1 10 17 https://www.slaverymonuments.org/files/original/b22e80b6d990d15a15e756e2ddc19160.JPG 17ad5a3a41e8aaa30e5041b5319f1b27 https://www.slaverymonuments.org/files/original/73476e653e703c6172b45686eb68dcd8.JPG f5005b92a659f1d4b916efdb4d0c2a39 https://www.slaverymonuments.org/files/original/1d0776149861e8e92b56d81ad66140f9.JPG 83c43f171b4f23b7874f30ff1cd1a945 https://www.slaverymonuments.org/files/original/059eed7b5d4e9d26ae42c44356c6bff8.JPG fe3063224e1a5aa991efc1dc55abba15 https://www.slaverymonuments.org/files/original/2ef9f07b66ce6d92b070645700a9faa3.JPG e22be2b88ea9495ba0e9405857ed4ea4 https://www.slaverymonuments.org/files/original/6035294d1c8595df0dd744e6f920b5d4.JPG 6a4d86e6253a6b446b33206a8c4d9dd9 https://www.slaverymonuments.org/files/original/76e0de8bef2e574b8c427c7cac4be599.JPG 31b81c47f564e025ef8b04d23fca00fd Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource United States Colored Troops (USCT) Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Renée Ater Description An account of the resource Included in this thematic collection are seventeen memorials that honor the vital contributions of the United States Colored Troops (USCT) to the Union victory during the American Civil War. The first all-Black units formed unofficially in Louisiana (Louisiana Native Guard, 1862); South Carolina (First South Carolina Volunteer Infantry, 1862-63); and Kansas (First Kansas Colored Infantry, 1862-63). The first official authorization to employ African Americans in federal service was the Second Confiscation and Militia Act of July 17, 1862. The Confiscation Act allowed Union officers to free enslaved men and put them to work as army laborers. However, Abraham Lincoln did not fully authorize the use of Black men in combat until the issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863. Beginning in late January 1863, Governor John A. Andrews of Massachusetts raised the first regiment of Black soldiers in the North, the Massachusetts 54th Volunteer Infantry. The abolitionist Frederick Douglass helped recruit men for the Massachusetts 54th, famously issuing a call to free African American men to join the Union Army. In a speech, “Men of Color, To Arms!”, delivered in Rochester, New York on March 2, 1863, Douglass urged his fellow free men of color to fight for the end of slavery and for their freedom: "By every consideration which binds you to your enslaved fellow-countrymen, and the peace and welfare of your country; by every aspiration which you cherish for the freedom and equality of yourselves and your children; by all the ties of blood and identity which make us one with the brave black men now fighting our battles in Louisiana and in South Carolina, I urge you to fly to arms, and smite with death the power that would bury the government and your liberty in the same hopeless grave." On May 22, 1863, the U.S. War Department issued General Order No. 143, authorizing the creation of the Bureau of Colored Troops. By the end of the Civil War, over 200,000 men, including white officers, served in 175 regiments of the USCT, which made up ten percent of the Union army. The compiled military records of the men who served in the USCT can be found in the National Archives and Records Administration. Updated January 26, 2026 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Written by Renée Ater Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Sculpture Physical Dimensions The actual physical size of the original image 108 in. (274.32 cm) Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource United States Colored Troops National Monument (Madison, Tennessee) Subject The topic of the resource Subject (Topic) African Americans--History Cemeteries--Tennessee Tennessee--Madison United States Colored Troops Subject (Object Type) Commemorative sculpture Description An account of the resource The life-sized bronze statue of a single Black soldier honors the contributions of the over 20,000 African American men from Tennessee who served in the Union Army. Standing among rows of white headstones, the soldier gazes solemnly into the distance. He wears Union military attire—complete with forage cap, collared coat, belt, trousers, and boots—and grips the barrel of his rifled musket, its butt resting on the ground beside his right foot. A cartridge box hangs at his right hip, its leather shoulder strap slung across his chest, the brass circular eagle plate prominently displayed in the center. A socket bayonet hangs from his belt, and a canteen, cup, and satchel are slung over his back. The statue rests on a square white stone pedestal, with a bronze plaque bearing an inscription. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Butler, Roy W. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource February 18, 2006 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource African American Cultural Alliance of Nashville United; Association for Black Veterans; Creative Artists of Tennessee Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource JPEG Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Visual Arts-Sculpture Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Nashville National Cemetery, 1420 Gallatin Pike South, Madison, Tennessee, 37115, United States Has Part A related resource that is included either physically or logically in the described resource. Bronze plaque on base of statue: In Memory of the 20,133 Who Served As United States Colored Troops In the Union Army Dedicated 2003 Sculptor: Roy W. Butler Model: William C. Radcliffe Presented by: The African American Cultural Alliance United Association for Black Veterans Creative Artists of Tennessee Extent The size or duration of the resource. 108 in. (274.32 cm) Medium The material or physical carrier of the resource. Bronze; White granite Bibliographic Citation A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible. Alan Skerrett, Jr, ed. "Monuments to the United States Colored Troops (USCT) [African American Civil War Soldiers: The List." Jubilo! The Emancipation Century Blog, May 30, 2011. Accessed February 11, 2026. https://jubiloemancipationcentury.wordpress.com/2011/05/30/monuments-to-the-united-states-colored-troops-usct-the-list/. Rights Holder A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource. Renée Ater Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Photographs by Renée Ater Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource National Cemetery Administration, U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC, United States bronze Civil War figurative granite https://www.slaverymonuments.org/files/original/3d33891fdf86e182b98edac3c74ef7e9.jpg 2830a2fd6f6ca42b6d187550ac35c8d6 https://www.slaverymonuments.org/files/original/cdbb9b1366b0b3294724a175c441ec88.jpg 650f532e72f5e07ce8a4258d4e07656b https://www.slaverymonuments.org/files/original/81c94d49692d800a7d7fa7054e9112ad.jpg d1387564998ba1a03b348900408d3d1e https://www.slaverymonuments.org/files/original/ef293c9c334d9dff0008e3591fa6a615.jpg 6a6053438643c2c01c65555384c55006 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource United States Colored Troops (USCT) Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Renée Ater Description An account of the resource Included in this thematic collection are seventeen memorials that honor the vital contributions of the United States Colored Troops (USCT) to the Union victory during the American Civil War. The first all-Black units formed unofficially in Louisiana (Louisiana Native Guard, 1862); South Carolina (First South Carolina Volunteer Infantry, 1862-63); and Kansas (First Kansas Colored Infantry, 1862-63). The first official authorization to employ African Americans in federal service was the Second Confiscation and Militia Act of July 17, 1862. The Confiscation Act allowed Union officers to free enslaved men and put them to work as army laborers. However, Abraham Lincoln did not fully authorize the use of Black men in combat until the issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863. Beginning in late January 1863, Governor John A. Andrews of Massachusetts raised the first regiment of Black soldiers in the North, the Massachusetts 54th Volunteer Infantry. The abolitionist Frederick Douglass helped recruit men for the Massachusetts 54th, famously issuing a call to free African American men to join the Union Army. In a speech, “Men of Color, To Arms!”, delivered in Rochester, New York on March 2, 1863, Douglass urged his fellow free men of color to fight for the end of slavery and for their freedom: "By every consideration which binds you to your enslaved fellow-countrymen, and the peace and welfare of your country; by every aspiration which you cherish for the freedom and equality of yourselves and your children; by all the ties of blood and identity which make us one with the brave black men now fighting our battles in Louisiana and in South Carolina, I urge you to fly to arms, and smite with death the power that would bury the government and your liberty in the same hopeless grave." On May 22, 1863, the U.S. War Department issued General Order No. 143, authorizing the creation of the Bureau of Colored Troops. By the end of the Civil War, over 200,000 men, including white officers, served in 175 regiments of the USCT, which made up ten percent of the Union army. The compiled military records of the men who served in the USCT can be found in the National Archives and Records Administration. Updated January 26, 2026 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Written by Renée Ater Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Sculpture Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource United States Colored Troops Memorial Statue (Lexington Park, Maryland) Subject The topic of the resource Subject (Topic) African Americans--History Maryland--Lexington Park Public art Public sculpture United States Colored Troops Subject (Object Type) Commemorative sculpture Description An account of the resource The life-size bronze sculpture of a United States Colored Troop soldier, rifle held over his shoulder as he strides forward. The figure stand on 6-foot granite pedestal, which features two bronze plaques bearing a dedicatory inscription, as well as the names of the 700 Black soldiers from St. Mary’s County who fought for the Union Army during the Civil War. The plaque takes special care to note the three men from St. Mary’s County who received a Medal of Honor during the war. Two of the men, Sgt. William Barnes and Sgt. James Harris were members of the 38th Colored Troops. The third Medal of Honor recipient, a White man, was U.S. Navy Quarter Master Joseph Hayden. Just in front of the statue, is a placard with didactic information that describes the important role of African Americans during the Civil War. