The areas for battlefields, but his real passion. Is telling the story of the united States Colored troops, hes really made this a Passion Project has helped cofound a group of reenactors that tell the story of the 23rd united States Color troops the unit that first encountered robert e. Lees army here in the eastern theater in the summer of 1864, and hes also done some work with this in massachusetts guys, that folks maybe have heard of who have done a little work in the Movie Glory who are those folks right stuart is is tireless in telling the story of the united States Color troops men who found the inspiration to fight for their own freedom and in very literal sense gave a new birth of freedom and new meaning to the civil war. So its my Delight And Pleasure to introduce my friend steward henderson. Thank you, chris. Good morning. Chris makes everything seem like it was such a long time, but i would tell you if you saw a picture of me then i looked 30 years younger. But im a living historian with the 23rd regimen united States Color troops as well as Company B of the 54th, massachusetts volunteers out of Washington Dc and washington is my hometown. So have to be loyal to those guys. In this slide, youre going to see the combined group. As just a small portion of both the 54th and the 23rd 23rd started in 2011, but those guys in the 54th has been there since 1988. And some of the guys that i work with there were in the Movie Glory. Now this picture was taken at the grand opening in 2012 of the museum of the confederacy and appomattox, which is now the american civil War Center of appomattox. And this was we were the Honor Guard for general us grant. Now we were just supposed to bring him in and introduce him and next thing, you know, he asked for us to stay for the surrender ceremonies at the end of the day. But the 54th mentors the 23rd. Now many americans were not aware of the service of the us color troops and i guess it was until 1989 when the Movie Glory came out. And it was a story of the 54th. And then in 1990 Ken Burns came out with his series and that released more information of the united States Colored troops. But they were part of a prominent discussion. In the years during the civil war and immediately after but when the Union And Union and confederate white soldiers started to reconcile they just forgot about the united States Color troops. So over the past 10 years i have been speaking about the us color troops trying to bring that story to the many audiences that ive talked with. But just two years ago, they had the 30th anniversary. Of the academy awardwinning Movie Glory it was shown in theaters all across the country. I in solidarity with my members of the 54th, massachusetts. I went to the afternoon showing i was in fredericksburg, but they were in Washington Dc and i was surprised i thought the theater was going to be sold out, but theyre only about 25 people there. And five of them included me because my wife and three of her members of the women of the civil War Era were there. After the movie was over. I had two white guys come up to me because i had my capy on in my 54th, Massachusetts Tshirt and we spent about five minutes talking about the 54th. So im not surprised about the lack of awareness. It just means that me and my fellow living historians no matter how elderly we get. We still have to get out and talk about the united States Color troops. I can remember marching in several parades now many of those times. There were many as 10 different us ct units all of us had our own flag some of us had two flags. But the crowds everywhere we went kept yelling give them hell 54th, so i know they must have seen the Movie Glory, but i think that many people think that that was the only black regimen in the entire civil war. Now they were authorized in 1863. By governor John Andrew and they were going to be the first us color troops raised in the old north. Colonel Robert Gould Shaw is going to be their commander. Shaws parents were very influential in massachusetts and they were abolitionists as with shaw and most of the officers. The soldiers were recruited by abolitionists black abolitionists all across the country including Frederick Douglass. Who is perhaps the greatest africanamerican in the 19th century. He sent two of his sons to the 54th. And they trained they cant migs in, massachusetts and reidville. And they were mustered in the service may 28th. 1863. Most of the men the overwhelming majority of the men were educated men. And very few slaves were in that regimen. Therefore the movie was not a fair representation. Of the actual regimen their most famous for spearheading the attack on Fort Wagner on july 18th. 1863 the 54th in some white units that were with them took the outer walls of the fort, but they could not take the fort. Colonel shaw and 271 of his men were casualties and she all was famously buried with his black troops. However, the 54th 55th, massachusetts and some white units actually. Where victorious . At the abandonment of Fort Wagner after a long siege which ended on September 7th 1863 the soldiers depicted in glory were more like the average Usc T Unit like the 23rd. Theyre going to be mostly a mixture of enslaved men some freed men and some men who were already free. In the Movie Lincoln one of the first things youll see it showed lincoln talking with two us ct soldiers. One was an older gentleman was a former slave. And he talked about the battle of jenkins ferry on April 30th 1864 he talked about how. They made sure that there were