Deoliver 49 Daily Kos by Denise Velez who was named after her great great uncle. She has a blog called Motley Moose at www.motleymoose.com. Just got to love any blog with that name. This is from 2008, but I neglected to get the date.
Denise Velez's father was a member of the Tuskegee Airmen. Her great-great uncle was born a slave, but ran off during the Civil War and joined Co. D of the 1st United States Colored Troops at age 19.
The role of blacks in the Civil War is too often overlooked. And, her uncle was at both Battles of Fort Fisher and the entire Wilmington Campaign and even at my birthplace, Goldsboro, NC.
The 1st USCT organized in Washington, DC, May-June 1863, then participated in General Butler's James River Operations, the Siege of Vicksburg, battle of the Crater July 30, 1864.
They were also at the battles of Chaffin's Farm, new Market heights and Fair Oaks.
Other Operations:
First Battle of Fort Fisher, NC, December 7-27, 1864
Second Battle of Fort Fisher January 7-15, 1865
Sugar Loaf Hill January 19th
Sugar Loaf Battery February 11th
Fort Anderson February 18-20th
Capture of Wilmington February 20th
Northeast Ferry February 22nd
Campaign of the Carolinas-- March 1-April 25th
Advance on Goldsboro March 6-21st
Occupation of Goldsboro March 22nd
Cox's Bridge March 23-24th
Advance on Raleigh April 9-13th
Occupation of Raleigh April 13
Bennett House (Johnston's Surrender) April 21st
They were mustered out September 29, 1865. During the war, the 1st USCT list 4 officers and 67 enlisted killed or mortally wounded. officer and 113 enlisted died from disease for a total of deaths at 185.
This unit was definitely in the thick of the action, perhaps even more than the 54th Massachusetts. Perhaps someone should make a movie about them.
Quite a History. --Old B-Runner
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