Transcript Presentation on 5th USCC Made at Juneteenth Celebration in

JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION
June 17, 2006
Bedford, PA
David E. Brown
Columbia, MD
www.5thuscc.net
[email protected]
My Personal
Discovery
Great-Great
Grandfather’s photo
at Grandmother’s
Civil War Documents found in 1990s
Search of Internet - Civil War Soldier and
Sailors Project
Interest in developing a web site
Private Samuel Truehart
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Pre- war
– Born in Indiana in 1843
– Slave, according to muster roles
– Married to Mary Elliott, also a slave, in
summer of 1864
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War Service
– Mustered into 5th USCC at Camp Nelson
Kentucky on Sept. 12, 1864
– Likely participated in two raids on Saltville
– Mustered out in Arkansas in 1866
Samuel Truehart
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Post-war
– Children born after war in Kentucky
– Four children survived to adulthood
– Part exodus of Black Kentuckians to black
township - Nicodemus, Kansas
– Lived in Acheson, Kansas and farmed land
granted and purchased in Western Kansas
– Died August 12, 1897
– 160 acres of land in Graham County, Kansas
still held by lone great-grand daughter
History of African Americans
in the Civil War
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"Once let the black man get upon his person the
brass letters, U.S., let him get an eagle on his
button, and a musket on his shoulder and
bullets in his pockets, and there is no power on
earth which can deny that he has earned the
right to citizenship in the United States." - Frederick Douglass
These words moved many African Americans to
enlist in the Union Army and fight for their
freedom.
With Abraham Lincoln's issuance of the
Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, the Civil
War became a war to save the union and to
abolish slavery.
African Americans in the
Civil War
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On July 17, 1862, Congress passed two acts allowing the
enlistment of African Americans,
Official enrollment occurred only after the issuance of the
Emancipation Proclamation
Approximately 180,000 African Americans comprising 163
units served in the Union Army during the Civil War:
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1 LIGHT ARTILLERY REGIMENT
7 CAVALRY REGIMENTS
13 HEAVY ARTILLERY REGIMENTS
144 INFANTRY REGIMENTS
Both free African-Americans and runaway slaves joined the
fight.
Louisiana furnished 24,000 men; Kentucky - 23,000 men;
Tennessee - 20,000 men; and Mississippi - 18,000 men.
African Americans
in the Civil War
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Many white soldiers and officers believed that black
men lacked the courage to fight and fight well.
In October 1862, the 1st Kansas Colored Volunteers
silenced critics by repulsing Confederates at battle of
Island Mound, Missouri.
Most widely known battle fought by African Americans
was assault on Fort Wagner, South Carolina, by the
54th Massachusetts on July 18, 1863.
The 54th volunteered to lead the assault on the
strongly-fortified Confederate position.
The soldiers of the 54th scaled the fort's parapet and
were driven back after brutal hand-to-hand combat.
African Americans
in the Civil War
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The Battle of New Market Heights, Virginia became
was one of the most heroic engagements involving
African Americans.
On September 29, 1864, the Eighteenth Corps,
charged the earthworks and rushed up the slopes of
the heights.
During the hour-long engagement the division suffered
tremendous casualties.
Of the sixteen African Americans who were awarded
the Medal of Honor during the Civil War, fourteen
received the honor as a result of their actions at New
Market Heights.
(Photo above is of Powhatan Beaty, First Sergeant 5th USCT who was awarded the
Medal of Honor for his service at the Battle of New Market Heights)
History of African Americans
in the Civil War
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African American soldiers participated in every major
campaign of 1864-1865 except Sherman's invasion of
Georgia.
The United States Colored Troops participated in 449
engagements of which 39 were major battles
African American soldiers comprised 10% of the
entire Union Army
Losses among African Americans were high,
approximately one-third of all African Americans
mustered lost their lives during the Civil War.