no confederates left alive. And thats because they were retaliating for the atrocities of the confederates when they murdered the prisoners taking their Poison Spring and marks mill. And few battles you do have us ct retaliating for those atrocities and youll have confederates during the same thing. Thats part of the civil war history. Theres rarely discussed. I can remember all through school. Theyre telling me that the United States civil war was a civil war you didnt have as much violence and atrocities as you would see in other wars and since ive become a historian i can tell you thats not true. Always a lot of violence and war. The next black soldier that he talked to was a member of the fifth, Massachusetts Cavalry. That man was very educated. And he was like most of the men in the 54th mass to 55th mass and the fifth Mass Cavalry and thats because when the 54th was recruited there was such an overflow of recruits that some of those men went into the 55th mass and the fifth Mass Cavalry. But im here today to talk about all of the united States Colored troops who were also known as the united States Colored troops. Some will be a united States Colored infantry and you had other areas of the army but at the beginning of the civil war most men were not most black men were not allowed. To join either army and some people may ask well, why would they think about joining the confederate army . Well if they thought thought if they thought for the confederacy they would be free. So you had a lot of men trying to get in both armies. But by the end of the war you had some 180,000 to 200,000 blacks that served in the united States Army and about another 20 to 29,000 blacks that served in the United States navy. Now this line is going to show the numbers of us ct. That around the Monument And Memorial that they have at the africanamerican civil War Memorial and museum in Washington Dc and today that is where all of the black reenactor units are based out of we can always call that our home. Now the numbers have been changing since historians have been looking at the 1860 and 1870 census. But all of the numbers on the wall that are etched. In the memorial were research that the national archives and it shows that there were 209,145 members of the us ct. 201,000 blacks 7,000 white officers and 1,145 hispanics now the numbers may be skewed a little bit because some soldiers that were in us ct units may transferred to others. And thats going to be a person like Charles Douglas the son of Frederick Douglass. He was in the 54th mass originally and then he is going to transfer to the fifth, Massachusetts Cavalry. But douglas inspired many of the soldiers and this famous Recruiting Speech and i quote. The opportunity is given us to be men. With one courageous resolution we may blot out the handwriting of ages against us. Once let the black man get upon this person the brass letters us. Let him get an eagle on his button. And a musket on his shoulder. And bullets in his pocket. And there is no power on the earth. Or under the earth. Which can deny that he has earned the right of citizenship in the United States. I say again. This is our chance. And whoa be tied us if we fail to embrace it. Now during the civil war there were only four state regiments that will retain their State Identification all of the other state regimen will be changed to usct regiments. But those four of probably pretty famous and thats the 54th, Massachusetts Infantry colored the 55th, Massachusetts Infantry color the fifth, Massachusetts Cavalry color and the 29th, connecticut infantry color. They were all part of the usct but they maintained their state designations. The actual order creating the bureau of color troops was general Order Number 143 it was issued may 22nd 1863. And by the end of the war there were 166 regimen of infantry cavalry. Heavy artillery engineers and Light Artillery approximately 38,000 to 43,000 died and another 30,000 were injured. But most deaths were caused by disease. Though many were executed on many of the battlefields where they thought now, this is a very famous painting and it has a lot of controversy surrounding it. But this painting was actually used on recruiting posters for us ct. Of course, they had words around it. In various recruiting posters, but that picture was very famous. Those soldiers were actually from fort. William Camp William Penn in philadelphia and they could be the third regimen usdt but were not sure. But they were the third usdt was the first to leave Camp William Penn. And going into the war. Now Frederick Douglass gave them an inspirational speech before they left and ill talk about that a little later. Now for example some of the state units that change was. For example the first North Carolina colored infantry. They became the 35th usa team. The Uset Funding approximately 450 battle actions and they were instrumental in helping to win the civil War And Freedom for their people. As a result of their contributions during the war three amendments were added to the constitution the 13th that abolished slavery. The 14th they gave equal rights to blacks and the 15th. They gave the right to vote to the black men. Now remember back at that time no woman white or black was allowed to vote. The first black troops in the war. Were actually enlisted. In 1862 they were raised in South Carolina, kansas and louisiana. And thats because on July 17th 1862 the second Confiscation And Militia acts were approved in subsequently signed by President Lincoln. These acts allowed as