The Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park is holding a special program Saturday, February 25, 2012 in celebration of Black history month. The public is invited to join Park Ranger Lee White for a special discourse about the 44th United States Colored Troops (U.S.C.T.). This program will be held at the Chickamauga Military Park Visitor’s Center at 2:00pm and is free of charge.
The 44th United States Colored Troops were a group of freed or runaway slaves who came to Chattanooga to enlist in the Union army. Their goal was to fight for the freedom of African-Americans everywhere. The 44th U.S.C.T. was established in Chattanooga on April 7, 1864 and included soldiers from Dalton and Rome, GA. This regiment would eventually make up close to 1,000 of the 180,000 African-Americans that were fighting on the Union side at the end of the Civil War.
Saturday’s program features the little known stories of this group of soldiers. It will discuss their individual stories, their battles with prejudice and fear, along with their triumphs and failures. Although the 44th’s soldiers were used mostly for post and garrison duties, the regiment did see active service in the battles at Dalton, GA and Nashville, TN. The 44th continued to serve until April 30, 1866 according to the New York State Military Museum.
For more information on this special program, contact the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park at (706)866-9241 (Chickamauga Battlefield Visitor Center) or 423-821-7786 (Lookout Mountain Battlefield Visitor Center). Park Ranger Lee White can be reached at 423-752-5213.
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