Pennsylvania Grand Review

Hallowed Grounds

pinsker — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 13:31:11 +0000

Small cemeteries across Pennsylvania sometimes offer the only opportunity to see evidence of the African American lives that helped save the Union. Many of the neighborhoods and homes of nineteenth century black families in Pennsylvania are no longer standing. Often the documents and records of their lives have become difficult to find or might no longer be available. But the graveyards of Pennsylvania still hold poignant evidence of the men and their families who sacrificed so much for their nation. This section uses photographs, videos, and dynamic maps to help illustrate the power of these hallowed grounds.

Individual Stories

pinsker — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 13:30:12 +0000

Men such as Martin R. Delany, a longtime resident of Pittsburgh and the first black major in the Union Army, had life stories as inspiring as any in American history. Yet so many of the African American patriots of the Civil War era and their families remain unknown. Even Delany, who was one of the most extraordinary men of the nineteenth century –a doctor, newspaper editor, novelist, activist, army officer, and political figure– remains largely obscure. This section offers a starting point for the study of some of the great biographies in nineteenth-century America.

US Colored Troops

pinsker — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 13:20:55 +0000

Company E, 4th USCT

Over 180,000 black men fought for the Union army during the Civil War. Most of them served in the United States Colored Troops (USCT) which came into existence after the Emancipation Proclamation finally provided presidential endorsement for the much-discussed proposals for arming free blacks and former slaves in what had become the great conflict over slavery. This section provides information on how to learn about the evolution and experiences of the USCT in places such as Camp William Penn (pictured above), the great training ground in historic La Mott (Cheltenham, Pa) where more than 11,000 black soldiers mobilized for service.

Dynamic Map of Pennsylvania’s Hallowed Grounds

solnitr — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 13:00:47 +0000

Using free tools from Google Maps, we have launched a dynamic new map of Pennsylvania’s hallowed grounds that attempts to chart the burial locations of black soldiers from Pennsylvania who fought in the Civil War. In particular, this map-in-progress highlights cemeteries that hold the remains of the 100 Voices, or representative figures being memorialized by the 2010 PA Grand Review initiative. For example, three members of the 100 Voices are buried at Midland Cemetery in Steelton, Pennsylvania –Lemuel Butler, Andrew Hill and Charles Henderson. Visitors to the dynamic online map will find photographs and exact GPS coordinates of their headstones (courtesy of Calobe Jackson, Jr.) as well as background information on these men. Each online cemetery marker also includes information such as photographs or videos (where available) of the cemetery and whatever additional background information might be contained within Dickinson College’s House Divided research engine or at the Pennsylvania Grand Review website. This particular Hallowed Grounds map is ongoing project that needs your help. Please feel free to contribute photos, videos, GPS coordinates (obtainable through smart phones or GPU handsets) by sending them to us at hdivided@dickinson.edu. Other Civil War Era-related dynamic maps, such as one concerning the Underground Railroad in Pennsylvania or Frederick Douglass’s childhood in Baltimore, have been posted here.

100 Voices

sailerd — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 13:19:06 +0000

USCT picket, November 1864

100 Voices is one of the projects associated with the Pennsylvania Grand Review. The Pennsylvania Tourism Office selected 100 African Americans who fought in the United States Colored Troops during the Civil War. Many of these veterans were either born or buried in Pennsylvania. Each person in this list has a record on House Divided – click on that person’s name to see it.

3rd USCT

These men served in the 3rd United States Colored Troops Regiment -

The 3rd USCT Regiment, which was organized in August 1863, was the first unit to receive training at Camp William Penn, located outside of Philadelphia. (You can read about this regiment’s flag raising ceremony in a previous post). The War Department initially sent this regiment to South Carolina, where it was involved in the campaign to seize Fort Wagner. Read more about this regiment here.