many persons of african descent as necessary to be employed to help suppress the rebellion and use them in such manner as he may judge best for public welfare. To some this meant that they could be soldiers. In South Carolina general David Hunter had organized a regimen of South Carolina former slaves the first South Carolina colored infantry. Only to have them disbanded because President Lincoln would not approve Hunters Emancipation of slaves in his military district. Nor authorized arising of black troops while hunter failed orders were addressed the general Rufus Saxton on August 25th 1862 to raise 5,000 black soldiers. The first South Carolina colored infantry was reformed. And they later became the 33rd us ct. The importance of this order was that these soldiers were raised by the authority of the united States War Department and not by some enterprising general on his own authority. In kansas a paragraph in the newspaper the daily conservative of october 6 1861 describes senator james h Lanes Cavalryman as such and i quote. One peculiarity of this mounted force is curious enough to be noted down. By the side of one doughty and white cavalier wrote in erect wellarmed and very black man his Figure And Bearing were such that without any other distinguishing characteristic. He was still have been a marked man. But this is the first instance which has come to our personal knowledge. Although not the only one in fact of a contrabands serving as a union soldier. And this was in the fall of 1861 in kansas had some black soldiers. But they had come through the fighting during the kansas and Nebraska Act of 1854. And that fighting went on all the way up and through the civil war. Officially now general lane organized the first, kansas color the infantry on August 5th 1862 with his Notification And Secretary of war edwin stanton, but the next day he wired stance and again and stated that he was raising these soldiers based the second confiscation act. So in the first kansas has a distinction of being the first colored troops to engage the enemy in october 1862 with a Rating Party in missouri and the skirmish at island mound. They later became the 79th usct. In louisiana in 1862 general John Phelps began to recruit the blacks the louisiana native guard. Turn reinforce his troops outside of New Orleans general Benjamin Butler. Could not authorize general phelps to do so, so phelps resign. You know when you look at this picture . It says that this first picture on the left side is the first louisiana native guard in 1861. And then you look at the other picture on the other side and thats the actual photo from us Camp William Penn and the painting that i shared earlier. Those were the soldiers. Now the members of the guard actually approached butler first. Because butler could not get any reinforcements that he wanted from the us government. So he is going to authorize. Three regiments of louisiana native guard the first and second native guard are going to have their own black officers. The third regimen will have black and white officers. General butler changed their name from the louisiana native guard to the cord that freak. And later in the war their designations will be changed to us cts. They became the 73rd 74th and 75th usct. But again going back to this picture. Now i went to one Roundtable Meeting and a man was talking about his book and he showed that picture the first louisiana native guard 1861 and i tried to warn him before that. That was not a picture of the louisiana native guard. But he used his or he cited the internet is saying that these were the native guard. So i showed them this other picture and i said look at each one of those soldiers. They are the exact same soldiers. I said you go to Independence Hall in Philadelphia And Youll see the painting and the picture of those soldiers. They came from Camp William Penn. So you cant believe everything you read on the internet, but you have to actually do the research because many years ago when i saw that picture, i actually thought it wasnt louisiana native guard until i saw the original picture and i said these men all look the same and then i compared each one and thats how i found out about it. Plus if you look at those pictures, theyre wearing union great coats. And he this guy has said who thought they were the native guard that those were confederate uniforms. So theyre not. As i said earlier the louisiana native guard. Were militia for the state of louisiana. They were not confederate soldiers. Louisiana which has black militia dating all the way back to 1727. Louisiana was a french territory then they seeded at the spain for a while and then the french got it back before it was bought by the United States so many of those men were french or spanish or creole and a lot of them were wealthy black entrepreneurs and who were educated in europe in fact, it is said that the members of the wealthy members or africanamerican members of the louisiana native guard had more wealth than all of the blacks in New York city, so they were very wealthy guys and they had property to protect in, louisiana. Now, lets take a step back. Now when i talk about this subject, i always talk about when the soldiers were actually found it. However at the beginning of the war black men had tried to get in both armies. And thats going to happen after the battle of fort sumter. When April 15th president Abraham Lincoln calls for 75,000 militia. To put down the rebellion when pennsylvania sent its troops to washington. They march through baltimore