Denise Velez, on her www.motleymoose.com blog, wrote about her great great uncle Dennis Weaver, a slave who ran off during the Civil War and, at age 19, joined Co. D, 1st USCT (United State Colored Troops) in honor of Memorial Day. She was named after him.
This unit saw a lot of action, including at Fort Fisher and the Wilmington Campaign.
The unit organized between May and June, 1863, and participated in general Butler's James River operations, then the assault on Petersburg June 15-18th, the siege of Petersburg, the mine explosion July 30, 1864, the battles of Chaffin's Farm, New Market Heights, and Fair Oaks Oct. 27-18, 1864.
CAROLINAS
Then, the 1st USCT were at the campaign and First Battle of Fort Fisher Dec. 7-27,1864. The Second Battle of Fort Fisher Jan. 7-15, 1865, capture of Fort Fisher Jan. 15th, and then the Wilmington Campaign:
Sugar Loaf Hill-- Jan 19th
Sugar Loaf Battery-- Feb. 11th
Fort Anderson-- Feb. 18-20th
Capture of Wilmington-- Feb. 22nd
Northeast ferry-- Feb. 22nd
Campaign of the Carolinas-- March 1st to April 29th
Advance on Goldsboro-- March 6th to 21st
Occupation of Goldsboro-- March 21st
Cox's Bridge-- March 23-24
Advance on Raleigh-- April 9-13
Occupation of Raleigh-- April 13th
Surrender of Gen. Johnston at Bennett House April 20th
This was a lot of fighting in a short span. The unit was mustered out September 29, 1865. During the war, they lost 4 officers and 67 enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and, an additional 1 officer and 113 enlisted to disease. Total: 185.
Too often, the efforts by these black soldiers are overlooked, but, they were an invaluable aspect of the Union war effort and proved beyond a doubt, their ability to fight for their freedom.
A Fitting memorial Day Salute. --Old B-R
