Readings on Black Soldiers

Rescue at Pine Ridge, submitted by Leon Brooks

2010-04-05T16:25:00.000-07:00

After the Civil War, USCT's whose service was not up were deployed in the west, and would come to be called Buffalo Soldiers
by Native-Americans. Eric Hicks has wtitten a novel about Buffalo Soldiers and submitted the following posting on his new book, and information about other productions.

Keep telling the story!:

Read the novel, Rescue at Pine Ridge, "RaPR", a great story of black military history...the first generation of Buffalo Soldiers.

How do you keep a people down? 'Never' let them 'know' their history.

The 7th Cavalry got their butts in a sling again after the Little Big Horn Massacre, fourteen years later, the day after the Wounded Knee Massacre. If it wasn't for the 9th Cavalry Buffalo Soldiers, there would of been a second massacre of the 7th Cavalry.

Read the novel, "Rescue at Pine Ridge", 5 stars Amazon, Barnes & Noble and the you tube trailer commercial...and visit the website http://www.rescueatpineridge.com

I hope you'll enjoy the novel. I wrote it from my mini-series movie of the same title, "RaPR" to keep my story alive. Hollywood has had a lot of strikes and doesn't like telling our stories...its been "his-story" of history all along…until now. The movie so far has attached, Bill Duke directing, Hill Harper, Glynn Turman and a host of other major actors in which we are in talks with…see imdb.com at; http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0925633/

When you get a chance, also please visit our Alpha Wolf Production website at; http://www.alphawolfprods.com and see our other productions, like Stagecoach Mary, the first Black Woman to deliver mail for Wells Fargo in Montana, in the 1890's, "spread the word".

Peace.

Erich & Portia Hicks

Alpha Wolf Productions, Inc.

http://www.alphawolfprods.com

Visit: http://www.rescueatpineridge.com

http://www.stagecoachmary.net

http://www.soulonawave.net

Public Domain Books that Refer to New Market Heights and Colored Troops

2009-09-13T21:48:00.000-07:00

Submitted by Cpl Brooks

Public Domain Books Mentioning Colored Troops
and The Battle of Market Heights

Free books which may be helpful for background on the upcoming commemoration. If you find any particularly notable, please share any comments you have.

Ohio in the war: her statesmen, her generals, and soldiers‎ - Page 917

by Whitelaw Reid - History - 1868

... 1804. occurred the battle of Chapin's Farm, the storming of New Market
Heights, and the capture of Fort Harrison. At daylight the colored troops moved
...

Full view - About this book - Add to my library - More editions

A history of the Negro troops in the War of the Rebellion, 1861-1865 ...‎ - Page 338

by George Washington Williams - History - 1887 - 353 pages

Suffolk ' on their colors for their conduct in the battle of March 9th near ...
"Second-lieutenant Alpheus K. Long, Seventh United States Colored Troops; ...

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The Drapers in America: being a history and genealogy of those of that name ...‎ - Page 210

by Thomas Waln-Morgan Draper - Reference - 1892 - 312 pages

John A. Andrew, as to Major Draper's fitness to command colored troops, Col. ...
where he participated in the battle of New Market Heights, Sep. 29, 1864. ...

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Journal of the executive proceedings of the Senate of the United States‎ - Page 847

by United States. Congress. Senate - Biography & Autobiography - 1887

Captain WH Barrett, of the Fortieth United States Colored Troops, for faithful
and ... services at the battle of New Market Heights, and also at the ...

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The American annual cyclopedia and register of important events of the year ...‎ - Page 212

Juvenile Nonfiction - 1875

I went myself with the colored troops, to attack the enemy at New Market Heights
, which was the key to the enemy's flank on the north side of James River. ...

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The American annual cyclopedia and register of important events of the year ...‎ - Page 212

Juvenile Nonfiction - 1875

I wont myself with tho colored troops, to attack the enemy at New Market Heights
, ... they are up again and wave their starry light over the storm of battle ...

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Civil and Mexican wars, 1861, 1846‎ - Page 311

by Military Historical Society of Massachusetts - History - 1913 - 660 pages

THE CRATER At the battle of the Crater, at Petersburg, July 30, 1864, the
colored troops were ordered in after the assault was a bloody failure. ...

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Appletons' annual cyclopaedia and register of important events: Embracing ...‎ - Page 212

Juvenile Nonfiction - 1875

I went myself with the colored troops, to attack the enemy at Now Market Heights
, ... they are up again and wave their starry light over the storm of battle ...

