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JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION June 17, 2006 Bedford, PA David E. Brown Columbia, MD 5thuscc

JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION June 17, 2006 Bedford, PA David E. Brown Columbia, MD www.5thuscc.net 5thuscc@comcast.net. My Personal Discovery. Great-Great Grandfather’s photo at Grandmother’s Civil War Documents found in 1990s Search of Internet - Civil War Soldier and Sailors Project

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JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION June 17, 2006 Bedford, PA David E. Brown Columbia, MD 5thuscc

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  1. JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION June 17, 2006 Bedford, PA David E. Brown Columbia, MD www.5thuscc.net 5thuscc@comcast.net

  2. My Personal Discovery Great-GreatGrandfather’s photoat Grandmother’s Civil War Documents found in 1990s Search of Internet - Civil War Soldier and Sailors Project Interest in developing a web site

  3. Private Samuel Truehart • Pre- war • Born in Indiana in 1843 • Slave, according to muster roles • Married to Mary Elliott, also a slave, in summer of 1864 • War Service • Mustered into 5th USCC at Camp Nelson Kentucky on Sept. 12, 1864 • Likely participated in two raids on Saltville • Mustered out in Arkansas in 1866

  4. Samuel Truehart • Post-war • Children born after war in Kentucky • Four children survived to adulthood • Part exodus of Black Kentuckians to black township - Nicodemus, Kansas • Lived in Acheson, Kansas and farmed land granted and purchased in Western Kansas • Died August 12, 1897 • 160 acres of land in Graham County, Kansas still held by lone great-grand daughter

  5. History of African Americans in the Civil War • "Once let the black man get upon his person the brass letters, U.S., let him get an eagle on his button, and a musket on his shoulder and bullets in his pockets, and there is no power on earth which can deny that he has earned the right to citizenship in the United States." - - Frederick Douglass • These words moved many African Americans to enlist in the Union Army and fight for their freedom. • With Abraham Lincoln's issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, the Civil War became a war to save the union and to abolish slavery.

  6. African Americans in the Civil War • On July 17, 1862, Congress passed two acts allowing the enlistment of African Americans, • Official enrollment occurred only after the issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation • Approximately 180,000 African Americans comprising 163 units served in the Union Army during the Civil War: • 1 LIGHT ARTILLERY REGIMENT • 7 CAVALRY REGIMENTS • 13 HEAVY ARTILLERY REGIMENTS • 144 INFANTRY REGIMENTS • Both free African-Americans and runaway slaves joined the fight. • Louisiana furnished 24,000 men; Kentucky - 23,000 men; Tennessee - 20,000 men; and Mississippi - 18,000 men.

  7. African Americans in the Civil War • Many white soldiers and officers believed that black men lacked the courage to fight and fight well. • In October 1862, the 1st Kansas Colored Volunteers silenced critics by repulsing Confederates at battle of Island Mound, Missouri. • Most widely known battle fought by African Americans was assault on Fort Wagner, South Carolina, by the 54th Massachusetts on July 18, 1863. • The 54th volunteered to lead the assault on the strongly-fortified Confederate position. • The soldiers of the 54th scaled the fort's parapet and were driven back after brutal hand-to-hand combat.

  8. African Americans in the Civil War • The Battle of New Market Heights, Virginia became was one of the most heroic engagements involving African Americans. • On September 29, 1864, the Eighteenth Corps, charged the earthworks and rushed up the slopes of the heights. • During the hour-long engagement the division suffered tremendous casualties. • Of the sixteen African Americans who were awarded the Medal of Honor during the Civil War, fourteen received the honor as a result of their actions at New Market Heights. (Photo above is of Powhatan Beaty, First Sergeant 5th USCT who was awarded the Medal of Honor for his service at the Battle of New Market Heights)

  9. History of African Americans in the Civil War • African American soldiers participated in every major campaign of 1864-1865 except Sherman's invasion of Georgia. • The United States Colored Troops participated in 449 engagements of which 39 were major battles • African American soldiers comprised 10% of the entire Union Army • Losses among African Americans were high, approximately one-third of all African Americans mustered lost their lives during the Civil War.

