A number of men have had their service and lives noted. Among the nearly 220,000 names here are some whose service and lives have been documented. Many earned a
Medal of Honor, the highest and most prestigious personal military decoration that may be awarded to recognize U.S. military service members who distinguished themselves by acts of valor, during their service in a black regiment during the war. Additionally many earned a
brevet promotion which was a warrant giving a commissioned officer a higher rank title as a reward for gallantry or meritorious conduct, but without conferring the authority, precedence, or pay of real rank. •
George E. Albee (January 27, 1845 – March 24, 1918) was a lieutenant in the
36th United States Colored Infantry. •
Samuel C. Armstrong (January 30, 1839 – May 11, 1893, in Maui, Hawaii) Commanded union black soldiers in the civil war, established
Hampton University 1868. Served as a lieutenant colonel assigned to the
9th United States Colored Infantry and then command of the
8th United States Colored Troops. •
John F. Appleton (August 29, 1838 – August 31, 1870) had command of the
81st Regiment Infantry U.S. Colored Troops. •
William H. Appleton (March 24, 1843 – September 9, 1912) served in the
4th United States Colored Infantry and received the Medal of Honor for service during the war. •
Alexander Thomas Augusta (March 8, 1825 – December 21, 1890) was a Regimental Surgeon of the
7th United States Colored Troops. •
William H. Barnes (c. 1840 or 1845 – December 24, 1866) served in the
38th United States Colored Infantry and received the Medal of Honor for service during the war. •
Charles L. Barrell (August 1, 1842 – April 18, 1914) served in the
102nd Regiment United States Colored Troops as a flag holder, attained the rank of first lieutenant, and received the Medal of Honor for service during the war. •
Jesse T. Barrick (January 18, 1841 – November 3, 1923) served in the
57th United States Colored Infantry and received the Medal of Honor for service during the war. •
Powhatan Beaty (October 8, 1837 – December 6, 1916) served in the
5th United States Colored Infantry and received the Medal of Honor for service during the war. •
Orson W. Bennett (November 17, 1841 – January 8, 1904) served in the
102nd Regiment United States Colored Troops and received the Medal of Honor for service during the war. •
Frederick Benteen (August 24, 1834 – June 22, 1898) served in the
138th United States Colored Volunteers and was given awards for his service during the war. •
William Birney (May 28, 1819 – August 14, 1907) was a colonel of the
22nd United States Colored Troops and then with the 3rd Division of the
X Corps and given awards for his service during the war. •
Lionel F. Booth was a commander of the
6th United States Regiment Colored Heavy Artillery and was killed in action on April 12, 1864, at the
Battle of Fort Pillow. •
Felix Brannigan (1844 – June 10, 1907) was officer in the
103rd United States Colored Infantry and received the Medal of Honor for service during the war. •
James H. Bronson (1838 – March 16, 1884) served in the
5th U.S. Colored Infantry Regiment, rose to the rank of first sergeant, and received the Medal of Honor for service during the war. •
Peter Bruner (1845 – April 6, 1938) escaped slavery and served in the
12th Regiment Heavy Artillery United States Colored Troops. •
George W. Brush (October 4, 1842 – November 18, 1927) served in the
34th Infantry Regiment United States Colored Troops and received the Medal of Honor for service during the war. •
Edward Lyon Buchwalter (June 1, 1841 – October 4, 1933) served as captain of the
53rd Mississippi Colored Volunteers Infantry •
Louis H. Carpenter (February 11, 1839 – January 21, 1916) served as commander in the
5th United States Colored Cavalry. •
Peter J. Carter (May 29, 1845 – July 19, 1886) served in the
10th United States Colored Infantry. •
Thornton Chase (February 22, 1847 – September 30, 1912) served as first lieutenant of
26th Regiment Infantry U.S. Colored Troops and then as a captain in the
104th United States Colored Infantry. •
Emmet Crawford (December 22, 1844 – January 18, 1886) served in the
13th United States Colored Artillery at the end of the war. •
Samuel J. Crawford (April 10, 1835 – October 21, 1913) served as colonel of the
2nd Regiment Kansas Volunteer Infantry (Colored). •
Andrew Davidson (February 12, 1840 – November 10, 1902) served with the
30th United States Colored Troops where he was promoted to first lieutenant and later regimental adjutant and received the Medal of Honor for service during the war. •
Hasbrouck Davis (April 19, 1827 – October 19, 1870) and served with the
3rd Regiment Cavalry United States Colored Troops. •
Martin Delany (May 6, 1812 – January 24, 1885) was commissioned as a major, the first black line field officer in the war and achieving the highest rank an African American during the war. •
