20 USCI

Letters from Black Soldiers and Sailors

Black Civil War Soldiers and Sailors Letters
Click on the names below to read letters written by Black soldiers in the United States Colored Troops and Black sailors in the U.S. Navy during the Civil War

Editorial methods for the transcribed letters


Private William C. Newark, 20 USCI

“Spartan,” a soldier from the 27th USCI

Capt. O.S.B. Wall, 104 USCI


There are also published sources that include the soldiers from
Black Civil War soldiers and veterans.

A Grand Army of Black Men: Letters from African-American Soldiers in the Union Army

Grand Army of Black Men

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Letters from Black Soldiers and Sailors Read More »

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

In the News: Oneonta Herald, February 10, 1864 Read More »

Black Veterans at the Ohio Soldier’s and Sailors’ Home

After the Civil War, African Americans who served in the United States Colored Troops and the United States Navy could apply to reside in both federal and state soldiers’ and sailors’ homes. Below is the list of Black veterans who were admitted to the Ohio Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Home in Sandusky, Ohio, between November 1888 and August 1919.

Cottage I, from Souvenir Book of Views: Ohio Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Home, Sandusky, O.
Sandusky Star-Journal,
July 13, 1901

You can view the admission records on Family Search, “Ohio Soldier Home Records, 1888-1919.” This collection of images comes from 20 volumes that include the records of the first 10,000 residents of the Home.… Read more

Black Veterans at the Ohio Soldier’s and Sailors’ Home Read More »