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Official roster of the soldiers of the State of Ohio in the War of the ...‎

by Ohio. Roster commission - History - 1893

1st Lieutenant 5th US Colored Troops, and А. С. М. 3d Division, late 10th AC,
... 29, 1864, in battle of New Market Heights, Va. 26 Simpson, William Smith,
...

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The Seventh Regiment New Hampshire Volunteers in the War of the Rebellion‎ - Page 306

by Henry F. W. Little - History - 1896 - 677 pages

Line of battle was at once formed, and the troops advanced upon the enemy's ...
This assault, made by General Paine's colored troops at New Market Heights, ...

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Accessible Archives

2008-03-26T19:48:00.000-07:00

Reviewing my email I came some interesting material that I had overlooked from
Sgt. Algernon Ward. He's found a resource, 'Accessible Archives' , for primary source documents from 18th and 19th century periodicals. Sample:

June 25, 1864
THE CHRISTIAN RECORDER
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

For the Christian Recorder.

FLORIDA CORRESPONDENCE.

Head Quarters 3rd U.S.C.T.
Jacksonville, Florida,
May 29th, 1864.

MR. EDITOR: - I, now, this beautiful Sunday afternoon, sit myself down, according to promise, to write a few lines to you, hoping they may find you and all your friends enjoying good health.

I will commence my correspondence with you by giving you my Florida Expeditions. Our regiment left Hilton Head on the 6th of February, for Jacksonville, Fla., and we arrived there on the 8th. Just as soon as we landed we were ordered to camp. Here we remained until the 8th of February, when we received orders, in the night, to surprise the rebel camp, called "Camp Finagan," about ten miles from Jacksonville. We got to the rebel camp about 1 o'clock at night, but were too late to do any good; but we had the pleasure of liberating some of our flesh and blood. There were about two hundred slaves at that place that had the pleasure of saying: "We are free from the chains and fetters of slavery." On the morning of the 9th we were ordered to fall in and march to the next station, called by the natives of the State, "Ten Mile Station." There our mounted infantry had a little skirmish with Gen. Finagan's men, and we captured four pieces of artillery from the rebels; and our regiment, of Col. Halley's brigade, was ordered to stay till the gallant 8th regiment came up to us....

Corp. Leon Brooks, 6thusct and 1st Rhode Island Regiment

Philadelphia History Program

2008-03-24T15:25:00.000-07:00

Event: Presenter: JULIE WINCH, Lecture and

Booksigning: THE LIFE OF JAMES FORTEN

Julie Winch is professor of history at the University of Massachusetts-Boston, but hardly a stronger to Philadelphia. She has published three books on the history of Philadelphia’s African American community including: Philadelphia’s Black Elite: Activism, Accommodation, and the Struggle for Autonomy 1787-1848, The Elite of Our People, and A Gentleman of Color: The life of James Forten. James Forten was a free man in Revolutionary Era Philadelphia. He earned great wealth as a sailmaker and philanthropist and worked closely with Absolom Jones and Rev. Richard Allen in the anti-slavery movement. Winch notes that when James Forten died in 1842, five thousand mourners, black and white, turned out to honor a man who had earned the respect of society across the racial divide. This is the first serious biography of Forten, who stands beside Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglass, Booker T. Washington and Martin Luther King, Jr. in the pantheon of African Americans who fundamentally shaped American history.

Date: March 26, 2008

Time: 5:00 – 6:30PM

Admission: $7.00

Disribution:circulated by Joe Becton, 3rd Regt USCT/1st Rhode Island Regt.

CAMP WILLIAM PENN REGIMENTAL ROSTERS

2007-09-27T05:02:00.000-07:00

News release shared by Joe Becton:

Nearly Eleven Thousand Names Listed

La Mott, PA - September 1, 2007 - Phase One of a project to list in a searchable database the names and regimental information of the nearly eleven thousand black soldiers and the white officers who trained them has been completed. These men were the members of the United States Colored Troops (U.S.C.T.) who were trained at Camp William Penn located just outside Of Philadelphia during the years 1863-1865.

The men are listed in alphabetical order by rank according to the regiment to which they were assigned. The list also indicates those that were killed in action (KIA) or who were wounded or who died from illness. To the best of our knowledge this is the first time that such a list has been available to the general public in this form and on the Internet. The list and the history of each regiment is available on our supported Web site www.historic-lamott-pa.com in the section, "Who They Were and What They Did."

Phase Two of the project will combine all of the names in a compiled searchable database in alpha order.