Charles DeRudio (August 26, 1832 – November 1, 1910) served as second lieutenant in the
2nd United States Colored Infantry. •
Joel Dewey (September 20, 1840 – June 17, 1873) served as lieutenant colonel of the
111th United States Colored Infantry. •
John Eaton (December 5, 1829 – February 9, 1906) served in the
63rd United States Colored Infantry and rose to brevet brigadier general. •
Alonzo J. Edgerton (June 7, 1827 – August 9, 1896) served as colonel of the
67th Regiment Infantry United States Colored Troops and rose to the rank of a brigadier general. •
Nathan H. Edgerton (August 28, 1839 – October 27, 1932) was commissioned a first lieutenant in the
6th United States Colored Infantry and became the adjutant of the unit. •
Ira Hobart Evans (April 11, 1844 – April 19, 1922) was commissioned as a first lieutenant in the
9th United States Colored Troops. In January, 1865 he was promoted to captain in the
116th United States Colored Troops, promoted to brevet major and assigned as assistant Adjutant of the
XXV Army Corps,
Army of the James. He received the Medal of Honor for service during the war. •
Bernard Gaines Farrar Jr (1831–1916) served with the
6th United States Colored Heavy Artillery. •
Berthold Fernow (November 28, 1837 – March 3, 1908) served as lieutenant of the
3rd United States Colored troops. •
Christian Fleetwood (July 21, 1840 – September 28, 1914) was commissioned as sergeant the
4th Regiment United States Colored Infantry and rose to sergeant major. •
James Daniel Gardner (September 16, 1839 – September 29, 1905) served in the
36th Regiment United States Colored Troops and received the Medal of Honor for service during the war. •
Gordon or "Whipped Peter" escaped slavery and served in one of many Louisiana Union Civil War units. •
Adolphus Greely (March 27, 1844 – October 20, 1935) commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant in the
81st United States Colored Infantry, promoted to 1st lieutenant and then captain. •
Henry M. Hardenbergh (c. 1843 – August 28, 1865) earned a lieutenant's commission in the
36th United States Colored Troops during the war and received the Medal of Honor for service during the war. •
James H. Harris (1828 – January 28, 1898) served in the
38th United States Colored Troops quickly promoted and then sergeant and received the Medal of Honor for service during the war. •
Llewellyn F. Haskell (October 8, 1842 – November 26, 1929) was commissioned as lieutenant colonel of the
7th United States Colored Infantry and later promoted to the command of the
41st United States Colored Infantry. •
Thomas R. Hawkins (1840 – February 28, 1870) rose to the rank of sergeant major of the
6th United States Colored Infantry and received the Medal of Honor for service during the war. •
Alfred B. Hilton (1842 – October 21, 1864) served with the
4th Regiment United States Colored Infantry and posthumously received the Medal of Honor for service during the war. •
Edward Winslow Hinks (May 30, 1830 – February 14, 1894) served as a commander in the
XVIII Corps. •
Milton M. Holland (August 1, 1844 – May 15, 1910) initially as the serving as a sergeant major of the
5th United States Colored Infantry and received the Medal of Honor for service during the war. •
Charles Henry Howard (August 28, 1838 – January 27, 1908) commanding the United States Colored Troops training camp at Beaufort, South Carolina, as well as the
128th United States Colored Infantry, and was promoted to brevet brigadier general •
Joshua B. Howell (September 11, 1806 – September 14, 1864) serving in the
XVIII and
X Corps, died during battle and was posthumously promoted to brigadier general. •
Miles James (1829 – August 28, 1871) serving as corporal in the
36th United States Colored Troops, and received the Medal of Honor for service during the war. •
J. R. Kealoha (? – March 5, 1877) serving in the
41st United States Colored Infantry. •
Alexander Kelly (April 7, 1840 – June 19, 1907) rising to a first sergeant of the
6th U.S. Colored Infantry, and received the Medal of Honor for service during the war. •
Bradford Leavitt (1868 – after 1912) serving in the
70th United States Colored Infantry as well as the
12th United States Colored Heavy Artillery. •
Hermann Lieb (May 24, 1826 – March 5, 1908) started with the
9th Louisiana Regiment Infantry (African Descent) which eventually became the 5th U.S. Colored Heavy Artillery and promoted to brevet brigadier general. •
Samuel R. Lowery (December 9, 1830– circa 1900) serving initially as chaplain of the
9th United States Heavy Artillery U.S. Colored Troops and later as teacher for the
2nd United States Colored Light Artillery. •
Elijah P. Marrs (January 1840 – August 30, 1910) serving as sergeant in the
12th Regiment Heavy Artillery U.S. Colored Troops. •
Edelmiro Mayer (28 May 1834 – 4 January 1897) was promoted to lieutenant colonel commanding the
45th United States Infantry Colored regiment. •
Selah Merrill (May 2, 1837 – January 22, 1909) serving as chaplain of the