and april 18th. Where a mob met them and the first man wounded was a black man named Nicholas Biddle while there were a few black men in state militias. Most states north and south ban blacks however there were some that did get into malicious. Knowing that the state of war existed in the United States blacks were denied by both governments however on May 2nd 1861 the state of louisiana accepted the louisiana native guard. Now both armies use thousands of black servants teamsters cooks scouts and other support duties these type of duties did not qualify for being soldiers back in the civil war. However, there are stories that some of these men may have picked up weapons and fought the enemy. And thats probably true. Ive seen many accounts with men have done that. But blacks were not allowed in the confederate army until march of 1865 and some of those blacks had served in other duties for the confederacy. Such as hospital stewards and chimborazo they served at a hospital in richmond, which was a very famous hospital now part of the richmond battlefields. There are about 50 blacks that were in the integrated companies that left at the fall of richmond, which happens in. April of 1865 now this one black man on this slide. We are very proud of because he sergeant Nimrod Burke of the 23rd united States Color trips. Now nimrod at the beginning of the war was a scout and a teamster for the 36, ohio infantry. And he served there from april 1861 until he joined the 23rd and 1864. Now he is from prince, william county, virginia. But his family was freed a long time. So he moved to ohio. So he served as a free man. As a teamster in the scout while black men were not allowed in the union and confederate armies there were some light skin blacks who actually passed for whites that were in both armies and well never know the full extent to how many did that but one example was lieutenant Colonel William N reid the first North Carolina colored calvary. Excuse me colored infantry later designated the 35th us et. In some places he was listed as white other places. He was listed as a mulatto. But his father was a white danish man, and his mother was a black slave from saint croix, virgin islands. Read was an abolitionist from New York, but he graduated from military school in kiel denmark. And most people think of that as being germany and it does become part of germany after the second impression war. And he served in a danish army. Before coming back to the states. He would lead the first North Carolina at the battle of olustee. He was taking over for the colonel who was not there. He was mortally wounded in action and died. But he was in command and he talked about the discipline of the 35th usat when the 35th and the 54th massachusetts actually held the line as the union troops were retreating. But Lieutenant Colonel William in reed is recognized as the highest ranking africanamerican officer in the civil war. And his muster papers right under his name. But the other guy you see his Picture Colonel John Wells jefferson. Actually last year. Well, yeah last year i went to monticello. And i saw pictures of africanamericans with ties the monticello who actually served with the Union Army in the civil war. One picture was colonel John Wells jefferson. Who was originally John Wells hemmings . He is the grandson of Thomas Jefferson and sally hemings. His father was asking hemmings. Who moved his family from virginia to ohio . And in 1852 because of the fugitive Slave Act they had to get out of ohio. So they go to wisconsin and the father changes the Family Name to jefferson. And he let people know that he is. The son of Thomas Jefferson so they passed his wife in, wisconsin. And john enlisted in the eighth Wisconsin Volunteer infantry as a major he fought in different battles vicksburg. Probably been the most famous. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and colonel. And he commanded that regimen until the end of the war. The africanamerican has his biography at monticello and on the american battlefield trust website. He has known in both places as an africanamerican and hopefully he will soon be listed as the highest ranking africanamerican officer in the civil war. But another black man used ingenuity to enter the army. William Henry Johnson join the second, connecticut and registered as a quote unquote independent, man. A status that was not clearly identified. After his 90day Term expired with the second, connecticut, he enlisted in the eighth, connecticut and thought it first Bull Run and during burnsides north Carolina Expedition to roanoke island and new bern. Although johnson could not pass his white. There was some soldiers in both armies that did pass. Now the black soldiers all were involved in the Pay Controvert versing where white troops were paid thirteen dollars a month plus a three dollar clothing allowance. Where black troops were paid only 10 a month with a three dollar. Clothing fee withheld. Making their pay seven dollars a month and thats less than half of what the white soldiers made. But blacks were paid in accordance with the second Confiscation And Militia acts even though they were now recognized as regular soldiers. Now on September 28th 1864 pay was equalized by congress and they received 18 months pay from the time that they were in or depending on the time of their enlistment. But only the free black soldiers got paid the back pay. Those slaves who had joined the army. They were not eligible for the back pain. This controversy was part of the Movie Glory