Lt. Col. Albert Blackman-- Part 2

A good name for a man who commanded black troops.

Civil War brevet brigadier general.  He was commissioned as a captain of Company H of the  21st Ohio Volunteer Infantry on April 23, 1861, mustering into service April 24, 1861.  He served with the regiment through the summer campaign in western Virginia before being mustered out August 12, 1861.

Shortlly thereafter, he  was commissioned a lieutenant colonel of the 49th Ohio Volunteer Infantry on August 17 1861, mustering into service three days later.  He served until he resigned his commission August 31, 1862.

He joined the Union  war effort once more with a commission as lieutenant colonel in the 27th U.S. Colored Infantry on March 24, 1864.

Promoted to colonel to date from September 1, 1864, he was breveted to brigadier general, U.S. Volunteers to date from October  27, 1864, for "gallant  and distinguished bravery at Hatcher's Run, Virginia."

He resigned his commission on May 16, 1865.

He later settled in Cresco, Iowa, and practiced medicine there.

--Old B-Runner

Lt. Col. Albert Milton Blackman, Cmdr. of 27th USCT

From Find-A-Grave.

He was the commander of the 27th USCT.

ALBERT MILTON BLACKMAN

BIRTH:  6 March 1826, Tiffin, Ohio

DEATH:  5 August 1876 (aged 50)  Cresco, Iowa

BURIAL:  Oak Lawn Cemetery, Cresco, Iowa

He graduated from RushMedical College in 1859 and was a physician before the war.

MARRIED:  Catherine Barbara Holtz Blackman  (1830-1905)  Married her in 1851.

--Old B-Runner

27th USCT-- Part 5: Roster of Company G

SERGEANTS:

1st Sgt. Joseph Hawkins; Feb. 13, 1864; Ross County, Ohio

2nd Sgt.  Albert Harvey; Feb. 22, 1864; Crawford County, Ohio

3rd Sgt. John A. Hunt; Feb. 23, 1864; Ross County, Ohio

4th Sgt. Henry W. Young; April 7, 1864; Camp Delaware

2nd Sgt. George W. Lyon; Feb. 20, 1864; Madison County, Ohio.

********************************

William Morgan:

Private William Morgan; April 5, 1864; Delaware

--Old B-Runner

27th USCT-- Part 4: Roster of Company G

This was the only company where all members were listed in the source.  And, it was the company that William Morgan, who I wrote about earlier, served in.

I will do the officers (who were White) and then the sergeants (who were Black).

Rank, date of enrollment in regiment and place of enrollment.

OFFICERS:

Captain Albert Rogall; March 14, 1864; Washington, D.C.

1st Lt.  Edwin F. McMurphrey; April 1864;  Columbus, Ohio

1sr Lt. George W. Doty; May 19, 1864; Washington, D.C.

2nd Lt.  John Eberhardt; January 16, 1864; Washington, D.C.

--Old B.Runner

27th USCT-- Part 3: Fort Fisher and Operations in North Carolina

The 27th USCT then participated in the Fort Fisher Campaign from December 1864 to January 1865.

Then in subsequent actions between Fort Fisher and Wilmington January to February 1865:

Sugar Loaf Hill

Federal Point

Capture of Wilmington

Northeast Ferry

*****************************

CAROLINAS CAMPAIGN  (March to April 1865)

Kinston

Goldsboro

Cox's Bridge

Raleigh

Present at Johnston's surrender at Bennett's House, North carolina on April 26, 1865.

Remained on duty in Department of North Carolina until mustered out on September 21, 1865.

--Old B-Runner

27th USCT Infantry-- Part 2: Many Operations in Virginia

The regiments war record.

From the Rapidan River to James River, Virginia  May-June 1864.

Guarding wagon trains during the Wilderness Campaign.

Petersburg Campain (including the Battle of the Crater, July 30, 1864)  June-December 1864.

Fought at Weldon Railroad (August 1864)

Popular Grove Church (September and October 1864)

Boydtown Plank Road and Hatcher's Run (October 1864)

Bermuda Hundred (Virginia) front until december 1864.

Then it was moved to the attacks on Fort Fisher.