49th United States Colored Infantry. •
Thomas Mower McDougall (21 May 1845 – 3 July 1909) serving as 2nd lieutenant of the
10th United States Louisiana Volunteers of African Descent, later redesignated as 48th US Colored Infantry. •
Charles E. Nash (May 23, 1844 – June 21, 1913) serving in the
82nd Regiment United States Volunteers and was promoted to the rank of sergeant major. •
Wyatt Outlaw (1820 – February 26, 1870) serving in the
2nd Regiment United States Colored Cavalry. •
P. B. S. Pinchback (May 10, 1837 – December 21, 1921) serving as a company commander in the
2nd Louisiana Regiment Native Guard Infantry, made up mostly of escaped slaves, later reformed as the 74th US Colored Infantry Regiment. •
Robert Pinn (March 1, 1843 – January 5, 1911) serving as first sergeant in the
5th United States Colored Infantry Regiment, also known as the 127th Ohio Volunteer Infantry and received the Medal of Honor for service during the war. •
Samuel Miller Quincy (1832 – March 24, 1887) was recommissioned as the lieutenant colonel of the
73rd United States Colored Infantry Regiment and was promoted to colonel in command of the regiment. •
Benjamin F. Randolph (1820 – October 16, 1868) as chaplain in the
26th Regiment Infantry U.S. Colored Troops. •
William Gould (W.G.) Raymond (1819–1893) serving as chaplain in the
1st United States Colored Infantry. •
Pleasant Richardson (1845 – May 30, 1935) was a former slave, and served in the
45th United States Colored Infantry Regiment. •
Edward Ratcliff (February 8, 1835 – March 10, 1915) serving as first sergeant in the
38th Regiment United States Colored Troops. •
Hiram Scofield (July 1, 1830 – December 30, 1906) serving in the
8th Louisiana Regiment Infantry (African Descent), later reorganized as the 47th Regiment Infantry U.S. Colored Troops and rising as a brevet brigadier general. •
Robert Smalls (April 5, 1839 – February 23, 1915) was commissioned second lieutenant of the
1st South Carolina Colored Infantry Regiment (later re-designated as the 33rd US Colored Infantry,) and his service in the navy was also recognized. •
Preston Taylor (November 7, 1849 – April 13, 1931) enlisted the
116th Regiment Infantry U.S. Colored Troops as a drummer. •
Walter Thorn (November 18, 1844 – July 20, 1920) served as second lieutenant in the
116th United States Colored Troops, attained the rank of major, and received the Medal of Honor for service during the war. •
David Torrance (March 3, 1840 – September 5, 1906) was commissioned a captain in the
29th Regiment U.S. Colored Troops and rose to serve as a lieutenant colonel. •
Benjamin F. Tracy (April 26, 1830 – August 6, 1915) was appointed a colonel of the
127th Infantry, U.S. Colored Troops. •
Henry McNeal Turner (February 1, 1834 – May 8, 1915) served as a chaplain in one of the first regiments of black troops. •
John B. Weber (September 21, 1842 – December 18, 1926) commanded of the
89th United States Colored Infantry. •
James F. Wade (April 14, 1843 – August 23, 1921) was promoted as a brevet lieutenant colonel of the
6th United States Colored Cavalry. •
Josiah T. Walls (December 30, 1842 – May 15, 1905) volunteered and was assigned to a United States Colored Troops regiment and rose to the rank of corporal. •
Godfrey Weitzel (November 1, 1835 – March 19, 1884) was assigned command of the
XXV Corps. •
Lewis Ledyard Weld (May 13, 1833 – January 10, 1865) enrolled as a major, and subsequently became a lieutenant colonel of the
41st United States Colored Troops. •
Edward A. Wild (November 25, 1825 – August 28, 1891) was a brigadier general with a command of a brigade of black infantry comprised the 55th Massachusetts Infantry, and the 2nd and 3rd North Carolina Colored Volunteers (which later became renumbered as the
36th and
37th United States Colored Troops respectively). •
James Monroe Williams (September 12, 1833 – February 15, 1907) was the initial commander of the
1st Regiment Kansas Volunteer Infantry (Colored) and then commissioned as a lieutenant colonel as the
79th Regiment Infantry U.S. Colored Troops, and was later promoted to the rank of colonel. •
Henry Wilson (February 16, 1812 – November 22, 1875) served in the
31st and
104th Regiments of United States Colored Troops, and was promoted to lieutenant colonel and second-in-command of the 104th. •
Stewart L. Woodford (September 3, 1835 – February 14, 1913) was a colonel of the
103rd Colored Infantry Regiment and rose to brevet brigadier general. •
C. C. Vaughn (December 27, 1846 – October 21, 1923) enlisted in the
13th Regiment Heavy Artillery U.S. Colored Troops and was promoted to orderly sergeant. •
Charles Veale (1838 – July 27, 1872) enlisting as a private in the
4th Regiment United States Colored Infantry and was promoted to corporal, and received the Medal of Honor for service during the war. •
George Ziegler (1832–1912) was colonel of the
52nd Regiment of U.S. Colored Troops and was promoted to brevet brigadier general. ==See also==