The completion of Phase One was made possible in part by a generous DCED grant sponsored by Pennsylvania State Senator LeAnna M. Washington. The following Westbrook-RockHill Foundation staff workers contributed to the project: Ruth N. Fulton, Rachel Fernbaugh, Judith Girton, Shawna Lacomis and Marlena Masitto. Programming for the project was performed by The Canton Group, LLC who also hosts the site.

The non-commercial site does not contain "pop-ups" and in addition to the list it contains a virtual compendium of information about Cheltenham Township, PA, and La Mott which was the site of Camp William Penn. The Web site also contains information about persons and historic events which have been associated with the area.

Re:The 1st Rhode Island at The Battle of Monmouth

2007-07-18T12:58:00.001-07:00

Sergeant Becton,

Wow, you are correct. Rich Walling missed the June muster roll for Captain Thomas Arnold's detachment. I took a quick look at it (we have a print from the National Archives microfilm), and was able to find most of the names from Louis Wilson's list. At least half of the privates and one musician were African Americans. It is very clear that most of them were at Monmouth (although two were left sick at Valley Forge and perhaps one of those on command was with the baggage at Rocky Hill). Rhodes is noted "sick at Englishtown," and Moses Wickes "sick Princetown." (Was Moses Wickes left at Princetown on the march to Monmouth--or sent back to the Princeton hospital after the battle?) Sick could mean "sick" or lightly wounded. Capt. Arnold is listed as "Wounded Absent."

We also have a print of the July muster for essentially the same detachment. This time, however, it is listed as Capt. Jona. Wallen's Company. Capt. Thomas Arnold is listed after Wallen as "sick # Englishtown."

In Major-General Nathanael Greene's letter to his brother, Jacob Greene, 2 July 1778, he notes "I had like to have forgot to mention that the Rhode Island Troops were in Action and behavd very well. Capt Arnold is wounded in the Leg."

What is uncertain is whether Capt. Arnold's detachment fought with Varnum's brigade at the hedged fence (most likely) or were part of a battalion of picked men (temporary light infantry). Maj. Simeon Thayer, 2nd RI, was wounded while serving as major of a battalion of picked men led by Col. Joseph Cilley, 1st NH. Cilley had men from 20 different regiments with him. Washington had sent Cilley's and Parker's battalions of picked men to attack the British right as it withdrew from the field at the end of the day.

I would love to have more particulars on these men. Do any of the primary sources reveal more about the Battle of Monmouth? What about the other men in the detachment? Which are WASPs, which are Native Americans?

Thanks!

Antiquary Garry

1st Rhode Island at Monmouth

2007-07-10T07:45:00.000-07:00

It is generally believed that the First Rhode Island regiment did not serve at the battle of Monmouth in June 1778. It is a fact that after the Valley Forge encampment and retraining, the First Rhode Island Regiment returned to the Highlands Army in New York and New England .

What aroused my curiosity were the wounds of Captain Thomas Arnold who lost his right leg and of Richard Rhodes, newly freed African Soldier wounded in the arm.

These men were both members of the First Rhode Island and should not have been at that battle.

The First Rhode Island created a detachment, on 1 June 1778 ,Windsor Fry and others were detached to Captain Thomas Arnold and fought at the Battle of Monmouth, New Jersey, on 28 June 1778. On 1 July some of them moved to Captain Johnathan Wallen’s company.

The Second Rhode Island Regiment and Captain Thomas Arnold's detachment from the First Rhode Island, fought at the Battle of Monmouth. White, Black and Red soldiers served in his detachment.

The list of Africans who served in Arnold’s detachment and company in June of 1778 comes from the list of Louis E. Wilson of Smith University. It was included in a presentation during a Seminar and Exhibit called "Forgotten Patriots" offered by the DAR at their Headquarters in Washington D.C. January 11, 2003.

Edward Anthony, Transferred from the Second Rhode Island in May
Hampton Barton
Ebenezer Caesar
James Carpenter (Enslaved) New Recruit
Prince Childs (Possible escaped Slave)
James Dailey Enlisted 1776 in 9th continental
Abraham Demos Enlisted in the Militia in September 1776
William Frank Enlisted April 20, 1777 in the Militia Transferred in May.
Windsor Fry Enlisted 1775
James Greene New recruit
Frank Gould (Enslaved) enlist January 14, 1777 in 2^nd RI Transferred in May
Robert Howland New recruit
Cuff Peckham Transferred from 2^nd RI in May
John Jehu Pomp Enlisted March 1777
Richard Dick Potter Enlisted March 1777
Thomas Reynolds Enlisted January 1777
Richard Rhodes (Enslaved) New recruit
James Robillard Fifer Transferred from the 2^nd RI
George Rogers
George Sambo Enlisted March 1777
Thomas Spencer
Solomon Wanton Enlisted in Militia in January of 1777 the 1^st RI
Pomp Watson Enlisted May 23, 1777
Primus Watson (Enslaved) New Recruit
Prince Watson
Moses Wickes Transferred from 2^nd RI
Jesse Willis New recruit May 1778
Frances Tefift Transferred from the 2^nd RI
Cato Vernom (Enslaved) April 24, 1778

