Nine USCT Regiments Opposite the Sugar Loaf Line After Fort Fisher

I honor of Black History Month, I would like to point out that there were nine black regiments of the United States Colored Troops opposing the Confederate along the Sugar Loaf Line in February 1865.

These would be the troops of Wright and A. Ames as shown on the map of the Sugar Loaf battle.

They were under the overall command of  Brigadier General Charles J. Paine of the XXV Corps.

Wright's troops were the 3rd Brigade under Elias Wright and consisted of the 1st, 5th, 10th, 27th and 37th USCT.

A. Ame's troops were the 2nd Brigade of John J. Ames and consisted of the 4th, 6th, 30th and 39th USCT.

There was also a white brigade along the line commanded by Joseph C. Abbott of the XXIV Corps, 1st Division.

Playing a Major Role.  --Old M-Runner

A Black Chaplain at Fort Fisher-- Part 4: Surgeon's Aide in the Battle

Chaplain Henry M. Turner, 1st USCT, Wright's Brigade [3rd], Paine's [3rd] Division, XXV Corps.

The 27th USCT also belonged to Wright's Brigade.

During the Second Battle of Fort Fisher, Chaplain Turner served as an aide to surgeon Norman S. Barnes, medical director of General Alfred H. Terry's Provisional Corps.

These quotes are taken from "Rocked In the Cradle of Secession" by Henry M. Turner, Edwin S. redkey, ed.  Appeared in American heritage 31 (Oct.-Nov. 1980) pages 70-77.

--Old B-R'er

A Black Chaplain Writes About Fort Fisher-- Part 3: Would They Shoot Captured USCT?

**  "After walking through the fort for some time, viewing it by the light of the moon, I found myself shot at from some unknown quarter.  This led me to believe there were rebels still secreted in some undiscovered spot whom we had not found."

**  "I asked several rebel officers if they killed the colored prisoners they took.  They told me they did not.  They also told me if they found they were free men from the north, or even from any slave State in our lines, they were treated as other Yankee prisoners are; but if they were slaves whose owners were in the Confederate States, and such colored men could be identified, they were treated as house-burners and robbers.  And as for you, said they, you would get the same treatment as other Yankee officers."

Interesting Observations.  --Old Secesh

A Black Chaplain Writes About the Aftermath of the Second Battle of Fort Fisher

From the North Carolina Historic Sites "Black Troops at Fort Fisher."

Chaplain Henry M. Turner, 1st USCT, describes the capture of Fort Fisher and afterwards.

**  "The land forces on out [right] ... in no instance broke or exhibited any cowardice...."  He was talking about white troops.

**  "At one time I thought they could never stand it, neither do I believe they would have stood, but for the fact that they knew the black troops were in the rear, and if [the white troops] failed, the colored troops would take the fort and claim the honor.

"Indeed, the white troops told the rebels that is they did not surrender they would let the negroes loose on them...."

--Old B-Runner

USCT Regiments At First Battle of Fort Fisher-- Part 2

XXV ARMY CORPS. Third Division, Brigadier General Charles J. Paine

THIRD BRIGADE

1st USCT--  Lt.Col. Giles H. Rich

5th USCT--  Col. Giles W. Shurtleff

10th USCT--  Lt.Col. Edward H. Powell

37th USCT--  Col. Nathan Goff Jr.

107th USCT--  Lt.Col. Dabid M. Sells

--Old B-Runner