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In the News: Convention of Colored Iowa Soldiers

Flag presented to the 60th US Colored Troops, formerly 1st Colored Regiment of Iowa
Image source: State Curator of Iowa on Twitter

The Christian Recorder, November 18, 1865

CONVENTION OF COLORED IOWA SOLDIERS.

We clip the following from the Muscatine, (Iowa) Journal, of the 6th inst.

In accordance with the earnest desire of numerous members of the regiment, the enlisted men and non-commissioned officers of the 60th U.S. Infantry (colored regiment,) numbering about 700 persons, met in mass convention at Camp McClellan, Davenport, on Thursday, Oct. 31st, 1865

The convention was organized by electing Alexander Clark, of Muscatine, President, and I. N. Triplett, Secretary.

The following named gentleman were chosen Vice Presidents:
1st Sergeant Edward Henderden, Co.… Read more

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“Mr. Qualls, who is a one armed veteran…colored citizen”

James Qualls, 27th United States Colored Troops
Athens Messenger, May 9, 1889

James H. Qualls, the soldier

In late October 1864, the men in the 27th United States Colored Infantry (USCI) participated in their second battle while serving in the Army of the Potomac’s IX Corps. Both Col. Albert M. Blackman and Lt. Col. John W. Donnellan were injured on the first day of fighting along Boydton Plank Road in the battle of Hatcher’s Run, Virginia (October 27-28, 1864). Fifteen soldiers from the regiment were killed or wounded, including seventeen-year-old James H. Qualls from Jackson County, Ohio.

Qualls enlisted at Berlin Crossroads, where he lived with his Virginia-born parents, Arthur and Lucy (Shepperd) .… Read more

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“And at his death had almost completed a history of his life,” Lafayette Rose, 27 USCI

Clyde Enterprise, October 21, 1897

Lafayette D. Rose, a veteran of the 27th USCI, requested in his will that “If for any reason I shall be unable to complete the writing and publication of my history at work now well under way I here by request and designate my said wife and my half brother William H. Sparrow to take charge of the same and carry out my arrangements provisions or agreement I may have made with other parties for the same… As soon as sufficient number of copies of my said work or book shall have been sold to pay the cost of publication and sale there of then as to all subsequent sales my said wife shall be entitled to receive a royalty.”… Read more

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Soldiers, you have lady friends in Cleveland

The Anglo-African, September 3, 1865

SOLDIERS, YOU HAVE LADY FRIENDS IN CLEVELAND

CLEVELAND, O., August, 1865.

DEAR EDITOR: Permit me to make your excellent paper the medium of giving credit to the ladies of the Cleveland Soldiers Aid Society, with a semi-annual report of their labors. I hope that you had not drawn the conclusion that silence indicated a relaxation in the great work they began for the welfare of the soldiers; but rather, I shall frankly acknowledge, remissness on my part in writing to you, for which I am exceedingly sorry, and fear that the imperfectness of my report will subject me to the severest reprimanding I have ever received from that sex, within the bounds of my recollection.… Read more

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In the News: Oneonta Herald, February 10, 1864

RIKERS ISLAND, Jan. 29, 1864.

SIR i must Tell you a little a bout the Camp a fairs & how thing Goes here   last nite we had a mobe fite bee twixt the Clord & white But the ofesers sune stop it   But if they had let the nigs goe they wood Not have benn a sun of the Eemeral Ile left here for the Colord Trupes at Rikers Island & i for my self am Just as well as Ever i was & As tuff   But when i First a Rived i thought it hard but now i am Natueralised to the Camp Lif   there is a Bout 2000 Colord troups here and one Ridgiment Will Leave sune   that Is the 20 Ridg   I thout Colord men wood not Make good Solgers but I was greatly mistaken For they are as fine as is here & learn Just as fast as the whites & More Promp & spunkey   The wether is mild & warm Spring like   Mine to the oneonte herald untill a Beter one or Beter ComPosed & more time   i have got to bee a Coprill and will sune get to Bee a sarjant   i make the Boys stand a Round as fare as my athorety.… Read more

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Old John Brown GAR Post #450: Oxford, OH, Black Veterans

Hamilton Evening News, May 24, 1929

In May 1884, Black Civil War veterans in Butler County, Ohio, received a charter for the Old John Brown Post# 450. It is believed to be the second African American Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) post recognized in the state. The William Anderson Post # 244 in Washington Court House, Fayette County, was the first in May 1882.

Over the years, the local press in Butler County recognized African American residents for their military service, their roles in the community after the war, and with announcements of their deaths.

  • Peter Bruner, 12 USCHA, born in Kentucky, died in April 1938.
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