Sources:

Captain Thomas Arnold
Heitmen’s (1914) p.76 "Thomas Arnold"
Valley Forge Muster list 1777-1778.
Records of the State of Rhode Island ed, John Russell Bartlett Vol X 1784 to 1792
Providence Press Company (1865) p.166
Private Dick, a.k.a. Richard Rhodes Pension Application 3, April 1818.W2206.448
Black Courage 1775-1783 Robert Ewell Greene DAR (1984) p.5
Rhode Island Archives (Folder R) Minorities in the Revolution
Valley Forge Muster list 1777-1778.
Some Observations of the Black regiment of Rhode Island in the American Revolution p.158
Hoyt's Index to Revolutionary War Pension Application
Pension S2970 and W22060 Catherine
Lewis Wilson List p.45,
Private Windsor Fry Rhode Island Archives (Folder F) Minorities in the Revolution "Windsor Fry"
Lewis Wilson List p.45,
Doctor Stone

Hopefully this is enough information for you to look into and form your own opinion . Black Courage and Heitman’s list of Revolutionary War Officers will be the easy to get. It is possible that Stryker or Smith may have mentioned Captain Arnold and Private Richard Rhodes as being wounded.

Joseph P. Martin talks about Colonel Joseph Cilly of New Hampshire, rallying Varnum’s troops for the counter attack on pages 126-130. Not George Washington.

Sgt. Joe Becton

First Rhode Island Regiment

Captain John Dexter’s Company

" I joined the army to obtain my freedom"

Civil War Colored Troops Units with New York Soldiers or Officers

2007-06-13T12:42:00.000-07:00

Civil War Colored Troops Units with New York Soldiers or Officers is part of New York State's Unit History Project of the New York State Military Museum and Veterans Resource Center.
Cpl Brooks

American Indian Sharpshooters at the Battle of the Crater

2007-06-04T08:54:00.001-07:00

Correction - the link to this article was incorrect. You can now access the article.

Original Source: Civil War Magazine article - available at History.net

According to this article 20,000 Native-Americans fought in
the Civil War - on both sides. The article provides some insights
about the Native-American participation in the Civil War
treatment, as well as their role at the Battle of the Crater.

Click the following to access the link:

American Indian Sharpshooters at the Battle of the Crater*

Exhibit chronicles black soldiers' efforts

2007-04-30T12:52:00.000-07:00

There was an article in the Beacon Journal on April 1st about a photo exhibit about the USCT that opened April 25th. The photographer visited historic sites that often were not documented in the local history. Without this documentation these sites would fade forgotten along with the history.

Leon Brooks

Combat Multipliers: African-American Soldiers in Four Wars

2007-04-27T11:16:00.000-07:00

This book is a rare find, offering the unusual perspective of an American-African military professional - Lieutenant Colonel Krewaksky A. Salter I, a soldier scholar. This is another example of a technical, or at least specialized publication. It is a study - initiated for the curriculum of the Combat Studies Institute. Col. Salter looks at the impact of black soldiers in the American Revolution, Civil War, World War I, and World War II. He describes this impact in terms of black forces having had an effect as a combat multiplier - "significant and supporting means that increase the relative combat strength (power) of a force while actual force ratios remain constant". I like his use of this concept because, if I interpret it correctly, this quantifies, or at least specifies the contribution of blacks in operational vectors, e.g. deployment, leadership, terrain reinforcement, etc. Sometimes the contributions of blacks in military history, when acknowledged, are understood or conveyed in general historical terms. Context studies like this make the contributions more concrete. We know that the USCT fought in 449 engagements, and in 39 major battles which determined the outcome of the Civil War; but this doesn't begin to explain the disproportionately large impact that they had. The combat multiplier concept helps to follow black contributions in U.S. military history over time in concrete terms.
This book is in the public domain, so you can read it online, at Google Books. This would make an excellent addition to a collection so you may want to Locate a copy to lend, borrow , or purchase.

