USCT Question

[bsbaker]

I'm not trying to upset anyone and I'm not "flame baiting". I have a serious question.

I've never come into contact with any units organized as USCT, so I'm completely ignorant on the subject. Do the Colored Troops reenactors take the field with white officers? It seems that they would to be historically correct, but at the same time it seems like this might cause some turmoil.

If anyone on here is a member of a USCT unit or has any information, please educate me.

[Ross L. Lamoreaux]

Yes, most USCT units that I've seen do indeed take the field with white officers. I only know of one such unit, in the south, that didn't care for that practice and only went on the field with their own elected NCO's, but they only had about 10 soldiers, so it was nice to see another rank-heavy company. Like all other units, USCT companies are around the US, some are larger, some are smaller, some have politics, some don't. Some are progressive and many are mainstream. I hope that a few on this forum who are in those units will pipe in firsthand, but my experience with them, particularly at Olustee, has been enlightening.

[Artyman]

Mr Baker,

It has been my observations that African Americans who do USCT's have a very HIGH sense of their place in history. They are less casual about their need to be historically accurate and accept the reality that this is how it was, what they had to bear, and part of their unique heritage. How odd it seems to me that it is us white folk who feel bad about it more so than they do.

Harry

[bob 125th nysvi]

units I have seen all are too small for an officer and take the field under an NCO.

Unfortunately I have never seen enough of them in place to form even a decent sized company (which is about the point they'd need an officer).

Conversely I don't see the interest someone would have in joining a unit to just be their officer. That individual could never 'step down' to fight in the ranks because he'd look so out of place.

It is a really tough situation for USCT groups because even when a larger overhead group wants to integrate them into the organization you can't take the field without some idiot arguing it isn't historical.

I do have to say the couple of units I've seen seem to be of pretty high quality and know their history pretty well.

[Regular3]

There is a recreated 54th Massachusetts here in the DC area that had a white officer when they first organized in the late 80s, and they appeard together in "Glory." He has since left the unit, if not out of the hobby altogether, and they currently list their CO slot as "vacant," only taking the field with a first sergeant.

[indguard]

There is one here in Northern Illinois. Good group of men and they do have a white officer. At least there was one. I didn't do any events last year, so I am not sure that they are still around, but they were as of the 2008 season.

WTH
The SoITookABreakLastYear mess

[Andrew Jarvi]

I served as the captain of the 5th US Colored Infantry here in Ohio up until a few years ago. Pretty much all of the guys I worked with (from Ohio, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Jersey, DC and Georgia) have no issue with having a white officer because the realize it's part of the history. I guess it boils down to personality too, because I know at some events when they don't have their own, they get someone forced on to them which can potentially be disastrous. In fact I had an issue with a young captain from another group that was very rude and disrespectful towards that guys, to put it plainly a punk. I had a few words with the lad and that was it.

Great bunch of guys, the only reason I didn't stick with it is because I injured my knee and got bogged down with pursuing my career.

I am actually trying to build support for a youth group here in Central Ohio similar to Rob Goldman's group in Rhode Island so that by the time the 150th events role around where USCT would be involved I would have a decent sized company together. Tried in the Cleveland area but I was just too busy with work and college so it just didn't pan out.

[Bill_Cross]

I tried to get an event held on New Market Heights on the James a few years ago, but the Superintendent didn't want any events until the commemorative marker was dedicated, and that still hasn't happened to my knowledge. Anyway....

I corresponded with a bunch of fellers from different USCT units and they were very professional and history-heavy from what I could tell in our brief discussions about having the Federals march to the position, dislodge the CS, who would then march down to a nearby park. The next day a ceremony would be held for the public honoring both sides who fought.

One of my big regrets is not being able to pull that event off. We don't see enough USCT units represented in the hobby, especially on the campaigner side.

[ScottWashburn]

At the 135th Spring Hill/Franklin event I had two companies of USCTs attached to my battalion. They had white officers and were fine troops.

[Yellowhammer Rebel]

I have seen photo's (I don't know where to get them now) of at least one USCT group that had colored officers. Not NCO's but officers.

I agree that we do not see enough representation of these groups at events on the mainstream side let alone the C/P/H side.