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource June 16, 2012 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Idolia Shubrooks; Committee for Afro-American Contributions (UCAC); Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War; Maryland General Assembly Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource JPEG Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Visual Arts-Sculpture Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant John G. Lancaster Park, 21550 Willows Road, Lexington Park, Maryland, 20653, United States Has Part A related resource that is included either physically or logically in the described resource. Bronze plaque on the front of the plinth: United States Colored Troops (USCT) This monument is dedicated in grateful tribute to the United States Colored Troops of St. Mary’s County. It honors medal of honor recipients, all Union Soldiers, and Sailors from Saint Mary’s County who served during the Civil War (1861-1865) Dedicated June 16, 2012 All honor and all glory to the emancipated slaves, freedmen, and all noble sons of St. Mary’s County who fought during the Civil War to save the Union and secure the heritage of human freedom. Includes list of names of the men who served from St. Mary's County. Information plaque at the memorial: African Americans have served in every war since the American Revolution. During the Civil War, more that 180,000 African Americans comprising 170 units served in the Union Army and 29,511 served in the Union Navy. Nearly 700 United States Colored Troops (USCT) from St. Mary’s County served in the war. The vast majority of Union soldiers from St. Mary’s County were of African descent. Muster rolls indicate USCT soldiers from the county enlisted not only in Maryland regiments, but in many regiments outside the state of Maryland and all across the country. At the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861, there were very few African Americans on the military rolls of the Union Army. The United States Navy continued to enlist Black seamen, but there was a quota and those who became regulars did menial labor. President Lincoln and his advisers believed that the regular Army and volunteers would be sufficient to win the war. Marylanders were divided over whether to remain loyal to the Union or support the Confederacy. White landowners in St. Mary’s County and other Southern Maryland counties aligned themselves with the Confederacy. Throughout the United States, African Americans were eager to enlist in the Union Army and saw southern Whites and their sympathizers as traitors who wanted to overthrow the government to perpetuate slavery. Prominent leaders including Frederic Douglass and Robert Smalls appealed to the federal government to change the military laws and allow African Americans to fight for their own freedom. The policy on enlisting African American soldiers changed as the war progressed. In July of 1862, Congress passed the Militia Act of 1862. It had become an “indispensable military necessity” to call on African American men to help save the Union. On September 27, 1862, the first regiment to become a USCT regiment was brought into the Union Army. After January 1, 1863, when the Emancipation Proclamation was issued, the War Department authorized the recruiting of African American soldiers. Recruitment efforts intensified and slave owners were offered monetary compensation for releasing enslaved men to enlist. By the end of 1863, General Ulysses S. Grant viewed the African American soldier as a “powerful ally.” President Lincoln made it clear to military authorities and citizens alike that African American soldiers were to be accorded the rights and privileges of bearing arms in support of the Union Army. Both freemen and slaves joined the fight. In spite of harsh conditions and inadequate supplies, these soldiers went on to participate in some of the most important and brutal battles of the war. African Americans proved themselves as reputable soldiers many times over, yet discrimination in pay and other areas remained widespread. The bravery, courage and skill demonstrated by these soldiers attested to their determination to prove themselves not just as soldiers but as individuals and as a race. When the liberated received the chance to become liberators, they fought hard and many lost their lives to uphold the virtues of freedom and equality. Text drawn from sources including curriculum developed for the Maryland Department of Education by Reginald Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History & Culture. On the Home Front Families of African American soldiers often suffered hardships as well. Women and children left behind frequently had to shoulder extra work loads and responsibilities and in some cases may have received harsh treatment from resentful slave holders. Letters from soldiers who faced danger on the battlefield were full of pride and faith in their cause and were treasured by their loved ones at home. (Photo of a Union soldier and his family, courtesy of The Library of Congress) “My dear girl, I hope again to see you. I must bid you farewell should I be killed. Remember, if I die, I die in a good cause. I wish we had a hundred thousand colored troops … We would put an end to this war.” From The Mind of the Negro as reflected in Letters Written during the Crisis: 1800-1860. Carter G. Woodson, ed. 1926. Men of Valor Sergeant James H. Harris (photo) The Civil War experiences of Maryland’s African American soldiers in general and, in particular, those from St. Mary’s County were plagued by discrimination and hardship. But, by the time the last bullets were fired and all the dust had settled, the exertions and accomplishments of these tried and proven men represented a critical step towards the greater goal of social equality for which they struggled and fought. (Brennan Davis) St. Mary’s County produced two USCT Civil War Congressional Medal of Honor recipients, Private (later Sergeant) William H. Barnes and Sergeant James H. Harris. Both were enlisted in the 38th United States Colored Infantry Regiment organized in Virginia. They were cited for their gallantry in the Battle of New Market Heights in Virginia, sometimes referred to as the Battle of Chaffin’s Farm. This battle was fought September 29-30 in 1864. Slavery was abolished in Maryland with the 1864 State Constitution. After the War Many former USCT soldiers had difficulty obtaining pensions and receiving recognition after the war. However, veterans in some parts of the country were able to become state and national political leaders and often played active roles in their local communities as well. In St. Mary’s County, veterans became teachers, ministers, and business owners. Galilee United Methodist Church in Oakville and St. Lukes United Methodist Church in Ridge were founded by veterans. Although Galilee Church no longer exists, the cemetery remains, and USCT soldiers are buried at the site. St. Luke’s continues as an active congregation. Today, many St. Mary’s County residents are proud descendants of those who served in the USCT. (Photos of St. Luke’s Methodist Church in Ridge and Galilee Cemetery in Oakville) A Granddaughter’s Mission Idolia Shubrooks worked for over 20 years to make the United States Colored Troops Memorial Monument a reality. It became her personal mission after finding her grandfather’s history with the USCT muster papers. She researched her grandfather’s history with the USCT and worked with the Unified Committee for Afro-American Contributions and Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War to educate the community about this vital part of our forgotten local heritage. The completed project creates a legacy which serves to share and preserve our history for future generations. The vision for this monument grew out of the day that Idolia Shubrooks discovered her grandfather Alexander Armstrong’s USCT muster papers in a keepsake box. Medium The material or physical carrier of the resource. Bronze; Granite Bibliographic Citation A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible. Jacqui Atkielski. "Monument Honoring St. Mary's Veterans Was a Labor of Love." Southern Maryland Newspapers Online. Accessed January 23, 2019. https://www.somdnews.com/bonus/memorial_day/monument-honoring-st-mary-s-veterans-was-a-labor-of/article_6099e2e1-0bdc-5095-9593-812d4e040f15.html. Alan Skerrett, Jr, ed. "Monuments to the United States Colored Troops (USCT) [African American Civil War Soldiers: The List." Jubilo! The Emancipation Century Blog, May 30, 2011. Accessed February 11, 2026. https://jubiloemancipationcentury.wordpress.com/2011/05/30/monuments-to-the-united-states-colored-troops-usct-the-list/. Rights Holder A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource. Renée Ater Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Casteel, Gary , 1946- Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Photographs by Renée Ater, 2012 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource St. Mary's County Maryland, 41770 Baldridge Street, Leonardtown, Maryland, 20650, United States bronze Civil War figurative granite names https://www.slaverymonuments.org/files/original/3d532efa0f5e97a9ab8f2e0793030342.jpg eae69e31eb6132b4862af76d0d64c0f4 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource United States Colored Troops (USCT) Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Renée Ater Description An account of the resource Included in this thematic collection are seventeen memorials that honor the vital contributions of the United States Colored Troops (USCT) to the Union victory during the American Civil War. The first all-Black units formed unofficially in Louisiana (Louisiana Native Guard, 1862); South Carolina (First South Carolina Volunteer Infantry, 1862-63); and Kansas (First Kansas Colored Infantry, 1862-63). The first official authorization to employ African Americans in federal service was the Second Confiscation and Militia Act of July 17, 1862. The Confiscation Act allowed Union officers to free enslaved men and put them to work as army laborers. However, Abraham Lincoln did not fully authorize the use of Black men in combat until the issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863. Beginning in late January 1863, Governor John A. Andrews of Massachusetts raised the first regiment of Black soldiers in the North, the Massachusetts 54th Volunteer Infantry. The abolitionist Frederick Douglass helped recruit men for the Massachusetts 54th, famously issuing a call to free African American men to join the Union Army. In a speech, “Men of Color, To Arms!”, delivered in Rochester, New York on March 2, 1863, Douglass urged his fellow free men of color to fight for the end of slavery and for their freedom: "By every consideration which binds you to your enslaved fellow-countrymen, and the peace and welfare of your country; by every aspiration which you cherish for the freedom and equality of yourselves and your children; by all the ties of blood and identity which make us one with the brave black men now fighting our battles in Louisiana and in South Carolina, I urge you to fly to arms, and smite with death the power that would bury the government and your liberty in the same hopeless grave." On May 22, 1863, the U.S. War Department issued General Order No. 143, authorizing the creation of the Bureau of Colored Troops. By the end of the Civil War, over 200,000 men, including white officers, served in 175 regiments of the USCT, which made up ten percent of the Union army. The compiled military records of the men who served in the USCT can be found in the National Archives and Records Administration. Updated January 26, 2026 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Written by Renée Ater Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Sculpture Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Soldiers' Memorial (Jefferson City, Missouri) Subject The topic of the resource Subject (Topic) African Americans--History Lincoln University Missouri--Jefferson City Public art Public sculpture United States Colored Troops Subject (Object Type) Commemorative sculpture Description An account of the resource The monument depicts the members of the 62nd and 65th United States Colored Infantry who, in 1866, founded Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Missouri. The work includes two soldiers and Captain Foster, their white commander, who all are shown atop a pedestal. Behind this main group, another USCT soldier on top of the pedestal assists another standing bronze figure to ascend the pedestal. On the base of the pedestal is a bas-relief of three marching soldiers. The commemorative work also includes two bronze soldiers, wearing knapsacks and bed rolls and whose facial expressions appear weary, walking up the lawn toward the front of the monument.  Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Dwight, Ed, 1933- Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource May 2, 2007 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Christner, Inc. (landscape architects); United HRB General Contractors, Inc.; Board of Curators; Lincoln University Foundation Board, Inc.; David B. Henson (17th President of Lincoln University) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Lincoln University, 820 Chestnut Street, Jefferson City, Missouri, 65101, United States Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource JPEG Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Visual Arts-Sculpture Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 820 Chestnut Street, Jefferson City, Missouri, 65101, United States Has Part A related resource that is included either physically or logically in the described resource. Inscription on base: Dedicated to the Officers and Soldiers of the 62nd and 65th United States Colored Infantries. Inscription on granite plaza: Courage--Sacrifice--Equality Donor bricks Bronze plaque on back of monument: Soldiers Memorial Plaza Dedicated May 2, 2007 President of the University Dr. Carolyn R. Hahoney Board of Curators Greg S. Gaffke, President Rodney J. Boyd, Vice President Marvin O. Teen, Jr., Secretary Dana T. Cutler, Treasurer Cynthia O. Blosser, Member Ralph M. Caro, Member Iris G. Ferguson, Member Gurnie C. Gunter, Member John M. Parker, Member Daniel S. Britts, Student Representatives Bronze plaque on back of monument: Ed Dwight, Sculptor Medium The material or physical carrier of the resource. Bronze; Granite Bibliographic Citation A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible. Alan Skerrett, Jr, ed. "Monuments to the United States Colored Troops (USCT) [African American Civil War Soldiers: The List." Jubilo! The Emancipation Century Blog, May 30, 2011. Accessed February 11, 2026. https://jubiloemancipationcentury.wordpress.com/2011/05/30/monuments-to-the-united-states-colored-troops-usct-the-list/. Arenson, Adam. "Fighting for the Legacy of Lincoln." New York Times, December 13, 2013. Accessed February 11, 2026. https://archive.nytimes.com/opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/12/13/fighting-for-the-legacy-of-lincoln/. Rights Holder A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource. Renée Ater Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Photograph: <a href="https://www.visitjeffersoncity.com/listing/soldiers-memorial-plaza-at-lincoln-university/76/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jefferson City Convention and Visitors Bureau</a> bas-relief bronze Civil War figurative granite inscription https://www.slaverymonuments.org/files/original/6b093ae1fd52b7a92b50eb6b936d2f1d.jpg a6e5b4ec536e158c0bf5f948095d34eb https://www.slaverymonuments.org/files/original/00a6f3efc60a043d7f6f9bdf2277315f.jpg ba153d0b21b8e5930add22fc3e37ea79 https://www.slaverymonuments.org/files/original/dd22b8e4720dcd4a87c819191a193066.jpg e00a2ebd83c43ce55dee6c7393a8bb90 https://www.slaverymonuments.org/files/original/56f4c3f6db9339902f999ab81b97cb82.jpg 78f3d7d6a16d1280758d4468fef94266 https://www.slaverymonuments.org/files/original/4fd57e013d5c1a19d48595ffddac2370.jpg 298111d7d9d2cd6ad6b666b739fa3384 https://www.slaverymonuments.org/files/original/8093fac7cf7bee762792207ec130ae36.jpg 3c2312a804ceb1d2e4ab6167f7e4ed73 https://www.slaverymonuments.org/files/original/2dd27dd351d4ace80f6008a9fbf29776.jpg ce1e15347ccc816bfd8b6229cdc345fc https://www.slaverymonuments.org/files/original/af4a4fbed68f01d081b7164765e21c6f.jpg 7d234d45488ebb1f0f8552cfb013fad9 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource United States Colored Troops (USCT) Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Renée Ater Description An account of the resource Included in this thematic collection are seventeen memorials that honor the vital contributions of the United States Colored Troops (USCT) to the Union victory during the American Civil War. The first all-Black units formed unofficially in Louisiana (Louisiana Native Guard, 1862); South Carolina (First South Carolina Volunteer Infantry, 1862-63); and Kansas (First Kansas Colored Infantry, 1862-63). The first official authorization to employ African Americans in federal service was the Second Confiscation and Militia Act of July 17, 1862. The Confiscation Act allowed Union officers to free enslaved men and put them to work as army laborers. However, Abraham Lincoln did not fully authorize the use of Black men in combat until the issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863. Beginning in late January 1863, Governor John A. Andrews of Massachusetts raised the first regiment of Black soldiers in the North, the Massachusetts 54th Volunteer Infantry. The abolitionist Frederick Douglass helped recruit men for the Massachusetts 54th, famously issuing a call to free African American men to join the Union Army. In a speech, “Men of Color, To Arms!”, delivered in Rochester, New York on March 2, 1863, Douglass urged his fellow free men of color to fight for the end of slavery and for their freedom: "By every consideration which binds you to your enslaved fellow-countrymen, and the peace and welfare of your country; by every aspiration which you