Pvt Leon Brooks

Black Soldiers at Battle of Germantown

2007-04-11T10:48:00.000-07:00

Byron Childress has posted a list of blacks who fought at the Battle Of Germantown, which he compiled from the book " Black Courage, 1775-1783 : documentation of Black participation in the American Revolution"*. He has posted it on the 1ST Rhode Island Regiment website. Having read the list I look forward to reading the book.

*
Greene, Robert Ewell. Black Courage, 1775-1783: Documentation of Black Participation in the American Revolution. Washington: National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, 1984.

Fight For Freedom

2007-04-07T13:03:00.000-07:00

Fight For Freedom
is a 30 minute documentary available on DVD, produced in collaboration by the Closeup Foundation, the African American Civil War Memorial Freedom Memorial, and was funded by a grant from the WK. Kellogg Foundation. It won the prestigious Grand Award for Best of Show at the New York Festivals 02 International Film and Video Awards. It is a high quality production, and a great resource for schools, students, descendants of soldiers who fought with US Colored Troops in the Civil War, and anyone interested in African American history, or supporting the Civil War Memorial. Sgt. Fred Minus from the 6TH USCT obtained a copy while attending the United Stated Colored Troops Symposium.

submitted by
Pvt. Leon Brooks
6TH USCT

Sons of Providence : the Brown brothers, the slave trade, and the American Revolution

2007-04-05T06:10:00.000-07:00

Joe Becton reccommends this book. Charles Rappleye will speak on his book on Wednesday, April 25, 2007 7:30 p.m. at Brittingham's Irish Pub and Restaurant

Locate a copy
Leon Brooks

Retouching History: The Modern Falsification of a Civil War Photograph

2007-03-29T12:08:00.000-07:00

Retouching History is a website publication, technical in nature, that brings to light the extent to which neo-Confederate apologists for slavery will go to revise the history of the South. For those of us committed to establishing the black soldiers rightful place in history, as a freedom fighter, we must be vigilant and thoroughly versed in our history and aware of the tactics used to distort the truth. In recent years we have seen the intensified efforts of ideologues to manipulate, revise, and suppress information, including scientific knowledge. The authors describe how a photograph posted on a rebelstore.com purporting to be a picture of the 1st Louisiana Native Guard, is in fact a deception. It is well documented with citations which are helpful in researching the issues.Thanks to Byron Childress of the 3rd USCT for bringing it to our attention.
Pvt Leon Brooks, 6th USCT

1888 Population Statistical Map

2007-03-08T12:24:00.000-08:00

For educators, living historians, and history geeks in general, looking for unusual presentation of primary sources information - this is it. It is an interactive map, includes information on Proportion of white Civil War soldiers to white population ; Proportion of colored troops to colored population; and Pensioners, July 1, 1888. Check it out. How could you see this being used?

PVT Leon Brooks, 6TH USCT

Women Spies

2007-03-08T09:04:00.000-08:00

As this is Womens History month, you may find The Civil War: Black American Contributions to Union Intelligence, a CIA publication, very informative. Of course it mentions Harriet Tubman, whose exploits are well known. It also describes the intelligence contributions of two other black women - Mary Touvestre, and Mary Elizabeth Bowser (picture).
Though interesting it is not comprehensive. Some other women who spied for the Union are

Sarah Emma Edmonds :
She disguised herself as a man to serve in the Union Army, and sometimes "disguised" herself as a woman -- or as a black man -- to spy on the Confederate troops.

After her identity was exposed, she served as a nurse with the Union.

Elizabeth Van Lew :
An abolitionist living in Richmond, she helped bring food and clothing to Union prisoners and smuggled out information. She also placed a spy in the home of Jefferson Davis.

Mary Edwards Walker :
Known for her unconventional dress - she often wore trousers and a man's coat - this pioneer physician worked for the Union Army as a nurse and spy while she waited for an official commission as a surgeon.

Mary Elizabeth Bowser :
She served as a maid in the Confederate White House -- and, ignored while important conversations were held, she passed along important information from those conversations and from papers she found.

PVT Leon Brooks

Book List Page

2007-02-07T21:51:00.000-08:00

I have set up a page of recommended readings on the 6TH USCT site. I'll be adding a titles from First Sgt Minus' extensive collection. Recommendations are welcome. Please submit title(s) and any comments you like to share on the material.

Pvt. Leon Brooks

Coming Soon

2007-02-06T13:59:00.000-08:00

The 6th Regiments site will soon add a Book List page with recommended readings