  10. African American Civil War Memorial • Unveiled on July 18, 1998, the sculpture stands ten feet tall • The Spirit of Freedom sculpture is encircled by the Wall of Honor • The Wall of Honor lists the names of 209,145 United States Colored Troops • The names include the 7,000 white officers who served with USCT • First major art piece by a black sculptor to be placed on federal land in the District of Columbia

  11. The African American Civil War MemorialThe Spirit of Freedom

  12. My Initial Research in 1996 • The Saltville Massacre by Thomas D. Mays, published in 1995 by Ryan Place Publishers, • "The Battle of Saltville: Massacre or Myth?" by William Marvel, August 1991 issue of Blue and Gray Magazine / (Volume VIII, Number 6) • The National Park Services’ Civil War Soldiers and Sailors Project • The Internet

  13. 5th United States Colored Cavalry • In early 1864, Union Gen. Stephen Burbridge, commander of Military District of Kentucky, authorized formation  of "colored" units comprised of freedmen, ex-slaves, and slaves • On June 30, 1864, Adjutant General Lorenzo Thomas authorized officers of 5th USCC to begin selecting recruits • Colonel James Brisbin, a well known abolitionist, became commander of 5th USCC. • Many companies recruited at Camp Nelson, Kentucky • Nearly all recruits were former slaves

  14. 5th United States Colored Cavalry • Regiment was attached to the 1st Division, District of Kentucky, Dept. of Ohio until February 1865. • They bravely participated in Burbridge's Raid from Kentucky into Southwestern Virginia from Sept. 20 to Oct. 17, 1864, during which they saw fierce action at Saltville, Virginia. • The regiment participated in Stoneman's Raid December 10 to 29, which resulted in capture of Saltville and destruction of the salt works • The unit was mustered out in Helena, Arkansas on March 20, 1866.  

  15. The First Battle of Saltville • Regiment participated in Gen. Burbridge’s Raid to capture saltworks before being organized • Troops were unprepared for battle, many mustered just a few weeks before raid • Regiment was poorly equipped; issued rifles not suitable for shooting from horseback • Ridiculed by white Union troops on way to Saltville • Chosen to lead charge of Chestnut Ridge Oct. 2 • Took ridge, but were not reinforced and were forced to retreat when ammo was depleted

  16. The First Battle of Saltville • Despite the outcome of the battle, their fellow soldiers lauded the performance of the 5th USCC during the assault of Chestnut Ridge. • An officer of the 13th Kentucky Cavalry stated: "never saw troops fight like they did. The rebels were firing on them with grape and canister and were mowing them down by the scores but others kept straight on." • Col. Brisbin wrote: "I have seen white troops fight in twenty-seven battles and never saw any fight any better

  17. Saltville Massacre • After the battle, the wounded were abandoned on battlefield • Gen. Burbridge hightailed it to Kentucky for his own safety fearing Confederate reinforcements • Wounded and captured Black troops were murdered morning after by Confederate troops led by Champ Ferguson, a confederate guerilla, and Gen. Felix Robertson • Confederate reports of the day indicated over 150 black troops were massacred • Perpetrators were sought by Confederate Government, but never captured • Ferguson was executed for war crimes after war for murder of white Union officer and other crimes • Similar to events at Fort Pillow and Millken’s Bend

  18. Conflicting Accounts • Historians to this day dispute the true extent of the massacre • Thomas Mays:"A conservative estimate is the number of black murdered at Saltville is forty-six. These are the men listed and kept on the rolls as MIAs (missing in action) until well after the war." • William Marvel: "The remaining loss breaks down as follows: 20 killed outright, 63 wounded, and 31 missing...By April of 1865, one white officer and 15 enlisted men had returned to duty.”

