Near Henrico in Henrico County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Freedom Fighters

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, September 6, 2011

1. Freedom Fighters Marker

Inscription. By November 1864, several thousand African American soldiers, designated as United States Colored Troops or USCT, held Fort Harrison and the nearby earthworks. Many of these men had survived the bloody combat at New Market Heights, Fort Gilmer, and the Confederate counterattack against Fort Harrison where they defended the earthworks in front of you. These same soldiers remained here until the following April and were among the first Union troops to enter the Confederate capital.

Erected 2011 by Richmond National Battlefield Park.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • War, US Civil. A significant historical month for this entry is November 1864.

Location. 37° 25.676′ N, 77° 22.354′ W. Marker is near Henrico, Virginia, in Henrico County. It can be reached from Battlefield Park Road 0.1 miles south of Picnic Road. Marker is in the Fort Harrison Unit of Richmond National Battlefield Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 8621 Battlefield Park Road, Henrico VA 23231, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Virginia’s

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Piedmont,

in Central Virginia,

and in the Richmond Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

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 original Thirteen Colonies,

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: First Park Headquarters (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named First Park Headquarters (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named Fort Harrison Trail (a few steps from this marker); Confederate Counterattack (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Fort Harrison (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); A Unique Photograph (about 300 feet away); Counterattack (about 400 feet away); a different marker also named Surprise Attack (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in

Officers and enlisted men of the 4th Regiment USCT. image. Click for full size.

September 6, 2011

2. Officers and enlisted men of the 4th Regiment USCT.

Sgt. Maj. Christian Fleetwood was one of fourteen USCT to receive the Medal of Honor for valor at New Market Heights. He’s shown here wearing both his Medal of Honor and Butler Medal.

Union General Benjamin Butler purchased and presented this medal to approximately 200 USCT that fought in the battles before Richmond.

Henrico.

Other markers no longer nearby. Fort Harrison Trail (was a few steps from this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Fort Harrison (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Surprise Attack (was about 400 feet away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

More about this marker. The background photograph carries the caption, "Veteran soldiers of Company E, 4th Regiment USCT. Records indicated roughly half the regiment was made up of free blacks, the other half slaves. The 4th served in the trenches near Fort Harrison from October to December 1864."

Also see . . .
1. Fort Harrison. Richmond National Battlefield Park (Submitted on September 7, 2011.)

2. New Market Heights. Civil War Trust (Submitted on September 7, 2011.)

3. USCT Medal of Honor Recipients. Richmond National Battlefield Park (Submitted on September 7, 2011.)

Freedom Fighters Marker - Company E, 4th <i>U.S. Colored Infantry</i>. image. Click for full size.

September 6, 2011

3. Freedom Fighters Marker - Company E, 4th U.S. Colored Infantry.

Veteran soldiers of Company E, 4th Regiment, USCT. Records indicate roughly half the regiment was made up of free Blacks, the other half slaves. The 4th served in the trenches near Fort Harrison from October to December 1864.

Fort Harrison Visitor Center image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, September 6, 2011

4. Fort Harrison Visitor Center

District of Columbia. Company E, 4th U.S. Colored Infantry, at Fort Lincoln image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Morris Smith, circa 1866

5. District of Columbia. Company E, 4th U.S. Colored Infantry, at Fort Lincoln

Library of Congress [LC-DIG-cwpb-04294]

Credits. This page was last revised on November 5, 2021. It was originally submitted on September 7, 2011, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 861 times since then and 15 times this year. Last updated on January 9, 2021, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 7, 2011, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. 3. submitted on January 5, 2012, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. 4, 5. submitted on September 7, 2011, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.