6th USCT

These men served in the 6th United States Colored Troops Regiment -

The 6th USCT Regiment was composed mainly of Pennsylvania men, and was organized at Camp William Penn between July and September 1863. In October, the regiment was assigned to the Army of the James and stationed near Yorktown, Pennsylvania. The regiment was also part of a plan to release Union prisoners from Belle Isle near Richmond, Virginia. After a grueling march in early February 1864, the Union forces arrived to find the Confederate forces prepared to meet them, and the battle was lost. Read more about this regiment here.

8th USCT

These men served in the 8th United States Colored Troops Regiment -

The recruiting for the 8th USCT Regiment began in September 1863 at Camp William Penn, and the regiment was deployed to Florida on its first assignment in February 1864. After a time of looting supply lines and taking prisoners, the regiment finally encountered resistance at the Battle of Olustee. This battle incurred some of the heaviest losses (percentage-wise) of the Civil War, and the 8th USCT played an integral part. Read more about this regiment here.

22nd USCT

These men served in the 22nd United States Colored Troops Regiment -

The 22nd USCT Regiment was organized in January 1864 at Camp William Penn in Pennsylvania. The regiment joined the Army of the James, Eighteenth Corps near the end of that month, and was assigned to construct earthworks along the James River for protecting supply lines. In June, the Eighteenth Corps participated in the siege of Petersburg, for which the 22nd USCT regiment received great acclaim. Read more about this regiment here.

24th USCT

These men served in the 24th United States Colored Troops Regiment -

The 24th USCT Regiment was organized at Camp William Penn on February 17, 1865. In May, it was stationed at Camp Casey in Virginia outside of Washington, DC; then in June it was moved to Maryland to guard Confederate prisoners. The regiment’s final assignment was preserving order and distributing supplies in and around Roanoke, Virginia between July and September 1865. Read more about this regiment here.

25th USCT

These men served in the 25th United States Colored Troops Regiment -

After being organized in January 1864, the 25th USCT Regiment was deployed to Texas, although it never reached its intended destination. The steamer that carried the regiment was caught in a storm and sprung a leak, and the men barely kept her afloat long enough to dock safely in the North Carolina harbor. The regiment arrived in New Orleans in May 1864 just as the Confederates were gaining the upper hand in the Red River Campaign. Read more about this regiment here.

27th USCT

Samuel Gardner served in the 27th United States Colored Troops Regiment.

32nd USCT

These men served in the 32nd United States Colored Troops Regiment -

The 32nd USCT Regiment was organized in March 1864 at Camp William Penn outside Philadelphia. After training was completed, the regiment was sent to South Carolina in late April 1864. These men participated in a number of engagements while assigned to the Department of the South. Read more about this regiment here.

37th USCT

Ephraim Slaughter served in the 37th United States Colored Troops Regiment.

41st USCT

These men served in the 41st United States Colored Troops Regiment -

The 41st USCT Regiment was organized at Camp William Penn in the fall of 1864. This regiment participated in several engagements in Virginia. Read more about this regiment here.

43rd USCT

These men served in the 43rd United States Colored Troops Regiment -

After being assembled at Camp William Penn, the 43rd USCT Regiment, composed mainly of Pennsylvania recruits, was assigned in April 1864 to the Ninth Corps of the Army of the Potomac. Continuing on through Washington, where the African-American regiment “attracted special attention,” the regiment became involved in the Wilderness Campaign in rural Virginia. Read more about this regiment here.

45th USCT

These men served in the 45th United States Colored Troops Regiment -

After being assembled at Camp William Penn in the summer of 1864, the 45th USCT Regiment was sent to Washington, DC, where it had the distinct honor of being the only African-American regiment in the procession for the second inauguration of President Lincoln. In September 1864, the regiment was moved to Petersburg, Virginia, where it participated in the Siege of Petersburg. Read more about this regiment here

127th USCT

These men served in the 127th United States Colored Troops Regiment -

The 127th USCT Regiment was organized in September 1864 and received training at Camp William Penn. Records indicate that this regiment only participated in a single battle. Read more about this regiment here.