cherish for the freedom and equality of yourselves and your children; by all the ties of blood and identity which make us one with the brave black men now fighting our battles in Louisiana and in South Carolina, I urge you to fly to arms, and smite with death the power that would bury the government and your liberty in the same hopeless grave." On May 22, 1863, the U.S. War Department issued General Order No. 143, authorizing the creation of the Bureau of Colored Troops. By the end of the Civil War, over 200,000 men, including white officers, served in 175 regiments of the USCT, which made up ten percent of the Union army. The compiled military records of the men who served in the USCT can be found in the National Archives and Records Administration. Updated January 26, 2026 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Written by Renée Ater Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Sculpture Physical Dimensions The actual physical size of the original image 108 in. (274.32 cm) Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource “Spirit of Freedom”: African American Civil War Memorial (Washington, DC) Subject The topic of the resource Subject (Topic) African Americans--History Public art Public sculpture United States Colored Troops Washington (D.C.) Subject (Object Type) Commemorative sculpture Description An account of the resource Located in Washington, DC, the semicircular bronze statue by Ed Hamilton depicts three African American infantrymen and one sailor. The soldiers grasp the barrels of their rifled muskets, while the sailor holds a ship’s wheel. The soldiers wear the standard Union army uniform—a forage cap, a light coat, and trousers—while the sailor wears a federal Navy flat hat, a wool frock, and trousers.  Overlooking the group is a personification of the "Spirit of Freedom,” rendered as a shrouded, angelic figure whose face tilts upward, eyes closed, and whose crossed hand rest on the chest. On the back of the monument in bas-relief, an African American soldier is joined by six members of his multigenerational family—his wife, three children, and his parents—who gather around him as he prepares to go off to war. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Hamilton, Ed, 1947- Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Photographs by Renée Ater Wide-angle photograph: National Gallery of Art Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource July 18, 1998 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource The African American Civil War Memorial Freedom Foundation; National Park Service Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource National Park Service, 1849 C Street, NW, Washington, DC, 20240, United States Relation A related resource African American Civil War Memorial Museum, Washington, DC Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource JPEG Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Visual Arts-Sculpture Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1925 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC, 20001, United States Has Part A related resource that is included either physically or logically in the described resource. Inscription on granite base:  Civil War to Civil Rights and Beyond. This Memorial is dedicated to those who served in African American units of the Union Army in the Civil War. The 209,145 names inscribed on these walls commemorate those fighters of freedom. Extent The size or duration of the resource. 108 in. (274.32 cm) Medium The material or physical carrier of the resource. Bronze; Pink granite; Stainless steel Bibliographic Citation A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible. Ater, Renée. "Remembering and Commemorating the United States Colored Troops: The African American Civil War Memorial in Washington, DC." In Tell It With Pride: The 54th Massachusetts Regiment and Augusts Saint-Gaudens' Shaw Memorial, by Sarah Greenough and Nancy Anderson, 112-126. Yale University Press, 2013. Alan Skerrett, Jr, ed. "Monuments to the United States Colored Troops (USCT) [African American Civil War Soldiers: The List." Jubilo! The Emancipation Century Blog, May 30, 2011. Accessed February 11, 2026. https://jubiloemancipationcentury.wordpress.com/2011/05/30/monuments-to-the-united-states-colored-troops-usct-the-list/. Rights Holder A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource. Renée Ater bas-relief bronze Civil War figurative granite inscription memorial wall names stainless steel https://www.slaverymonuments.org/files/original/7a209a02b934d468734c38e1d233cdd0.jpg cf3e22d46f30d9288228a02b2b1631ad Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource United States Colored Troops (USCT) Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Renée Ater Description An account of the resource Included in this thematic collection are seventeen memorials that honor the vital contributions of the United States Colored Troops (USCT) to the Union victory during the American Civil War. The first all-Black units formed unofficially in Louisiana (Louisiana Native Guard, 1862); South Carolina (First South Carolina Volunteer Infantry, 1862-63); and Kansas (First Kansas Colored Infantry, 1862-63). The first official authorization to employ African Americans in federal service was the Second Confiscation and Militia Act of July 17, 1862. The Confiscation Act allowed Union officers to free enslaved men and put them to work as army laborers. However, Abraham Lincoln did not fully authorize the use of Black men in combat until the issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863. Beginning in late January 1863, Governor John A. Andrews of Massachusetts raised the first regiment of Black soldiers in the North, the Massachusetts 54th Volunteer Infantry. The abolitionist Frederick Douglass helped recruit men for the Massachusetts 54th, famously issuing a call to free African American men to join the Union Army. In a speech, “Men of Color, To Arms!”, delivered in Rochester, New York on March 2, 1863, Douglass urged his fellow free men of color to fight for the end of slavery and for their freedom: "By every consideration which binds you to your enslaved fellow-countrymen, and the peace and welfare of your country; by every aspiration which you cherish for the freedom and equality of yourselves and your children; by all the ties of blood and identity which make us one with the brave black men now fighting our battles in Louisiana and in South Carolina, I urge you to fly to arms, and smite with death the power that would bury the government and your liberty in the same hopeless grave." On May 22, 1863, the U.S. War Department issued General Order No. 143, authorizing the creation of the Bureau of Colored Troops. By the end of the Civil War, over 200,000 men, including white officers, served in 175 regiments of the USCT, which made up ten percent of the Union army. The compiled military records of the men who served in the USCT can be found in the National Archives and Records Administration. Updated January 26, 2026 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Written by Renée Ater Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Sculpture Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource The 29th Colored Regiment Monument (New Haven, Connecticut) Subject The topic of the resource Subject (Topic) African Americans--History Connecticut--New Haven Public art Public sculpture United States Colored Troops Subject (Object Type) Commemorative sculpture Description An account of the resource The memorial features a black granite obelisk, partially encircled by eight stone markers featuring the names of the members of the 29th Colored Regiments. The obelisk itself includes images and/or texts on all four sides. The west side features a bronze plaque with a bronze bas-relief that depicts soldiers carrying the flag of the 29th Regiment and the U. S. flag. The plaque also shows the unit’s dates of engagement and the names of those killed in battle or who died of disease. The south side of the obelisk gives a history of the regiment. The east side presents two photographs etched into the granite of Alexander H. Newton and Daniel S. Lathrop, the two members who achieved the unit’s highest rank of sergeant major. The north side includes the work’s dedicatory information. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Hamilton, Ed, 1947- Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource September 20, 2008 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource JPEG Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Visual Arts-Sculpture Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Criscuolo Park, Chapel and James Streets, New Haven, Connecticut, 06513, United States Has Part A related resource that is included either physically or logically in the described resource. Inscription on the west face of the obelisk: The Connecticut Twenty-Ninth Colored Regiment C.V. Infantry Battle Engagements New Market Road-- October 13, 1864 Darbytown Road--October 13, 1864 Kell House/Fair Oaks-- October 27-28, 1864 Chaffins Farm-- September 29, 1864 Petersburg-- September 24, 1864 Richmond-- September 29, 1863 Officers died of disease: 1 Officer killed or mortally wounded: 1 Enlisted men killed or mortally wounded: 44 Enlisted men died of disease or accident: 152 Inscription on the south face of the obelisk: History of Regiment Recruiting for the 29th Regiment Connecticut Volunteers Colored began early in the autumn of 1863. Most of the men came to the regiment for training at a place called Grapevine Point now called Criscuolo Park. This part is located at East Chapel Street and James Street. The 29th Connecticut Infantry was organized at Fair Haven and mustered in on 8 March 1864. On this date, the regiment was formally mustered into the service of the United States. On March 4th LT. Colonel William B. Wooster, Formerly of the 20th Connecticut Volunteers assumed command of the regiment. On March 19th, the regiment formed in line, and after the presentation of a flag by the Colored Ladies of New Haven, marched on board the transport “Warrior”. On March 10th, the regiment sailed out of the New Harbor and disembarked an Annapolis, Maryland. Service Moved from Beaufort, SC to Bermuda Humored, VA 8-13 August 1864, Siege operations against Petersburg and Richmond 13 August 1864 to 2 April 1864. Inscription on the north face of the obelisk: Dedicated By the Descendants of the Connecticut 29th Colored Regiment C.V. Infantry 2008 Bibliographic Citation A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible. Tedeschi, Bob. "An Honor for Troops Who Withstood Dishonor." New York Times, August 29, 2008. Accessed January 23, 2019. https://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/31/nyregion/nyregionspecial2/31colct.html. Alan Skerrett, Jr, ed. "Monuments to the United States Colored Troops (USCT) [African American Civil War Soldiers: The List." Jubilo! The Emancipation Century Blog, May 30, 2011. Accessed February 11, 2026. https://jubiloemancipationcentury.wordpress.com/2011/05/30/monuments-to-the-united-states-colored-troops-usct-the-list/. Rights Holder A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource. Renée Ater Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Photograph: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/29th_Colored_Regiment_Monument#/media/File:29th_Colored_Infantry_Monument_Front1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Wikipedia</a> Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Descendants of the Connecticut 29th Colored Regiment C.V. Infantry 2008 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Arts, Culture & Tourism, City of New Haven, 165 Church Street, 2nd Floor, New Haven, Connecticut, 06510, United States Medium The material or physical carrier of the resource. Black granite bas-relief black granite Civil War inscription names obelisk https://www.slaverymonuments.org/files/original/8e7ee1e2c65ce7c49ba8004800293d24.jpg f388f9163ef52cc41b0e6f4af0db2af4 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource United States Colored Troops (USCT) Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Renée Ater Description An account of the resource Included in this thematic collection are seventeen memorials that honor the vital contributions of the United States Colored Troops (USCT) to the Union victory during the American Civil War. The first all-Black units formed unofficially in Louisiana (Louisiana Native Guard, 1862); South Carolina (First South Carolina Volunteer Infantry, 1862-63); and Kansas (First Kansas Colored Infantry, 1862-63). The first official authorization to employ African Americans in federal service was the Second Confiscation and Militia Act of July 17, 1862. The Confiscation Act allowed Union officers to free enslaved men and put them to work as army laborers. However, Abraham Lincoln did not fully authorize the use of Black men in combat until the issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863. Beginning in late January 1863, Governor John A. Andrews of Massachusetts raised the first regiment of Black soldiers in the North, the Massachusetts 54th Volunteer Infantry. The abolitionist Frederick Douglass helped recruit men for the Massachusetts 54th, famously issuing a call to free African American men to join the Union Army. In a speech, “Men of Color, To Arms!”, delivered in Rochester, New York on March 2, 1863, Douglass urged his fellow free men of color to fight for the end of slavery and for their freedom: "By every consideration which binds you to your enslaved fellow-countrymen, and the peace and welfare of your country; by every aspiration which you cherish for the freedom and equality of yourselves and your children; by all the ties of blood and identity which make us one with the brave black men now fighting our battles in Louisiana and in South Carolina, I urge you to fly to arms, and smite with death the power that would bury the government and your liberty in the same hopeless grave." On May 22, 1863, the U.S. War Department issued General Order No. 143, authorizing the creation of the Bureau of Colored Troops. By the end of the Civil War, over 200,000 men, including white officers, served in 175 regiments of the USCT, which made up ten percent of the Union army. The compiled military records of the men who served in the USCT can be found in the National Archives and Records Administration. Updated January 26, 2026 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Written by Renée Ater Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Sculpture Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource The First Kansas Colored Volunteer Infantry Statue (Butler, Missouri) Subject The topic of the resource Subject (Topic) African Americans--History Missouri--Butler Public art Public sculpture United States Colored Troops Subject (Object Type) Commemorative sculpture Description An account of the resource The monument depicts a soldier from the First Kansas Colored Infantry during the Battle of Island Mound, which took place on October 28 and 29, 1862. The soldier is shown charging forward, his left foot stepping ahead. His facial expression is grave and tense, with deeply furrowed brows and tightly clenched lips. He grips the barrel of his rifled musket with his left hand and holds the butt with his right. The soldier wears the standard Union army uniform: a forage cap, a light buttoned coat, trousers, and boots. A leather shoulder strap crosses his chest, prominently featuring a circular brass eagle plate prominently at its center. The sculpture stands atop a white granite trapezoidal plinth and base. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Randell, Joel Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource October 12, 2008 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource The Amen Society Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource JPEG Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Visual Arts-Sculpture Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Bates County Courthouse, 1 North Delaware Street, Butler, Missouri, 64730, United States Has Part A related resource that is included either physically or logically in the described resource. Inscription on the base: First Kansas Colored Volunteer Infantry The 1st Kansas Colored Volunteer Infantry fought and won the Battle of Island Mound, also known as The Battle at Fort Toothman on October 28 & 29, 1862 in Charlotte Township approx. 7.5 miles southwest of Butler. It is said to have been the only battle fought on Bates County soil, in which regular U.S. troops were involved. The First Kansas Colored Volunteer Infantry was the first black unit to fight in the Civil War. Reportedly Southern rebels outnumbered the black troops five to one, attacked the fort in fierce hand-to-hand combat ensued. Of the Kansas Infantry's involvement it was written, 'They Fought Like Tigers.' First Kansas Colored Volunteer Infantry They Fought Like Tigers Founded & Organized by The Amen Society Rights Holder A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource. Renée Ater Medium The material or physical carrier of the resource. Bronze Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Photograph: <a href="https://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WMNJHT_First_Kansas_Colored_Volunteer_Infantry_Monument_Butler_Missouri" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Waymarking</a> Bibliographic Citation A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible. Alan Skerrett, Jr, ed. "Monuments to the United States Colored Troops (USCT) [African American Civil War Soldiers: The List." Jubilo! The Emancipation Century Blog, May 30, 2011. Accessed February 11, 2026. https://jubiloemancipationcentury.wordpress.com/2011/05/30/monuments-to-the-united-states-colored-troops-usct-the-list/. Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource City of Butler Missouri, 22 West Ohio, Butler, Missouri, 64730, United States bronze Civil War figurative granite inscription https://www.slaverymonuments.org/files/original/bfcb9976c9c0761669377d142582942e.jpeg 4d564b214d93252107816cabb6b9c16a Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource United States Colored Troops (USCT) Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Renée Ater Description An account of the resource Included in this thematic collection are seventeen memorials that honor the vital contributions of the United States Colored Troops (USCT) to the Union victory during the American Civil War. The first all-Black units formed unofficially in Louisiana (Louisiana Native Guard, 1862); South Carolina (First South Carolina Volunteer Infantry, 1862-63); and Kansas (First Kansas Colored Infantry, 1862-63). The first official authorization to employ African Americans in federal service was the Second Confiscation and Militia Act of July 17, 1862. The Confiscation Act allowed Union officers to free enslaved men and put them to work as army laborers. However, Abraham Lincoln did not fully authorize the use of Black men in combat until the issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863. Beginning in late January 1863, Governor John A. Andrews of Massachusetts raised the first regiment of Black soldiers in the North, the Massachusetts 54th Volunteer Infantry. The abolitionist Frederick Douglass helped recruit men for the Massachusetts 54th, famously issuing a call to free African American men to join the Union Army. In a speech, “Men of Color, To Arms!”, delivered in Rochester, New York on March 2, 1863, Douglass urged his fellow free men of color to fight for the end of slavery and for their freedom: "By every consideration which binds you to your enslaved fellow-countrymen, and the peace and welfare of your country; by every aspiration which you cherish for the freedom and equality of yourselves and your children; by all the ties of blood and identity which make us one with the brave black men now fighting our battles in Louisiana and in South Carolina, I urge you to fly to arms, and smite with death the power that would bury the government and your liberty in the same hopeless grave." On May 22, 1863, the U.S. War Department issued General Order No. 143, authorizing the creation of the Bureau of Colored Troops. By the end of the Civil War, over 200,000 men, including white officers, served in 175 regiments of the USCT, which made up ten percent of the Union army. The compiled military records of the men who served in the USCT can be found in the National Archives and Records Administration. Updated January 26, 2026 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Written by Renée Ater Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Sculpture Physical Dimensions The actual physical size of the original image 132 x 168 in. (335.28 x 426.72 cm) Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Memorial to Robert Gould Shaw and the Massachusetts Fifty-fourth Infantry Regiment (Boston, Massachusetts) Subject The topic of the resource Subject (Topic) African Americans--History Massachusetts--Boston Public art Public sculpture United States Colored Troops Subject (Name) Shaw, Robert Gould, 1837-1863 Subject (Object Type) Commemorative sculpture Description An account of the resource The memorial commemorates Colonel Robert Gould Shaw and members of the Massachusetts 54th Volunteer Infantry Regiment, the first African American regiment to be formed in the North during the American Civil War. Shaw, the regiment’s leader, is shown on horseback in control of his horse and staring forward. Cast in bas relief, three rows of Black infantrymen of various ages stride forward in unison behind him. This scene depicts the Massachusetts 54th Regiment parade march down Beacon Street in Boston on May 28, 1863, as they left the city for Beaufort, South Carolina. On July 18, 1863, nearly 250 of the Massachusetts 54th Regiment were killed, wounded, or captured at the Battle of Fort Wagner located on Morris Island in Charleston Harbor including the death of Shaw. Sargeant William H. Carney received a Medal of Honor for his courageous actions during the fight, the first African American to receive the medal. The Massachusetts 54th Regiment and the Battle of Fort Wagner were the subject of the epic Civil War film, Glory (1989). Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Saint-Gaudens, Augustus, 1848-1907 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource May 31, 1897 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource McKim, Mead & White (architectural pedestal); Shaw Family; Governor John Andrew; 1865 Memorial Committe: Charles Sumner, Rev. Leonard Grimes, Joshua Bowen Smith, Edward Atkinson, Robert E. Apthorp, Francis W. Bird, Charles W. Slack, Henry P. Kidder, Charles R. Codman, Henry W. Longfellow, James L. Little, William L. Clapp Jr., Charles Beck, William G. Weld, Royal E. Robbins, Edward W. Kingsley, George B. Loring, Alanson W. Beard, Solomon Stebbins, and Robert K. Darrah; 1876 Memorial Committee: Edward Atkinson, John Murray Forbes, Henry Lee Jr., and Martin P. Kennard Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource National Park Service, 1849 C Street, NW, Washington, DC, 20240, United States Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource JPEG Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Visual Arts-Sculpture Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Boston Common, Beacon and Park Streets, Boston, Massachusetts, 02133, United States Has Part A related resource that is included either physically or logically in the described resource. Inscription on the relief: Omnia Relinquit Servare Rempublicam [He relinquished everything to save/preserve the Republic] Inscription on the pedestal: Robert Gould Shaw Colonel of the Fifty-Fourth Regiment of Massachusetts  Born in Boston 10 October MDCCCXXXVII Killed While Leading the Assault on Fort Wagner South Carolina 18 July MDCCCLXIII Right in the van, on the red rampart's slippery swell With heart that beat a charge he fell Foeward as fits a man; but the high soul burns on to light men's feet where death for noble ends makes dying sweet. [lines from James Russell Lowell's poem "Memoriae Positum"] Inscription on granite back between the two fasces: To the Fifty-Fourth of Massachusetts Regiment Infantry The White Officers taking life and honor in their hands cast in their lot with men of a despised race unproven in war and risked death as inciters of servile insurrection if taken prisoners besides encountering all the common perils of camp march and battle. The Black rank and file volunteered when disaster clouded the Union Cause. Served without pay for eighteen months till given that of white troops. Faced threatened enslavement if captured. We're brave in action. Patient under heavy and dangerous labors. And cheerful amid hardships and privations. Together they gave to the nation and the world undying proof that Americans of African descent possess the pride, courage and devotion of the patriot soldier. One hundred and eighty thousand such Americans enlisted under the Union Flag in MDCCCLXIII-MDCCCLXV. [Charles W. Eliot, President, Harvard University] Inscriptions on the back above the five laurel wreaths: Cabot Jackson Russel, Captain • William Harris Simpkins, Captain • Edward Lewis Stevens, 1st Lieutenant • David Reid, 1st Lieutenant • Frederick Hedge Webster, 2nd Lieutenant [Names of the five officers killed from the Fifty-Fourth Massachusetts} Inscription on back below the laurel wreaths: I know not my commander where in all human history to any given thousand men in arms there has been committed a work at once so proud, so precious, so full of hope and glory as the work committed to you. [Governor John Andrew, extract from speech given at the depart of the Fifty-Fourth Massachuestts Regiment in Boston 1863] Inscription on brick base at back: The Memory of the Just is Blessed Henry Albert • Thomas R. Ampey • Thomas Bowman • William Brady • Abraham Brown • James H. Buchanan • Henry F. Burghardt • Elisha Burkett • Jason Champin • Andrew Clark • Lewis Clark • Henry Craig • Albert Evans • William S. Everson • Samuel Ford • Richard M. Foster • Charles S. Gamrell • Lewis C. Green • John Hall • William Henry Harrison II • Edward Hines • Benjamin Hogan • Charles M. Holloway • George Jackson • James P. Johnson • John H. Johnson • Daniel A. Kelley • Henry King • Cyrus Krunkleton • Augustus Lewis • Thomas Lloyd • William Lloyd • Lewis J. Locard • Francis Lowe • Robert McJohnson • John Miller • James H. Mills • William H. Morris • Charles E. Nelson • Stephen Newton • Harrison Pierce • Cornelius Price • Thomas Peter Riggs • David R. Roper • Anthony Schenck • Thomas Sheldon • William J. Smith • Samuel Sufshay • John Tanner • William Thomas • Charles Van Allen • George Vanderpool • Cornelius Watson • Edward Williams • Franklin Willis • Joseph D. Wilson • William Wilson • John W. Winslow —Inscribed MCMLXXXII [Names of those soldiers from the Fifty-Fourth Massachusetts Regiment who died during the assault on Fort Wagner. Names added in 1982.] Extent The size or duration of the resource. 132 x 168 in. (335.28 x 426.72 cm) Medium The material or physical carrier of the resource. Bronze; Milford pink granite Bibliographic Citation A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible. Greenough, Sarah and Nancy Anderson. Tell It With Pride: The 54th Massachusetts Regiment and Augusts Saint-Gaudens' Shaw Memorial. Yale University Press, 2013. Alan Skerrett, Jr, ed. "Monuments to the United States Colored Troops (USCT) [African American Civil War Soldiers: The List." Jubilo! The Emancipation Century Blog, May 30, 2011. Accessed February 11, 2026. https://jubiloemancipationcentury.wordpress.com/2011/05/30/monuments-to-the-united-states-colored-troops-usct-the-list/. Blight, David W. "The Shaw Memorial in the Landscape of Civil War Memory." In Hope & Glory: Essays on the Legacy of the Fifty-Fourth Massachusetts Regiment, eds. Martin H. Blatt, Thomas J. Brown, and Donald Yacovone, 79-93. University of Massachusetts Press, 2001. Grover, Kathryn. To Heal the Wounded Nation's Life: African Americans and the Robert Gould Shaw/54th Regiment Memorial. Special History Study, Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park. National Park Service, 2021. Accessed February 11, 2026. https://irma.nps.gov/DataStore/DownloadFile/668698. Rights Holder A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource. Renée Ater Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Photograph: National Park Service Has Version A related resource that is a version, edition, or adaptation of the described resource. A gold patinated plaster cast (1900) is on view at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC, on loan from the Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site in Cornish, New Hampshire. A bronze cast (1997) is on display at the Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site in Cornish, New Hampshire. bas-relief bronze Civil War figurative granite inscription marble https://www.slaverymonuments.org/files/original/2294ea039d60a70659dcbef75a84579e.jpg 6505b2df45ad3ed5b33a82d20bd12c72 https://www.slaverymonuments.org/files/original/8e5b36572bf021d60140d140d1ffb9d9.jpg bfcc76e7eadc3ddf2f1cc4d41ef553dd Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource United States Colored Troops (USCT) Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Renée Ater Description An account of the resource Included in this thematic collection are seventeen memorials that honor the vital contributions of the United States Colored Troops (USCT) to the Union victory during the American Civil War. The first all-Black units formed unofficially in Louisiana (Louisiana Native Guard, 1862); South Carolina (First South Carolina Volunteer Infantry, 1862-63); and Kansas (First Kansas Colored Infantry, 1862-63). The first official authorization to employ African Americans in federal service was the Second Confiscation and Militia Act of July 17, 1862. The Confiscation Act allowed Union officers to free enslaved men and put them to work as army laborers. However, Abraham Lincoln did not fully authorize the use of Black men in combat until the issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863. Beginning in late January 1863, Governor John A. Andrews of Massachusetts raised the first regiment of Black soldiers in the North, the Massachusetts 54th Volunteer Infantry. The abolitionist Frederick Douglass helped recruit men for the Massachusetts 54th, famously issuing a call to free African American men to join the Union Army. In a speech, “Men of Color, To Arms!”, delivered in Rochester, New York on March 2, 1863, Douglass urged his fellow free men of color to fight for the end of slavery and for their freedom: "By every consideration which binds you to your enslaved fellow-countrymen, and the peace and welfare of your country; by every aspiration which you cherish for the freedom and equality of yourselves and your children; by all the ties of blood and identity which make us one with the brave black men now fighting our battles in Louisiana and in South Carolina, I urge you to fly to arms, and smite with death the power that would bury the government and your liberty in the same hopeless grave." On May 22, 1863, the U.S. War Department issued General Order No. 143, authorizing the creation of the Bureau of Colored Troops. By the end of the Civil War, over 200,000 men, including white officers, served in 175 regiments of the USCT, which made up ten percent of the Union army. The compiled military records of the men who served in the USCT can be found in the National Archives and Records Administration. Updated January 26, 2026 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Written by Renée Ater Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Sculpture Physical Dimensions The actual physical size of the original image 108 in. (274.32 cm) Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource African American Monument (Vicksburg, Mississippi) Subject The topic of the resource Subject (Topic) African Americans--History Mississippi--Vicksburg United States Colored Troops United States--Mississippi--Vicksburg National Military Park Subject (Object Type) Commemorative sculpture Description An account of the resource Located at the Vicksburg National Military Park, the monument depicts three bronze figures, two United States Colored Troops soldiers and a shirtless civilian field hand wearing suspenders, trousers, and a straw hat. The field hand and one of the soldiers support a second soldier, who has been wounded in the Vicksburg Campaign. The USCT soldiers played a key role in the Union victory at Milken's Bend on June 7, 1863. The statue rests on a black granite base inscribed with a text that honors their service. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Sessums, J. Kim, 1958- Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Photograph: <a href="https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=109350" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Historical Marker Database</a> and the National Park Service Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource February 14, 2004 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource State of Mississippi; City of Vicksburg Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource National Parks Service, 1849 C Street, NW, Washington, DC, 20240, United States Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource JPEG Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Visual Arts-Sculpture Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Vicksburg National Military Park, 3201 Clay St, Vicksburg, Mississippi, 39183, United States Has Part A related resource that is included either physically or logically in the described resource. Inscription on base: Commemorating the service of the 1st and 3rd Mississippi Infantry Regiments, African descent and all Mississippians of African descent who participated in the Vicksburg Campaign. Extent The size or duration of the resource. 108 in. (274.32 cm) Medium The material or physical carrier of the resource. Bronze; Black African granite Bibliographic Citation A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible. Alan Skerrett, Jr, ed. "Monuments to the United States Colored Troops (USCT) [African American Civil War Soldiers: The List." Jubilo! The Emancipation Century Blog, May 30, 2011. Accessed February 11, 2026. https://jubiloemancipationcentury.wordpress.com/2011/05/30/monuments-to-the-united-states-colored-troops-usct-the-list/. National Park Service. "African American Monument." Vicksburg National Military Park. Brochure. Accessed March 2, 2026. https://www.npshistory.com/publications/vick/brochures/african-american-monument.pdf. Rights Holder A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource. Renée Ater black granite bronze Civil War figurative inscription https://www.slaverymonuments.org/files/original/4141b44a2df2509c538f3be1c2713f58.jpg 065c72063c66816d07961c107c409324 https://www.slaverymonuments.org/files/original/69d33b60765894075203e5d9fe779f19.jpg 1ff5950ea22e283b91222741b2f177f3 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource United States Colored Troops (USCT) Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Renée Ater Description An account of the resource Included in this thematic collection are seventeen memorials that honor the vital contributions of the United States Colored Troops (USCT) to the Union victory during the American Civil War. The first all-Black units formed unofficially in Louisiana (Louisiana Native Guard, 1862); South Carolina (First South Carolina Volunteer Infantry, 1862-63); and Kansas (First Kansas Colored Infantry, 1862-63). The first official authorization to employ African Americans in federal service was the Second Confiscation and Militia Act of July 17, 1862. The Confiscation Act allowed Union officers to free enslaved men and put them to work as army laborers. However, Abraham Lincoln did not fully authorize the use of Black men in combat until the issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863. Beginning in late January 1863, Governor John A. Andrews of Massachusetts raised the first regiment of Black soldiers in the North, the Massachusetts 54th Volunteer Infantry. The abolitionist Frederick Douglass helped recruit men for the Massachusetts 54th, famously issuing a call to free African American men to join the Union Army. In a speech, “Men of Color, To Arms!”, delivered in Rochester, New York on March 2, 1863, Douglass urged his fellow free men of color to fight for the end of slavery and for their freedom: "By every consideration which binds you to your enslaved fellow-countrymen, and the peace and welfare of your country; by every aspiration which you cherish for the freedom and equality of yourselves and your children; by all the ties of blood and identity which make us one with the brave black men now fighting our battles in Louisiana and in South Carolina, I urge you to fly to arms, and smite with death the power that would bury the government and your liberty in the same hopeless grave." On May 22, 1863, the U.S. War Department issued General Order No. 143, authorizing the creation of the Bureau of Colored Troops. By the end of the Civil War, over 200,000 men, including white officers, served in 175 regiments of the USCT, which made up ten percent of the Union army. The compiled military records of the men who served in the USCT can be found in the National Archives and Records Administration. Updated January 26, 2026 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Written by Renée Ater Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Sculpture Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource In Memory of More Than 400 Prominent United States Colored Troops from Kent County (Chestertown, Maryland) Subject The topic of the resource Subject (Topic) African Americans--History Maryland--Chestertown Public sculpture United States Colored Troops Subject (Object Type) Commemorative sculpture Description An account of the resource The black granite obelisk is dedicated to the memory of more than 400 United States Colored Troops from Kent County, Maryland, who served in the Union Army during the Civil War. In front of the obelisk is a stone bench with an additional engraving. