Category Archives: US Colored Troops

The Battle of Milliken’s Bend on June 7, 1863 was only a small part of the Vicksburg Campaign, but this engagement represented another important moment for African American participation in the Civil War. The three African American regiments, which had … Continue reading →

Watch a short slideshow or take a look at these USCT related images. (Courtesy of the Library of Congress)

As USCT regiments entered southern states, they had the opportunity on numerous occasions to liberate slaves. After one USCT regiment liberated slaves from a plantation in North Carolina, an editorial in Harpers Weekly noted that they “[left] ‘Ole Massa’ to … Continue reading →

Pennsylvania Civil War Newspapers offers a great collection of historic newspapers published in cities across the state. This editorial from the Philadelphia Evening Bulletin highlights that while those in the USCT were in the US Army, they did not enjoy … Continue reading →

Watch a short slideshow or take a look at these USCT related images. (Courtesy of the Library of Congress & the US Army Heritage and Education Center)

This report appeared in the Boston Liberator in August 1863 and described the ceremony for the 3rd USCT regiment that took place at Camp William Penn. Even though this regiment was organized in “a comparatively short time,” the reporter believed … Continue reading →

This short slideshow includes two images of Camp William Penn.

After invading Pennsylvania and capturing York, Confederates planned to take Harrisburg and possibly Philadelphia. To get there they had to cross the Susquehanna River at Wrightsville. Pennsylvania militiamen from Columbia, on the Lancaster County side of the river, vowed to … Continue reading →