African American Soldiers and the United States Colored Troops (USCT) (1862–1865)

1. Militia Act permits federal use of Black troops

   Jul 17, 1862Labels: Militia Act

   • Freedmen UMD
   • Wikipedia

2. Black troops fight at Island Mound, Missouri

   Oct 29, 1862Labels: 1st Kansas

   • CW Border
   • Wikipedia

3. Emancipation Proclamation invites Black military service

   Jan 1, 1863Labels: Emancipation Proclamation

   • National Archives

4. Stanton orders Massachusetts to raise Black regiments

   Jan 26, 1863Labels: Edwin M, Massachusetts Governor

   • NMUSA

5. 54th Massachusetts musters into federal service

   May 13, 1863Labels: 54th Massachusetts

   • NMUSA
   • NY Mil Museum

6. War Department creates Bureau of Colored Troops

   May 22, 1863Labels: Bureau of

   • Nat Archives
   • NPS

7. USCT defend supply base at Milliken’s Bend

   Jun 7, 1863Labels: Milliken's Bend

   • Battlefields
   • Wikipedia

8. 54th Massachusetts assaults Fort Wagner

   Jul 18, 1863Labels: Fort Wagner, William Carney

   • Gilder Lehrman
   • CMOHS

9. Fort Pillow massacre hardens USCT resolve

   Apr 12, 1864Labels: Fort Pillow

   • Gilder Lehrman
   • Wikipedia

10. Congress equalizes pay for Black soldiers

    Jun 15, 1864Labels: Congress, Equal Pay

    • Freedmen UMD

11. USCT suffer heavily at the Battle of the Crater

    Jul 30, 1864Labels: Battle of

    • Britannica
    • Encyclopedia VA

12. USCT help win at New Market Heights

    Sep 29, 1864Labels: New Market

    • NPS
    • Battlefields

13. Congress approves the Thirteenth Amendment

    Jan 31, 1865Labels: Thirteenth Amendment, Congress

    • Nat Archives

14. Confederate surrender ends major USCT combat service

    Apr 9, 1865Labels: Appomattox, Robert E

    • PBS

15. Thirteenth Amendment ratified, slavery abolished nationwide

    Dec 6, 1865Labels: Thirteenth Amendment

    • Nat Archives