African American
Civil War Memorial
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Unveiled on July 18, 1998, the sculpture stands ten feet
tall
The Spirit of Freedom sculpture is encircled by the Wall
of Honor
The Wall of Honor lists the names of 209,145 United
States Colored Troops
The names include the 7,000 white officers who served
with USCT
First major art piece by a black sculptor to be placed on
federal land in the District of Columbia
The African American Civil War Memorial
The Spirit of Freedom
My Initial Research in 1996
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The Saltville Massacre by Thomas D. Mays,
published in 1995 by Ryan Place Publishers,
"The Battle of Saltville: Massacre or Myth?"
by William Marvel, August 1991 issue of Blue
and Gray Magazine / (Volume VIII, Number
6)
The National Park Services’ Civil War Soldiers
and Sailors Project
The Internet
5th United States
Colored Cavalry
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In early 1864, Union Gen. Stephen Burbridge,
commander of Military District of Kentucky,
authorized formation of "colored" units
comprised of freedmen, ex-slaves, and slaves
On June 30, 1864, Adjutant General Lorenzo
Thomas authorized officers of 5th USCC to
begin selecting recruits
Colonel James Brisbin, a well known
abolitionist, became commander of 5th USCC.
Many companies recruited at Camp Nelson,
Kentucky
Nearly all recruits were former slaves
5th United States
Colored Cavalry
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Regiment was attached to the 1st Division,
District of Kentucky, Dept. of Ohio until
February 1865.
They bravely participated in Burbridge's Raid
from Kentucky into Southwestern Virginia from
Sept. 20 to Oct. 17, 1864, during which they
saw fierce action at Saltville, Virginia.
The regiment participated in Stoneman's Raid
December 10 to 29, which resulted in capture
of Saltville and destruction of the salt works
The unit was mustered out in Helena, Arkansas
on March 20, 1866.
The First Battle
of Saltville
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Regiment participated in Gen. Burbridge’s Raid to
capture saltworks before being organized
Troops were unprepared for battle, many mustered
just a few weeks before raid
Regiment was poorly equipped; issued rifles not
suitable for shooting from horseback
Ridiculed by white Union troops on way to Saltville
Chosen to lead charge of Chestnut Ridge Oct. 2
Took ridge, but were not reinforced and were
forced to retreat when ammo was depleted
The First Battle of Saltville
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Despite the outcome of the battle, their fellow soldiers
lauded the performance of the 5th USCC during the
assault of Chestnut Ridge.
An officer of the 13th Kentucky Cavalry stated:
"never saw troops fight like they did. The rebels were
firing on them with grape and canister and were
mowing them down by the scores but others kept
straight on."
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Col. Brisbin wrote:
"I have seen white troops fight in twenty-seven battles
and never saw any fight any better
Saltville Massacre
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After the battle, the wounded were abandoned on
battlefield
Gen. Burbridge hightailed it to Kentucky for his
own safety fearing Confederate reinforcements
Wounded and captured Black troops were
murdered morning after by Confederate troops
led by Champ Ferguson, a confederate guerilla,
and Gen. Felix Robertson
Confederate reports of the day indicated over 150
black troops were massacred
Perpetrators were sought by Confederate
Government, but never captured
Ferguson was executed for war crimes after war
for murder of white Union officer and other
crimes
Similar to events at Fort Pillow and Millken’s Bend
Conflicting Accounts
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Historians to this day dispute the true extent
of the massacre
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Thomas Mays: "A conservative estimate is the
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William Marvel: "The remaining loss breaks down
number of black murdered at Saltville is forty-six.
These are the men listed and kept on the rolls as
MIAs (missing in action) until well after the war."
as follows: 20 killed outright, 63 wounded, and 31
missing...By April of 1865, one white officer and 15
enlisted men had returned to duty.”