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource May 31, 1999 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource American Legion Parker-White Post 143 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource JPEG Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Visual Arts-Sculpture Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Memorial Park, High Street at North Cross Street, Chestertown, Maryland, 21620, United States Has Part A related resource that is included either physically or logically in the described resource. Inscription on obelisk: In Memory of more than 400 prominent United States Colored Troops from Kent County, Maryland who bravely displayed extraordinary acts of heroism as they faithfully served their country with courage & honor in an attempt to gain freedom & equality in their preservation of the Union during the Civil War (1861-1865). Like an eagle that flies in the sky above, always protecting the land we love. Monument erected by American Legion Parker-White Post 143 Chestertown, Maryland Inscription on the base of the bench in front of the monument: In Memory of Kent County Colored Volunteers Who Served in the Civil War, 1861-1865 Bibliographic Citation A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible. HMdb.org. "In Memory of More Than 400 Prominent United States Colored Troops from Kent County." Historical Marker Database. Accessed January 21, 2019. https://www.hmdb.org/marker.asp?marker=5414. Alan Skerrett, Jr, ed. "Monuments to the United States Colored Troops (USCT) [African American Civil War Soldiers: The List." Jubilo! The Emancipation Century Blog, May 30, 2011. Accessed February 11, 2026. https://jubiloemancipationcentury.wordpress.com/2011/05/30/monuments-to-the-united-states-colored-troops-usct-the-list/. Rights Holder A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource. Renée Ater Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Unknown Medium The material or physical carrier of the resource. Black granite Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Photograph: <a href="https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=5414" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Historical Marker Database</a> Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource City of Chestertown, 118 North Cross Street, Chestertown, Maryland, 21620, United States black granite Civil War inscription obelisk https://www.slaverymonuments.org/files/original/694c3f9bb6adb28056360aa5529a9a6d.jpg f62c0b945df2ad6ace3df80a9d6bf072 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource United States Colored Troops (USCT) Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Renée Ater Description An account of the resource Included in this thematic collection are seventeen memorials that honor the vital contributions of the United States Colored Troops (USCT) to the Union victory during the American Civil War. The first all-Black units formed unofficially in Louisiana (Louisiana Native Guard, 1862); South Carolina (First South Carolina Volunteer Infantry, 1862-63); and Kansas (First Kansas Colored Infantry, 1862-63). The first official authorization to employ African Americans in federal service was the Second Confiscation and Militia Act of July 17, 1862. The Confiscation Act allowed Union officers to free enslaved men and put them to work as army laborers. However, Abraham Lincoln did not fully authorize the use of Black men in combat until the issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863. Beginning in late January 1863, Governor John A. Andrews of Massachusetts raised the first regiment of Black soldiers in the North, the Massachusetts 54th Volunteer Infantry. The abolitionist Frederick Douglass helped recruit men for the Massachusetts 54th, famously issuing a call to free African American men to join the Union Army. In a speech, “Men of Color, To Arms!”, delivered in Rochester, New York on March 2, 1863, Douglass urged his fellow free men of color to fight for the end of slavery and for their freedom: "By every consideration which binds you to your enslaved fellow-countrymen, and the peace and welfare of your country; by every aspiration which you cherish for the freedom and equality of yourselves and your children; by all the ties of blood and identity which make us one with the brave black men now fighting our battles in Louisiana and in South Carolina, I urge you to fly to arms, and smite with death the power that would bury the government and your liberty in the same hopeless grave." On May 22, 1863, the U.S. War Department issued General Order No. 143, authorizing the creation of the Bureau of Colored Troops. By the end of the Civil War, over 200,000 men, including white officers, served in 175 regiments of the USCT, which made up ten percent of the Union army. The compiled military records of the men who served in the USCT can be found in the National Archives and Records Administration. Updated January 26, 2026 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Written by Renée Ater Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Sculpture Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Colored Union Soldiers Monument (Hertford, North Carolina) Subject The topic of the resource Subject (Topic) African Americans--History North Carolina--Hertford United States Colored Troops Subject (Object Type) Commemorative sculpture Description An account of the resource The memorial consists of obelisk resting on a square plinth. It is engraved with text on two sides and is accompanied by a North Carolina Civil War Trails marker and informational placard. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1910 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource First Baptist Church; United Daughters of Union Veterans Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource JPEG Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Visual Arts-Sculpture Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Academy Green, King and Hyde Park Streets, Hertford, North Carolina, 27944, United States Has Part A related resource that is included either physically or logically in the described resource. Inscription on the front: In Memory Of the Colored Union Soldiers Who Faught in the War of 1861-1865 Inscription on the rear: Erected by the United Daughters of Veterans Informational placard, North Carolina Civil War Trails: News of the bombardment of Fort Sumter inspired many African American men to enlist in the U.S. armed forces, but federal law prohibited their service. Frederick Douglass and other black leaders urged changes to allow black enlistments. By mid-1862, as the numbers of white volunteers diminished, the needs of the U.S. Army grew, and the announcement of the Emancipation Proclamation became imminent, more voices called for black recruitment. The Proclamation, issued on January 1, 1863, formally authorized African American military service. By the end of the war, about 180,000 blacks – including some from Perquimans County – had borne arms in the U.S. Army (almost 10 percent of total enlistments) and about 19,000 had served in the U.S. Navy. To remember the county’s African American Union soldiers, women of the black community, many of them the wives and widows of those men, erected one of the few such monuments in the nation on Academy Green in 1910. Coordinated by First Baptist Church and the United Daughters of Union Veterans, the monument is inscribed “In Memory of the Colored Union Soldiers Who Fought in the War of 1861-1865.” Academy Green was the location of the county’s first black school, library, and church (present-day First Baptist Church), which freed-men formed in a bush shelter in 1866. The congregation later built a church across the street. They Answered the Call Three of the men whom this monument commemorates are buried in Perquimans County. Sgt. John Gordon served in Co. A 1st U.S.C.T., organized in Washington, D.C., in May-June 1863. The regiment fought in Virginia (Wilson’s Wharf, The Crater, New Market Heights) and North Carolina (Fort Fisher). It also participated in Gen. Edward A. Wild’s eastern N.C. expedition in Dec. 1863 and burned a Confederate camp near Hertford. It mustered out on Sept. 29, 1865. Pvt. John Sharp enlisted in Co. B. 37th U.S.C.T. at age 19 on Jan. 21, 1864, in Plymouth, N.C. His regiment fought at New Market Heights and Fort Fisher and mustered out on Feb. 11, 1867. Pvt. Arthur Mixon served in Co. G, 40th U.S.C.T., organized in Aug. 1864 in Tennessee, where it guarded railroads and bridges. It mustered out in Oct. 1865. Bibliographic Citation A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible. "Colored Union Soldiers Monument, Hertford." Commemorative Landscapes of North Carolina. Accessed January 22, 2019. https://docsouth.unc.edu/commland/monument/117/. Alan Skerrett, Jr, ed. "Monuments to the United States Colored Troops (USCT) [African American Civil War Soldiers: The List." Jubilo! The Emancipation Century Blog, May 30, 2011. Accessed February 11, 2026. https://jubiloemancipationcentury.wordpress.com/2011/05/30/monuments-to-the-united-states-colored-troops-usct-the-list/. Rights Holder A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource. Renée Ater Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Unknown Medium The material or physical carrier of the resource. Granite Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Photograph: <a href="http://ncblackheritagetour.com/historic_site/colored-union-soldiers-monument/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">African American Experience</a> Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Town of Hertford North Carolina, 114 West Grubb Street, Hertford, North Carolina, 27944, United States Civil War granite inscription obelisk