when you saw denzel washington tearing up the pay stubs. Now, let me discuss a few of the battles. We we know the battle of Fort Wagner. Where the 54th massachusetts made his grand assault. And Sergeant William H carney earned the medal of honor at that battle. But the battle of Wilsons Landing or Wilsons Wharf now two years ago i did participate in the reenactment that they have in fort pocahontas and charles city, virginia every year they celebrate or commemorate the battle of Wilsons Wharf or Wilsons Landing. Happened, may 24th 1864 in virginia and they pitted men of the first and attempt us color troops plus 150 white soldiers from a transport. And two cannons from the Battery M of the third new York Light artillery. And they were under general edward wilde. Now wild is the commander of what they call Wilds Brigade wilds african brigade. Well was a very colorful abolitionist in general in the civil war. They were commanding. Its about 1100. So men. Against 2500 confederate cavalry commanded by general Fitzhugh Lee he was the nephew of general robert e lee. And after lee drove in the pickets he sent the flag of truce in demanding the surrender of the garrison. But general while declined. And said quote and quote. We will try it. And then he added and i quote present my compliments to general fix lee. And tell them to go to hell. Unquote a transport landed 150 unarmed white soldiers and the Gunboat Uss Dawn helped the union forces general lee ordered a charge that was beaten back by the black and white soldiers there. Union casualties were about ranging from 25 to 47 and confederate casualties raged from 175 to 200. This was the first real battle. Of the usct and the army of northern, virginia the battle of new market heights was fought on september 29 1864 with troops of the army of the james attacking fortifications defending the confederate capital of richmond. General charles paynes third division of the 18th corps was three brigades of black troops in general William Burney had a Color Brigade in the 10th corps. The black troops faced the galling fire but succeeded in capturing new market heights 14 black soldiers earned the medal of honor for their actions at new market heights. The first attacks on petersburg, June 15th to 17th 1864 involved black troops from the army of the james. Who captured some of the defensive works outside the city . The uset fought for ferociously with the Battle Cry remember, Fort Pillow that day black soldiers took no prisoners executing wounded and surrendering confederates until their white officers got tired of seeing so much bloodshed. However in july 30 1864 the battle of the Crater And Petersburg the black troops of the ninth corps the army of the potomac who were trained to lead the attack were made to be the last attacking division. And by that time there was a strong confederate counterattack. And when the confederates saw the black troops they were enraged and took few black prisoners. They yelled no quarter and executed black soldiers who were wounded or surrendered on the field . Confederates said they would kill white soldiers aiding black soldiers. This was a debacle. And in many battles after Fort Pillow black soldiers offered no quarter. To white soldiers and confederate soldiers did the same to them . But the confederates soldiers did it on many more occasions than the black soldiers did. The battle of nashville eight regiments of black troops to brigades were supposed to make a demonstration on the confederate right wing. So the general George Henry thomas could attack the left wing. Their attack was so strong that the confederates weakened the left wing. The black troops face heavy fire from confederate batteries and suffered tremendous casualties. But George Henry thomas was able to destroy general John Bell hoods confederated army because that left flank was weakened so much by the black troops attacking and on the right. In december of 1864 the black division of the ninth corps in the army of the potomac. And the two black divisions of the 10th. And 18th corps the army of the james. Formed the 25th Corps in the army of the james this became the largest grouping of black soldiers in the entire civil war. General Benjamin Butler commander of the army of the james loved having black troops in his core. In fact, he tried to get the black ninth corps. Division transferred to him before the battle of the crater, but that didnt take place. In the greater Fredericksburg Area the first black troops to fight general robert e. Lees army of northern virginia was the 23rd regimen united States Color troops. My colleagues and i represent the 23rd. During the battle of Spotsylvania Courthouse. So may 15th 1864. They were called on to assist. The second Ohio Cavalry who were being chased by general thomas rosss brigade of calvary they march from the chancellorsville ruins to the intersection of what was then Catharpon And Orange Plank Road to the Allrich Farm and they drove back the confederate cavalry. That led the white soldiers know that the black soldiers would fight. And this was very specific to that area because many of the soldiers in the 23rd were escape slaves from the Fredericksburg And Spotsylvania county area. And they were now fighting on their own home ground. But let me start with the story of the 23rd as you see right here the 23rd has an exhibit at the chancellorsville, battlefield. Visitor center and ill say a little bit more about that. Later. But lets talk about how the black troops and the fourth division of the ninth