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Athens in Limestone County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)
 

Prisoners of War

Fort Henderson and Trinity School

 
 
Prisoners of War Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Mark Hilton, October 18, 2020
1. Prisoners of War Marker
Inscription.  
“When told that the fort had been surrendered... [the soldiers] could scarcely believe themselves, but with tears demanded that the fight should go on, preferring to die in the fort.” — Lt. Robert McMillan, 110th U.S. Colored Infantry

You now stand near the fort's northwest bastion. Treating them differently than white soldiers who went to prisoner of war camps, General Nathan Bedford Forrest sent many from the 110th United States Colored Troops to Mobile, Alabama. There, Julius and Samuel Redus, George Allen, John Jackson, Doctor Peete, Moses Peete and John Roberts were put to work by General Richard Taylor on the city's fortifications. They remained prisoners for eight months until Taylor surrendered to Union forces. Sadly, not all returned home. Samuel Redus took ill during captivity and passed away in a Nashville hospital on June 24, 1865. Two days later and likely unaware of his brother's passing, Julius died due to complications from a blow to the head inflicted by a guard. Moses Peete, while aboard the Natchez on the Alabama River, fell from the deck and drowned. His body was

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never recovered. Their comrades, John Jackson, Doctor Peete and John Roberts, returned to the regiment as did George Allen, despite an injury from a magazine explosion. These men served out their term of enlistment and were discharged in February 1866. No longer slaves, they now had to find their way in a new society.

[Photo captions
Middle: Norton W. Campbell served as a captain in the 110th U.S. Colored Troops. Campbell briefly commanded the regiment in the spring of 1864 and surrendered at Fort Henderson. Unlike enlisted men in his charge, Campbell was exchanged and returned to duty in December 1864. Courtesy of the Library of Congress

Right: Edward R.S. Canby graduated from West Point in 1839. Early in the war, Canby defeated Confederate General Henry Sibley in the New Mexico Campaign. Appointed to command the Military Division of West‘Mississippi, Major General Canby ultimately freed the USCTS captured at Fort Henderson when he accepted General Richard Taylor's surrender in May 1865. Courtesy of the Library of Congress
 
Erected 2020 by American Battlefield Trust & Paul Bryant Jr.
 
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African AmericansWar, US Civil. A significant historical month for this entry is February 1866.
 
Location. 34° 47.886′ 

Prisoners of War Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Mark Hilton, October 18, 2020
2. Prisoners of War Marker
Former Trinity High School in background.
N, 86° 58.824′ W. Marker is in Athens, Alabama, in Limestone County. Marker can be reached from Trinity Circle north of Browns Ferry Street (County Road 29), on the left when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 606 Trinity Cir, Athens AL 35611, United States of America. Touch for directions.
 
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Battles of Fort Henderson and Sulphur Creek Trestle (a few steps from this marker); Coleman Hill (within shouting distance of this marker); Reconstruction (within shouting distance of this marker); Trinity School (within shouting distance of this marker); The United State Colored Troops (within shouting distance of this marker); Fort Henderson / Trinity School - 1865-1970 (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Coleman Family (approx. 0.3 miles away); Governor George S. Houston Home (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Athens.
 
Also see . . .  From USCT Fort to African American School in Athens, Alabama. From the American Battlefield Trust website. (Submitted on October 19, 2020, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.) 
 
 
Credits. This page was last revised on February 3, 2021. It was originally submitted on October 19, 2020, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 241 times since then and 41 times this year. Photos:   1, 2. submitted on October 19, 2020, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.

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Sep. 26, 2023