On January 17th, I listed Arkansas sites where men fought, resisted slavery and died. I have become interested also on the legacy of the US Colored Troops in other states. In this blog post, I wish to acknowledge the battles fought in the state of Alabama.
One of the larger battles sites, I learned was fought at Ft. Blakely Alabama, and nine black regiments fought at that battle, between March 31st to April 9th, 1865. This was the towards the very end of the war, and for the men in these regiments----their goal was critical. They had freedom to gain! The battle of Ft. Blakely was also captured by Civil War illustrators.
"Storming of Fort Blakely"
From Harper's Weekly, May 27, 1865
This Library of Congress map of the Ft. Blakely battle, also shows where many of the soldiers from the US Colored Troops were positioned.
Ft. Gaines would be another site that would involve black soldiers. The events in Ft. Gaines were part of the effort to control Mobile Bay.
This unusual image from Harper's Weekly, (1862) reflects Mobile Bay and the inclusion of cotton pickers watched closely by overseers, reflects the intention of preserving life as it was, in Alabama, at the time.
Madison Station involved the 101st US Colored Infantry
Sulphur Branch Trestle
Soldiers of the 111th US Colored Infantry were captured at Sulphur Trestle in 1864.
Battles Fought in Alabama Involving US Colored Troops
Boyd's Station, Alabama March 18, 1865, 101st US Colored Infantry
Decatur Alabama October 29-29th 1864 14th US Colored Infantry
Decatur Alabama December 27-28th 1864 17th US Colored Infantry
Ft. Blakely Ala. Mar. 31-Apr 9th, 1865 47th, 48th, 50th, 51st, 68th, 73rd, 76th, 82nd, 86th US Colored Infantries
Ft. Gaines Alabama August 2-8th 1864, 96th US Colored Infantry
Madison Station, Alabama November 26th 1864 101st US Colored Infantry
Mud Creek, Alabama January 5, 18th 1865, 106th US Colored Infantry
Pine Barren Creek Alabama December 17-19th 1864 82nd US Colored Infantry
Scottsboro, Alabama January 8, 1865 101st US Colored Infantry
Spanish Fort, Alabama March 27-April 8, 1865 68th US Colored Infantry
Sulphur Branch Trestle, Alabama September 25, 1864, 111th US Colored Infantries.
May those who study Alabama Civil War history, include the stories of the US Colored Troops that fought and died upon Alabama soil.