corps came to being. In January 1864 General Ambrose Burnside was asked to reconstitute the 9th corps and he told general edwin Stantons Secretary of defense that he would if you could have a black division. And stanton agreed and the fourth division of the ninth corps. Was now going to be formed. Now this is going to be pretty. Pretty confusing for general grant because general Ambrose Burnside out ranked general george, gordon meade. So he could not report to him. So the ninth corps was going to operate as an independent Army Corps. Together with the army of the potomac in general grants overland campaign that created such confusion that every time that general grant had to get or give orders for both. Armies to work together he had to do that. And its going to change. By may 24th, he had enough of that and hes going to place the ninth corps under the army of the potomac. Now the fourth division was to brigades the regimenants were divided and the first one. Is going to be made up of the 27th 30th and 39th and 43rd us ct. Second brigade at first was the 30th Connecticut colored infantry. They only had about four companies. So they were transferred to the 31st usa team. And then the 19th to 23rd the 31st uset. And in late june the 28th And 29th usct were added to that second brigade. These regiments came from all across the north. From illinois to connecticut and hes from New York to virginia. There were stories about when all of these soldiers got together. And petersburg that some members saw their old family members and for some soldiers. It was sort of a homecoming. Now the minute of the 23rd were recruited in the Washington Dc area and many of those. Men had come from the Fredericksburg Area. In april of 1862 to august of 1862 over 10,000 slaves will escape from the Fredericksburg Area. Many of them following the Union Army back to the Washington Dc area so they were organizing trained at camp casey, virginia. Cam casey is approximately where the pentagon is today. So many of those men were free and exiles from virginia. The Fredericksburg And Spotsylvania national Military Parks mysteries and Conundrums Blog has published the stories of three members of the 23rd Andrew Weaver Peter Churchwell and abraham. Tux. Now well read the official reports from official records about this skirmish on the 15th of may. Headquarters division ninth Army Corps Millers House on Plank Road east of aldrich is may 15th. 1864. General i have the honor to report that at 12 30 pm the day. The second Ohio Cavalry stationed at Piney Branch Church were compelled to fall back being attacked by superior forces consisting of one brigade of cavalry with two pieces of artillery. I immediately ordered the fourth division in readiness and march the 23rd us color troops to support the calvary. On arriving at all riches on Plank Road. I found the second ohio driven across the road and the enemy occupying the crossroads. I ordered the color regimen to advance on the enemy in line of battle which they did and drove the enemy in perfect route. Not being able to pursue with infantry the second ohio formed in gay chase to Piney Branch Church, which they the second ohio now occupy all quiet elsewhere our loss amounted to eight or ten wounded the enemy lost some five horses killed. I have changed my position to a more secure one to protect the trains and roads leading to the army i have since learned from one of my scouts at hamptons. Brigade is in full retreat in perfect disorder toward todds tavern. I am general very respectfully your obedient servant and with ferrero brigadier general commanding, Senator Brigadier general Rawlins Chief of staff. On May 19th the entire fourth division. Of the ninth corps will fight again against thomas rogers probing cavalry. Now after the war well, the 23rd was at the battle of the crater where they suffered the most losses of any of the us ct regiments and they finished the war in the Appomattox Campaign after the war they stay in, virginia. And later theyre going to be sent to texas the entire 25th. Corps is going to go to texas as a part of general sheridans 50,000 man army. France had taken over mexico, and were thinking of invading texas, but the power of the american army led to the overthrow of the french from mexico. Some of those black soldiers stayed out west and became buffalo soldiers now the fall of 2010. I was working as Spotsylvania Courthouse battlefield for the national park service. I was at the bloody angle with my friend and fellow historian. John cummings. We discussed the upcoming 150th anniversary of the 23rd us ct. And we thought about forming it then. January 2011. We formed the unit with five original members which grew to about 25 at its height. I was the first president. And since 2011 we have participated in over 200 events including our first Inperson Event since 2000 from 2020. We just participated on March 13th with the American Legion of fredericksburg, they had a history for kids program. So four of us came down dressed in our uniforms. We loved to be in the uniform specially when there is a chance to educate. People about the united States Color troops so on may 17th. The 23rd. With other us et and union living history regimen and reenactors along with the assistance of the Fredericksburg And Spotsylvania community celebrated the 150th of their first skirmish. The fredericksburg has spotsylvania national Military Park had the grand reopening of the recently renovated chancellorsville, battlefield Visitor Center. And the Visitor Center now has a lot