Quite a busy unit.

--Old B-Runner

27th USCT-- Part 1: Organized in Ohio

On March 14 and 15, I wrote about Private William Morgan who was with the 27th USCT Infantry Regiment which fought at Fort Fisher.

I decided to do some more research on the unit.

From the Archival Resources of Virginia.

The 27th USCT (United States Colored Troops)  was organized as a three year regiment at Camp Delaware, Ohio, on January 16, 1864, and ordered to Annapolis, Maryland.  Most of the men came from Ohio.

There it was attached to the 1st Brigade, 4th Division, 9th Corps, Army of  the Potomac until September 1864, and then to 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, 9th Corps.  

In December 1864, it joined the 1st brigade,  3rd Divison, 25th Corps (the Union Army's only all black corps).  Later it was attached to several other groups.

They participated in several engagements and campaigns in Virginia and North Carolina.

--Old B-Runner

New Fort Fisher Museum Underway-- Part 4: To Withstand Storms

The new visitir center is designed for its dynamic location at the mouth of the Cape Fear River.  Before crews  proceded with their current work on the foundation they installed about 180 piles to the depth of 50 feet.

Once the foundation is complete,  the first floor will be elevated five feet above the existing grade to accommodate storm surge and the building will be constructed promarily of concrete to strengthen it against storms.

"It is definitely going to be exposed to the elements pver the years, and it's been designed to withstand it,"  Ben Warren said.

A 6,400-square-foot building for the state's  underwater archaeology facilities is also planned for the property.  Warren listed  boat storage, preservation labs and dive support as some of the amenities planned for the archaeology space.

--Old B-Runner

New Fort Fisher Museum Underway-- Part 3: Importance To the Confederacy

During the Civil War, Fort Fisher protected the entrance to the Cape Fear River which led to Wilmington, North Carolina, a major port for blockade runners supplying the Confederacy with much-needed supplies.

About a mile near the end of the penionsula originally called Federal Point, but name changed to Confederate Point for the war, became heavily fortified with Fort Fisher which ran roughly a mile along the Atlantic coast on the east side, then stretched for abou a half mile across the peninsula on the north side.

There were no fortifications on the west side along the Cape Fear River and a four gun fortification at the south end by New Inlet called Battery Buchanan.

There were dozens of man-made mounds as tall as 35 feet and topped with powerful artillery to keep Union blockaders at a distance.  These defenses kept the port of Wilmington open until January 1865 when a successful Union attack by sea and land captured the fort and closed Wilmington.  The Confederacy was all but over within three months after that.

Old B-Runner

New Fort Fisher Visitors Center/Museum Underway-- Part 2

Slated for completion in April 2024, the new 24,000 square foot visitor center will replace the current facility, which remains open and operational until the new building is finished.  Built in 1965, the old visitor center is equipped to handle 25,000 visitors annually.  In 2021, the site had more than a million people.

I  know that initially the plan called for tearing down the present visitors center and moving everything into temporary quarters nearby until the new one was completed.  I always thought this was a very wasteful plan.  Hey, use the old one until the new one is completed.  I'm glad they decided to do that.

Larger facilities will enable Fort Fisher to serve growing crowds with more exhibit space, storage for artifacts and offices for staff plus a new auditorium and multipurpose room for  events, which Warren says will access  a  balcony with views of both the Atlantic Ocean and the Cape Fear River.

--Old B-Runner

New Fort Fisher Visitors Center and Museum Underway-- Part 1

From March 15, 2023, Wilmington (NC) Biz "New Fort Fisher facilities on the rise" by Miriah Hamrick.

The new foundation is being laid at the Fort Fisher State Historic Site in Kure Beach, North Carolina.  The Bordeaux  Construction Co. crews  are currently working on it as the first step in a multi-phase project that will also erect  new facilities for the North Carolina Underwater Archaeology Branch.

Also, pending money from the state, work will be done on the Civil War fortifications of the fort as well.  (Part of the fort's land face was leveled for a landing strip that was used for anti-aircraft practice during World War II.  That part will be rebuilt.)

By May, the foundation will be complete and the new two-story building which will house the museum and visitors center will begin construction.

