Talbot Historical Society Project Rewind: With Valor and Honor -Talbot County’s United States Colored Troops During the Civil War

Though President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, issued on January 1, 1863, did not free the enslaved people in Maryland, it allowed African Americans throughout the nation to serve in the Union Army as part of the United States Colored Troops (USCT). This gave Black Americans the opportunity to fight not only for their nation, but also for their freedom and citizenship – and fight they did!

Frederick Douglass, a native son of Talbot County and a leading African American abolitionist, writer, orator, and newspaper publisher, placed steady pressure on the Lincoln administration to include African Americans in the Union Army. Douglass met with the President, used his influence to the fullest, and has received great credit for the creation and support of the USCT.

During the U.S. Civil War, nearly 180,000 African Americans served in the Union Army, with almost 80,000 recruited from states that remained in the Union. Of this number, 8,718 were from Maryland, and Talbot County led all Maryland counties in total enlistments.

By the start of the Civil War, African Americans in Talbot County were nearly equally divided, with half enslaved and half free. Many enslaved individuals from Talbot earned their freedom by enlisting in the USCT, often with the support of their masters.

The high enlistment rate from Talbot County had a significant impact on its white families, forever changing their destinies. The Civil War saw the first draft in U.S. history to enroll men for battle. There were four draft rounds during the War, but Talbot County was only subjected to the first. The enlistment of Talbot’s African Americans counted toward the County’s quota of men required for the Union Army. Because so many black men enlisted, no additional white men from Talbot were drafted after the first round.

Many senior Union commanders were initially skeptical about how African Americans would perform in battle and questioned their willingness to fight. Many formerly enslaved men had little experience with firearms and could neither read nor write. However, time and time again, black USCT soldiers proved their mettle in combat, exhibiting great valor, courage, and a ferocious fighting spirit that both surprised and impressed senior corps commanders. These black soldiers earned the respect of their commanders and their fellow white soldiers alike.

Our men from Talbot County served in every USCT regiment formed in Maryland and in the United States Navy as well. They participated in major battles in Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina from 1864 through 1865, including the battles to capture Petersburg and Richmond. Talbot County soldiers were also involved in the final battles leading to the defeat of General Robert E. Lee’s army and were present when Lee surrendered at Appomattox Courthouse.

This May, the Talbot Historical Society, located downtown Easton, will present an exhibit titled “With Valor and Honor – Talbot County’s United States Colored Troops During the Civil War.” This exhibit will feature numerous images and artifacts that tell the incredible story of the courage, honor, and valor displayed by these men. They served their nation at a time when many blacks in the Union states were still enslaved, and those who were free had no rights of citizenship. Our staff has been working diligently to research this history and, most importantly, to identify the names of the men who served. To date, we have uncovered the names of over 550 men from Talbot County who served in the Union’s United States Colored Troops – and we are still discovering more!  During this exhibit, the Talbot Historical Society will have these men’s military records available so those interested, including these men’s descendants, can have direct access to this rich history.  

Paul Callahan
Talbot Historical Society

Below is the list of names we have discovered so far. Do you recognize any of these family names?