more. Exhibits about africanamericans and it did before before it was renovated. They had the same exhibits for over 50 years and 2014 is when it changed. So when he opened it up we had the exhibit. And many other people took pictures of the 23rd. At the Visitor Center next to that picture. Now their picture is of sergeant george, washington. And he was from spotsylvania county. However, he was one of 12 george, washingtons. In the 23rd. And thats because a lot of the slaves didnt have official names or only had one name. Or since they were from that area. If any of this slave owners found out that they were serving in the Union Army their relatives still in captivity could suffer harsh punishment. So they changed their names to george, washingtons. And one day after we started the 23rd. I just happened to look and the roster written down and there were so many george washingtons as it took pages in the roster. Also on that day, we had a big program and the fredericksburg is spotsylvania national Military Park sponsored a lot of it. We did have a big program on the Chancellorsville Battlefield the Fairview Section and voice of america was there they interviewed many of the participants and they actually did a short video and put it on their website. But we had the sons of union veterans general us grant the same general grant that we had. Appomattox, Larry Clowers portrayed him and we had multiple union regiments there. John hennessy was the chief historian of spotsylvania, Fredericksburg And Spotsylvania national Military Park, and he was the keynote speaker at that part of the ceremony. And then we had another Ceremony Right at the site of the skirmish the old ulrich farm is now the Heflin Farm the Heflin Family allowed us to set up a tent and have people there we had a procession from the Chancellorsville Battlefield led by all of the union reenactors first and then the community actually followed us and the community was able to sit under the tent. And we had the ceremony and that was for the unveiling of the Virginia State marker the 23rd us ct at the aldrich farm. That was about a Half Mile away from where we were at the Heflin Farm. So that shows one of the attempts that we had but you see all of the different reenactors that were behind me. I was the mc for the program and standing next to me on my left was a Luke Carter and to his left was John Cummings Luke Carter at that time was the president of the 54th, massachusetts Company B, and John Cummings was a cofounder of 23rd with me. But that didnt end the day because when we were there, we had two keaton those speakers there dr. James bryant. And general us grant larry clower, so they gave the keynote speakers there speeches there after that. We did have a big reception at the John Jay Wright museum, so hopefully we gave a good recognition to those soldiers. From the 23rd Frederick Douglass likely on July 24th 1863 spoke to the third us ct about their importance in the civil war. As some of americas first black federal troops and he probably gave this speech to more regimen as well. The fortunes of the whole race for generations to come abound up in the Success Or Failure of the third regimen of color troops from the north you are a spectacle for men and angels. You are in a manner to answer the question. Can the black man be a soldier . That we can now make soldiers of these men. There can be no doubt. Douglass powerful words resonated with many of the soldiers who like him were exiles but in conclusion black soldiers fought in numerous battle actions approximately 450 and in those battles, they suffered an enormous amount of casualties. Depending on how well they were trained. Some fought very well. Somewhere average and some foot poorly just like white troops. However, many of the soldiers who fought alongside of them. Talk about their Discipline Bravery and theyre willingness to keep fighting while suffering so many casualties. By the wars end they make up 10 of the Union Army. And they enlisted at a time when there was a big slowdown in whiter enlistment. Many Historians State that their efforts went a long way to winning the war. General Benjamin Butler who is not the greatest general but he did appreciate. Black troops he created the army of the James Medal commonly called the butler medal. It was the only metal ever struck. Excuse me struck for colored troops. Butler designed and paid for these medals after the battle of Chafings Farm or new market heights and i close with this quote from general butler who appeared before congress after the war . Advocating the passage of a bill for giving civil rights to negro the negro race. He gave an Eyewitness Account of the fighting at new market heights and then said of the dead and i quote. I looked on their bronze faces. Upturned in this shining sun as if in mute appeal. Against the wrongs of the country for which they had given their lives. And whose flag . Had only been to them. A flag of stripes on which no star of glory had ever shown for them. Feeling i had wronged them in the past. And believing, what was the future of my country to them . Among my dead comrades there. I swore to myself a solemn oath. May my right hand forget its cunning and my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth. If i ever fail to defend the rights of those men who have given their blood for me and my country. This day and for their race forever. And god helping me. I will keep that oath. Our next Speaker Today is one of the newest faces at emerging civil war one of our emerging