Probing the Mystery
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Conducted extensive Research at National Archives,
with help of four others. Reviewed:
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Muster Rolls
Individual and Regimental Service Records
Surgeon Records
Pension Records
Undertook process of elimination to identify MIAs
Duplicated research of historians, Marvel and Mays, and
went further than either
Revealed that at least 45 to 50 of men were never
accounted for, presumed to have been murdered
This research affirmed Mays' conclusion.
Additional Research
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Examined service records of white soldiers
who witnessed massacre, and Ferguson’s trial
transcript
Discovered Lt. George Cutler was witness not
Carter
Marvel Responds:
“ …if I only a few of them proved to be victims 
- say 24, instead of my 12 -- it would still
increase my earlier calculations by a
significant proportion.”
Saltville Recognition
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First recognition ceremony held on October 2, 1999
First tribute to fallen men of 5th & 6th USCC
Consecration of ground & “funeral” 134 years after the
massacre
Luminaries lit for each of the fallen
Ceremonies held each year since organized by residents
of Saltville and nearby Bluefield, WV
54th Massachusetts, white Union, and Confederate
Reenactors have participated
Memorial statute being commissioned
NASA aerial images of Saltville using specialized
equipment mounted on a DC-8 and a modified U-2 spy
plane to locate mass burial site
www.5thuscc.net
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History of 5th USCC
Battle Summaries
Complete Regimental Roster
Bio of my ancestor
Analysis of the Massacre and the Conflicting
Accounts
Table detailing and contrasting all archival
records reviewed
Documents & Photos
Accounts of Annual Tribute
Recent News Coverage
Reactions to web site
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Researching history - what is the
truth
Racist responses to web site
Neo-confederates - denial of
massacres
Recent Media Coverage in:
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Atlanta Journal Constitution
Roanoke Times
Richmond Times Dispatch
Southern Exposure Magazine
The Washington Post
Other Impacts
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Mays and Marvel have incorporated
findings in new works (Truehart photo
in “Black Soldiers in Blue”)
Descendants found information;
posted their ancestor’s bios
Artist inspired to render painting
Website used in college and high
school history curricula
Attention focused on locating the
mass graves
Members of the 5th USCC Listed as
Missing in Action After the Battle of Saltville
and Still Unaccounted
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Anderson, Jefferson
Baker, William
Bedford, Henry
Black, Joseph
Blackmore, Peter
Bradford, Frank
Brown, Jefferson
Brown, Lewis
Browning, Henry
Chinn, John
Cissell, Charles
Cissell, William
Clay, John
Clay, George
Clay, John Will,
Crutcher, Andrew
Downing, Henry
Dunn, William
Dunston, Noah
Finch, Peter
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Fox, Wiley
Garry, William
Gordon, Phillip
Griffen, Perry
Grigsby, Richard
Grigsby, George
Hammond, George
Harriman, Jackson
Harris, Samuel
Harrison, Samuel
Hicks, David
Hunter, John
Jackson, Thomas
James, James
Jefferson, Andrew
Johnston, Benjamin
Leach/Lirch/Leich, Julius
Lewis, George
Lewis, James
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Martin, William
Martin, Zachariah
Mason, Robert
Massey, Joseph
Miller, Samuel/Saul
Money, Joseph
Neal, Dudley
Robinson, Samuel
Scott, King
Scott, Lowrie
Seals, Alexander
Simpson, Isiah
Sloan/Slown, Thomas
Smith, John
Smithson, James T
Taylor, James
Thomas, Grant
Thompson Albert
Tutt/Trott, Peter
Williams, James
U.S. Government’s
Responsibility
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5th USCC MIAs never officially accounted for
No concerted effort to investigate the incident or
recover the fallen soldiers during or after the war
Current reluctance to determine site of mass burial
Park Service concerns about “disturbing burial grounds”
Men of the 5th USCC were not buried by their families,
but unceremoniously dumped in mass grave by their
murderers (Kosovo)
The U.S. Government, for which they were killed
serving, owes them no less for their sacrifice
For more information:
www.5thuscc.net
[email protected]