"The
half ain't never been told..."Delaware's United States Colored Troops & Sailors
A Project of the General Torbert Society and many others who care
"The
half ain't never been told..."
Delaware's United States Colored Troops
& Sailors
A Project of the General Torbert Society and many others who care
Due to the tense political situation in Delaware, there were no Delaware colored regiments, but Delaware blacks enlisted by the hundreds. Federal records show that 954 African-Americans went to war from the State of Delaware for the Union in both the Army and Navy. However, the government is currently unable to tell us who those "official" 954 were!
After years of searching, I believe that the number is closer to 1,500. Hundreds were enticed to enlist in Massachusetts, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York, in order to fulfill draft quotas. Possibly as many as 300 alone enlisted in the now-famous 54th Massachusetts Infantry (still digging out that story). Other incredible stories are emerging. Delaware African-Americans apparently served on both sides during the Civil War, including on the CSS Alabama! --George Contant
United States Colored Troops and Sailors buried in Delaware.
Some of these men enlisted in Delaware. Many others were living in Delaware, but enlisted in other states. Still others moved to Delaware to live after the war was over. Numbers under "Regt." indicate United States Colored Infantry Regiment. State-sponsored regiments are noted as such.
Many thanks to John C. Carter and James Bowden for their invaluable research and help! A huge thanks to Tedd Cocker, who has made important corrections, found new graves, and provided most of the photos.
NOTE: The pictures below are thumbnails -just click on them for a larger
picture.
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Adams,
George W. |
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GAR mkr |
Milford |
Kent |
Odd
Fellows[ii] |
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Adams, T.
H. |
Pvt. |
I |
25th |
Townsend |
NCC |
Lee’s
(ME) Chapel |
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| Adams, Matthew J. | Pvt. | A | 5th MA Cav | SUS |
Resident of Sussex County 26 yr-old farmer Enlisted 12/24/63 Mustered out Clarksville, TX 10/31/65 |
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| Ambrose, Samuel | Pvt. | B | 25th | New Castle | NCC |
Bethany
UAME |
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Anderson,
James |
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G |
54th
MA Inf |
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NCC |
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Anderson,
John |
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Kent |
DRAFTED |
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Anderson,
Levick |
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Kent |
DRAFTED |
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Armstrong,
Henry |
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C |
8th |
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Kent |
DRAFTED |
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Atkins,
George |
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Kent |
DRAFTED |
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Atkins,
Richard |
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Kent |
DRAFTED |
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Atwell,
Washington |
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Kent |
DRAFTED |
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| Augustus, Charles H. | E | 6th | White Clay Ck, Newark | NCC | |||
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Backus,
James |
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G |
11th
Hvy Arty |
Wilmington |
NCC |
DRAFTED |
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Banford,
Samuel |
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NCC |
DRAFTED |
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Bantum, John H. |
Cpl. |
F |
4th |
Wilmington |
NCC |
Mt. Olive |
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Bayard,
Isaac |
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I |
3rd |
New Castle |
NCC |
Mt. Salem
Methodist |
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| Bayard, William T. | Pvt. | A | 5th MA Cav | NCC |
Enlisted 12/24/63 Resident of Wilmington Mustered out Clarksville, TX 10/31/65 |
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| Beacham, John | B | 6th | East Dover | Kent | |||
| Beard, James | B | 41st | Wilmington | NCC | |||
| Beewley, James | A | 28th | NCC |
Enlisted as substitute
8/16/64 Resident of Wilmington Mustered out Corpus Christi, TX 11/8/65 |
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| Benson, James | G | 28th |
Resident of Wilmington Enlisted 6/1864 Mustered out at Corpus Christi, TX 11/8/65 |
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| Berry, Daniel | Pvt. | B | 55th MA Inf | Dover | Kent | ||
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Black,
James |
Pvt. |
H |
30th |
Viola |
Kent |
Mt.
Plymouth |
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| Blackshire, William F. | G | 28th |
Resident of Wilmington Enlisted 6/18/64 Mustered out Corpus Christi, TX 11/8/65 |
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Blockson,
____ine |
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