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27th United States Colored Troops Camp stereograph

Description:

This photograph shows the 27th United States Colored Troops, made up of soldiers from Ohio, camped outside of Petersburg, Virginia.

The United States War Department issued General Order Number 143 on May 22, 1863 establishing a "Bureau of Colored Troops" to facilitate the recruitment of African-American soldiers to fight for the Union Army. Regiments were recruited from all states of the nation and became known as the United States Colored Troops (USCT). Approximately 175 regiments comprised of over 178,000 free blacks and freed slaves served during the last two years of the war, and bolstered the Union war effort at a critical time. USCT troops eventually comprised approximately a tenth of all Union troops. 1,715 USCT soldiers were combat casualties during the war.

Creator:

Brady & Company ; Photographer

Creation Date:

c. 1863-1865

Collection Title:

Civil War Stereographs

Collection Number:

SC 5227

Image Number:

TAH0927

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