  19. Probing the Mystery • Conducted extensive Research at National Archives, with help of four others. Reviewed: • Muster Rolls • Individual and Regimental Service Records • Surgeon Records • Pension Records • Undertook process of elimination to identify MIAs • Duplicated research of historians, Marvel and Mays, and went further than either • Revealed that at least 45 to 50 of men were never accounted for, presumed to have been murdered  • This research affirmed Mays' conclusion.

  20. Additional Research • Examined service records of white soldiers who witnessed massacre, and Ferguson’s trial transcript • Discovered Lt. George Cutler was witness not Carter • Marvel Responds: “ …if I only a few of them proved to be victims -- say 24, instead of my 12 -- it would still increase my earlier calculations by a significant proportion.”

  21. Saltville Recognition • First recognition ceremony held on October 2, 1999 • First tribute to fallen men of 5th & 6th USCC • Consecration of ground & “funeral” 134 years after the massacre • Luminaries lit for each of the fallen • Ceremonies held each year since organized by residents of Saltville and nearby Bluefield, WV • 54th Massachusetts, white Union, and Confederate Reenactors have participated • Memorial statute being commissioned • NASA aerial images of Saltville using specialized equipment mounted on a DC-8 and a modified U-2 spy plane to locate mass burial site

  22. www.5thuscc.net • History of 5th USCC • Battle Summaries • Complete Regimental Roster • Bio of my ancestor • Analysis of the Massacre and the Conflicting Accounts • Table detailing and contrasting all archival records reviewed • Documents & Photos • Accounts of Annual Tribute • Recent News Coverage

  23. Reactions to web site • Researching history - what is the truth • Racist responses to web site • Neo-confederates - denial of massacres

  24. Recent Media Coverage in: • Atlanta Journal Constitution • Roanoke Times • Richmond Times Dispatch • Southern Exposure Magazine • The Washington Post

  25. Other Impacts • Mays and Marvel have incorporated findings in new works (Truehart photo in “Black Soldiers in Blue”) • Descendants found information; posted their ancestor’s bios • Artist inspired to render painting • Website used in college and high school history curricula • Attention focused on locating the mass graves

  26. Anderson, Jefferson Baker, William Bedford, Henry Black, Joseph Blackmore, Peter  Bradford, Frank Brown, Jefferson Brown, LewisBrowning, Henry Chinn, John Cissell, Charles Cissell, William  Clay, John  Clay, George Clay, John Will, Crutcher, Andrew Downing, Henry Dunn, William Dunston, Noah Finch, Peter Fox, Wiley Garry, William  Gordon, Phillip Griffen, Perry Grigsby, Richard  Grigsby, George Hammond, George Harriman, Jackson Harris, Samuel Harrison, Samuel Hicks, David Hunter, John  Jackson, Thomas James, James Jefferson, Andrew Johnston, Benjamin Leach/Lirch/Leich, Julius Lewis, George Lewis, James Members of the 5th USCC Listed as Missing in Action After the Battle of Saltville and Still Unaccounted • Martin, William • Martin, Zachariah • Mason, Robert  • Massey, Joseph • Miller, Samuel/Saul  • Money, Joseph • Neal, Dudley • Robinson, Samuel • Scott, King  • Scott, Lowrie • Seals, Alexander • Simpson, Isiah  • Sloan/Slown, Thomas • Smith, John • Smithson, James T • Taylor, James • Thomas, Grant • Thompson Albert • Tutt/Trott, Peter  • Williams, James

  27. U.S. Government’s Responsibility • 5th USCC MIAs never officially accounted for • No concerted effort to investigate the incident or recover the fallen soldiers during or after the war • Current reluctance to determine site of mass burial • Park Service concerns about “disturbing burial grounds” • Men of the 5th USCC were not buried by their families, but unceremoniously dumped in mass grave by their murderers (Kosovo) • The U.S. Government, for which they were killed serving, owes them no less for their sacrifice

  28. For more information: www.5thuscc.net 5thuscc@comcast.net

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