daniel S. Lathrop, the two members who achieved the unit’s highest rank of sergeant major. The Northside includes work’s dedicatory information.
The stone obelisk, which stands on a square stone base, honors the memory of the 175 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.
Surviving members of the 56th United States Colored Troops
Inscription on obelisk:
"To the memory of 175 non com. officers and privates of the 56. U.S.C. infantry. Died of cholera in August 1866.
The bronze plaque on the base, added in 1939, when the remains of the soldiers reburied in the national cemetery:
"1863- 1866
56th U.S. Colored Infantry
Their memory will not perish
Brigadier General N. 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"
The bronze plaque in front of the stone obelisk includes the names of 118 soldiers of the 56th U.S. Colored Infantry who are buried at the site, plus 55 soldiers whose remains were never recovered.
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."
The top bronze plaque on the 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 the 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"
The middle marble plaque on the 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 Coun-cil March 3rd 1886, and by the Select Council April 13th 1886. - This monument Alter - 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. - Founder 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 the East face:
"National Camp No. 2 - United Spanish War Vets"
Marble plaque on the 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 the West face:
“Ladies Aux. No. 4 - U.S.W.V."
Marble plaque on the South face:
"Dahlgren Post No 4. - G.A.R. - Dahlgren Woman Relief Corps No. 12"