"Then we will start going vertical," said Ben Warren, vice president of  Bordeaux Construction.

--Old B-Runner

Private William Morgan at Fort Fisher with 27th USCT-- Part 2

Born in 1844, he was likely one of the hundreds of John Randolph slaves in Virginia who were freed after his death and provided means to settle in Ohio.  They made their way and settled  in the Miami Valley in 1846.  In the 1900 census, Morgan said his mother was born in Virginia which supports the idea that he was one of them.

William Morgan enlisted as a private in Company G, 27th USCT at Camp Delaware, Ohio, in April 5, 1864.

His regiment had a proud history of service.   Assigned to the Army of the Potomac, the 27th guarded supply trains during the Overland Campaign and took part in the Siege of Petersburg.  The 27th charged into Confederate lines at the Battle of the Crater on July 30, 1864,.

They were also part of  amphibious operations against Fort Fisher, North Carolina.  It was then involved in the events that followed (Sugar Loaf Hill, Federal Point, Fort Anderson, capture of Wilmington and Northeast Ferry.

After that it participated in the  Carolinas Campaign at Kinston,, Goldsboro, Cox's  Bridge, the capture of Raleigh and surrender of Johnston's Army at Bennett's House.

Hey!   Fort Fisher!!  --Old Secesh

Private William Morgan at Fort Fisher with USCT

From the February 24, 2023, Sidney (Ohio) Daily News "Provate William Morgan: An AfricanAmerican Civil War veteran from Sidney" by Gregory  K. Holonaugh and Melanie  Speicher.

On December 4, 1918, the Sidney Daily News reported prominently in its local section  that "William Morgan Dies Suddenly" earlier that day.  Further, the paper reported that Mr. Morgan was a well-known black man who had "been a resident for many years ... a blacksmith at the carriage factory of Miller & Smith" and a "veteran of the Civil War."

He was buried at Graceland Cemetery near other Civil War veterans.

His gravestone reads "William Morgan, Co. G, 27th USC Inf."

--Old Secesh

Captain John S. Rudd, USN-- Part 2: Served on Many Ships

From USS Constitution Museum

He was a commander of the USS Constitution at one time.  

RANK:  Commander

BIRTH DATE:  3/13/1801

DEATH DATE:  10/12/1867

John Singleton Rudd was born in Newport, Rhode Island on March 13, 1801 and received his midshipman's warrant on November 30, 1814, just as the War of 1812 was ending.  His first years was a series of  ship assignments:  brig Firefly, frigate Congress,  ship-of-the-line Franklin, ship-of-the-line  Washington, frigate Cyane, frigate Macedonian before he was promoted to lieutenant on January  13, 1825.

--Old B-Runner

Captain John S. Rudd, USN

I mentioned this man in the last post.  John Singleton Rudd was the first commander of the USS Lancaster.  Also a War of 1812, Mexican War and Civil War officer.

His service record is very near the same as that of John B. Montgomery.  Both were on their way out (retired list) when the Civil War started because of advanced age.

From Naval History and Heritage Command.

John Rudd

Midshipman:  30 November 1814

Lieutenant:  13 January 1825

Commander:  8 September 1841

Captain:    14 September 1855

Retired List:   21 December 1861

Commodore, Retired List:    16 July 1862

Died:  12 October 1867

--Old B-Runner

USS Lancaster-- Part 24: Screw Sloop-of-War

John B. Montgomery commanded the Pacific Squadron of the U.S. Navy at the onset of the Civil War  until  relieved January  2, 1862.  The Lancaster was his flagship.

USS LANCASTER

From Wikipedia.

The first ship in the Navy with this name.  (There was also another one launched in 1855 that was a sidewheel steamship purchased by the Navy in 1862 and converted into a ram operating on the western rivers.)

Montgomery's Lancaster was a screw sloop-of-war that served in the Civil War through Spanish-American War.

It was laid down at the Philadelphia Navy Yard  in December 1857 and launched  20 October 1858; sponsored by  Miss Harriet Lane, niece and official hostess of President James Buchanan.  Commissioned  12 May 1859 with Captain John Rudd in command.

--Old B-Runner