Monday, March 12, 2012

March: A Month of Battles for USCTs

More than 6000 Black Soldiers Participated in "Storming of  Ft. Blakeley" 
Last Major Battle of Civil War   
Source:  Harper's Weekly May 27th, 1865

The month of March was a time in which the soldiers who were part of the US Colored Troops found themselves engaged in a number of battles and skirmishes throughout the nation. The most impressive battle during the month of March was the Battle of Ft. Blakeley in which more than 6000 men of African Descent participated from nine different regiments.

As winter months melted into spring, the warmer weather provided more opportunity for movement of soldiers, thus bringing about more engagement with the enemy that the colder weeks had provided. As I began to look at my historical calendar, I decided to list the dozens of battles in which Black Union soldiers were engaged during the month of March, as their fight for freedom unfolded.

Several battles and skirmishes involved more than one regiment and the critical "last battle" of the war took place at Ft. Blakeley and thousands of Black men participated in that effort which lasted for several days.

In honor of the US Colored Troops engaged in March battles, they are listed here.

March  1,  1865  St. Stephens SC 55th Massachusetts (Colored)
March  2,  1864 Goodrich's Landing LA 66th US Colored Infantry
March  2,  1864 New Kent Courthouse VA  5th US Colored Infantry
March  4,  1864 Williamsburg VA  6th US Colored Infantry
March  5,  1865 Yazoo City, MS  3rd US Colored Cavalry & 47th US Col. Infantry
March  6,  1865 Natural Bridge FL  2nd US Colored Infantry and 99th US Infantry
March  8,  1865 "Alliance" Steamer, FL 99th US Colored Infantry
March  9,  1864 Suffolk VA, 2nd US Colored Cavalry
March 10, 1865 Marion County FL 3rd US Colored Infantry
March 15, 1865 Yazoo City MS  3rd US Colored Cavalry
March 18, 1865 Amite River LA 77th US Colored Infantry
March 18, 1865 Boyd's Station AL  101st US Colored Infantry
March 20, 1864 Pass Manchas LA 10th US Colored Heavy Artillery
March 20, 1864 Roseville Creek, AR 79th US Colored Infantry (New)
March 24, 1865 Cox's Bridge, NC 30th US Colored Infantry
March 24, 1864 Goodrich's Landing LA 66th US Colored Infantry
March 25, 1864 Ft. Anderson KY 8th US Colored Heavy Artillery
March 25, 1865 Brawley Fork TN  17th US Colored Infanntry
March 25, 1863 Glascow KY 119th US Colored Infantry
March 27, 1865 Spanish Fort AL 68th US Colored Infantry
March 29, 1863 Jacksonville FL 33rd US Colored Infantry
March 31, 1864 Roach's Plantation MS 3rd US Colored Cavalry
March 31, 1865 White Oak Road VA 29th US Colored Infantry
March 31, 1865 Ft. Blakeley AL:
     47th US Colored Infanty
     48th US Colored Infantry
     50th US Colored Infantry
     51st US Colored Infantry
     68th US Colored Infantry
     73rd US Colored Infantry
     76th US Colored Infantry
     82nd US Colored Infantry
     86th US Colored Infantry

May their legacy be remembered!

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