Franklin in Williamson County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

U.S. Colored Troops (USCT)

Doing Justice To Their Share

Photographed by Steve Masler, February 29, 2020

1. U.S. Colored Troops (USCT) Marker

Inscription.

U.S. Colored Troops (USCT). Doing Justice To Their Share. After the Emancipation Proclamation was issued, the U.S. War Department created the Bureau of Colored Troops on May 22, 1863. Approximately 200,000 African American men enlisted in segregated U.S. Army regiments under white officers and served in all Army branches, infantry, artillery, cavalry, and engineers. More than 2,700 died in combat. USCTs fought at Fort Pillow and Johnsonville in Tennessee, the Battle of the Crater in Virginia, and Brice's Crossroads in Mississippi, among other battles., At least 300 Williamson County men enlisted, as did many from the neighboring Maury County. Perhaps half of Williamson County's USCTs participated in the Battle of Nashville on December 15-16, 1864, when eight USCT regiments were engaged. On December 16, 1864, the 12th, 13th, and 100th USCT together lost 80 killed and 388 wounded. Pvt. Asbury DeGraffenried, Co. K, 12th USCT, was mortally wounded and died on December 20, 1864. Pvt. Horace Winston, Co. F 13th USCT was also mortally wounded and died on January 6, 1865. Pvt. William Redman, Co. I, 13th USCT, was killed in action. Pvt. Freeman Carothers, Co. K, 12th USCT, was among those who survived the fight. After his discharge, he took a new last name and lived as Freeman Thomas until his death in 1936. He is buried nearby at Toussaint L'Ouverture Cemetery., Col. Thomas Jefferson Morgan, who commanded a USCT brigade at Nashville, later wrote of his conviction that "history has not yet done justice to the share borne by colored soldiers in the war for the Union.", (sidebar) , Pvt. James Moore, 111th USCT, was a Williamson County resident after the war. Gen. Nathan B. Forrest's cavalry captured him and others in his regiment at Sulphur Trestle, Alabama, Sept. 25, 1864. Returned to slavery, they worked on Mobile Bay fortifications. Moore was rescued by U.S. troops in May 1865 , Courtesy Williamson Co. Heritage Foundation, (captions) , Battle of Nashville - Courtesy Library of Congress , Unidentified USCT soldier with wife and daughters Courtesy Library of Congress

After the Emancipation Proclamation was issued, the U.S. War Department created the Bureau of Colored Troops on May 22, 1863. Approximately 200,000 African American men enlisted in segregated U.S. Army regiments under white officers and served in all Army branches—infantry, artillery, cavalry, and engineers. More than 2,700 died in combat. USCTs fought at Fort Pillow and Johnsonville in Tennessee, the Battle of the Crater in Virginia, and Brice's Crossroads in Mississippi, among other battles.

At least 300 Williamson County men enlisted, as did many from the neighboring Maury County. Perhaps half of Williamson County's USCTs participated in the Battle of Nashville on December 15-16, 1864, when eight USCT regiments were engaged. On December 16, 1864, the 12th, 13th, and 100th USCT together lost 80 killed and 388 wounded. Pvt. Asbury DeGraffenried, Co. K, 12th USCT, was mortally wounded and died on December 20, 1864. Pvt. Horace Winston, Co. F 13th USCT was also mortally wounded and died on January 6, 1865. Pvt. William Redman, Co. I, 13th USCT, was killed in action. Pvt. Freeman Carothers, Co. K, 12th USCT, was

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among those who survived the fight. After his discharge, he took a new last name and lived as Freeman Thomas until his death in 1936. He is buried nearby at Toussaint L'Ouverture Cemetery.

Col. Thomas Jefferson Morgan, who commanded a USCT brigade at Nashville, later wrote of his conviction that "history has not yet done justice to the share borne by colored soldiers in the war for the Union."

(sidebar)
Pvt. James Moore, 111th USCT, was a Williamson County resident after the war. Gen. Nathan B. Forrest's cavalry captured him and others in his regiment at Sulphur Trestle, Alabama, Sept. 25, 1864. Returned to slavery, they worked on Mobile Bay fortifications. Moore was rescued by U.S. troops in May 1865
Courtesy Williamson Co. Heritage Foundation

(captions)
Battle of Nashville - Courtesy Library of Congress
Unidentified USCT soldier with wife and daughters Courtesy Library of Congress

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is May 22, 1863.

Location. 35° 55.486′ N, 86° 52.132′ W. Marker is in Franklin, Tennessee, in Williamson

Photographed by Steve Masler, February 29, 2020

2. U.S. Colored Troops (USCT) Marker

County. It is at the intersection of Public Square and 3rd Avenue South, on the right when traveling east on Public Square. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Franklin TN 37064, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Middle Tennessee

and in Greater Nashville.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Courthouse (here, next to this marker); Reconstruction (here, next to this marker); Franklin’s Civil War Sites (here, next to this marker); The Franklin Riot of 1867 (a few steps from this marker); March To Freedom (a few steps from this marker); The Battle of Franklin (within shouting distance of this marker); Franklin Town Square (within shouting distance of this marker); Our Confederate Soldiers

Battle of Nashville image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Kurz & Allison, circa 1891

3. Battle of Nashville

Library of Congress [LC-DIG-pga-01886]

(within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Franklin.

Unidentified USCT soldier with wife and daughters image. Click for full size.

circa 1865

4. Unidentified USCT soldier with wife and daughters

Library of Congress [LC-DIG-ppmsca-36454]

Credits. This page was last revised on August 27, 2020. It was originally submitted on March 4, 2020, by Steve Masler of Memphis, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 743 times since then and 42 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 4, 2020, by Steve Masler of Memphis, Tennessee. 3. submitted on March 1, 2020. 4. submitted on March 4, 2020. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.