5th Mass. Cav.

These men served in the 5th Massachusetts Colored Volunteer Cavalry -

Aquila Amos
James H. Bronson
Lewis Bronson

54th Massachusetts

These men served in the 54th Massachusetts -

55th Massachusetts

These men served in the 55th Massachusetts -

Other

Nichollas Biddle
Martin Robinson Delany
Enoch Ferguson
Joseph Hoopes
Levi Hood

Grand Review, 2010

admin — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 19:58:45 +0000

On November 5-7, 2010, the city of Harrisburg will witness another Grand Review in honor of the African American patriots of the Civil War. Several activities have been planned for this major commemoration. This section offers a forum for sharing the latest plans and news about the 2010 efforts.

Share Your Stories

sailerd — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 21:30:28 +0000

Are you a descendant of someone who served in the USCT during the Civil War? Does your family have relics, photographs, records or other documents from the wartime era that you might want to share copies with others? Have you studied the stories of black soldiers and have research of your own to share online with a wider community? Please consider using this space to contribute your voice to this growing discussion. You can participate in several ways:

1) Share a comment about this post that provides any information you would like, including the uploading of digital images from your computer in the form of old photographs or documents (just click the Comment link, then use the “Image: Browse” button underneath the online comment form and upload your image files or jpgs).

2) Or email us at hdivided@dickinson.edu if you have questions or information that you don’t necessarily want to post for everyone to see. We will do our best to help answer your questions, promote your work, or help you network with experts or others who can help

3) Finally,we are also seeking some dedicated volunteers who might want to become registered correspondents at this site with the capacity to post their own research entries like the ones you see across the various sections. If you’re interested in such an assignment and feel you have the capabilities to help others learn more about the USCT or can help others overcome the challenges of African American genealogical research, then please email your resume to hdivided@dickinson.edu and explain your interest and we will explore building a connection with you.

Now is the time for everyone to share in our nation’s Civil War history as the 150th anniversary of that conflict approaches. And no stories need greater exposure than those of the African American patriots of the USCT.

Grand Review, 1865

pinsker — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 21:20:56 +0000

The Grand Review of US Colored Troops took place in Harrisburg on Tuesday, November 14, 1865. The procession began at the southeast corner of Soldiers Grove, at what is now the junction of Seventh Street and South Drive. Hundreds of USCT veterans marched before the residence of former Secretary of War Simon Cameron and then appeared before the state capitol building where they heard from speakers such as noted activist William Howard Day (pictured above). Later that evening, they held a banquet. It was, in the words of the great abolitionist newspaper, The Liberator, “a pleasant and happy day.”

Grand Review 2010 – Lancaster County

sailerd — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 03:08:09 +0000

On November 14, 2010 Lancaster County held a ceremonies at Shreiner-Concord and Stevens Greenland Cemeteries to honor those men who served in the United States Colored Troops during the Civil War. If you were unable to attend, check out the videos and pictures below

Professor Leroy Hopkins (Millersville University) discusses African-American heritage in Lancaster

Slideshow – Pictures from Shreiner Cemetery and Stevens Greenland Cemetery

[View as Slideshow]

Midland Cemetery – Gigapan Pictures (September 2010)

sailerd — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 02:43:43 +0000

On September 16, 2010 several organizations as well as students from Steelton-Highspire Hight School met at Midland Cemetery in Steelton, Pennsylvania to help clean up and preserve the grave markers. You can see Gigapan Pictures (interactive panoramic images) of the cemetery by clicking on the links below.

Image 1 ; Image 2 ; Image 3 ; Image 4

The following images of Midland Cemetery were taken in May 2010:

Image 1 ; Image 2 ; Image 3 ; Image 4
(Images Courtesy of Byron Kiehl, Steelton-Highspire School District)