Old Town in Winchester, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Winchester's U.S. Colored Troops

Fighting to End Slavery

Photographed by Mark P Brock-Cancellieri, August 17, 2025

1. Winchester's U.S. Colored Troops Marker

Inscription.

Winchester's U.S. Colored Troops. Fighting to End Slavery. On April 3, 1864, as part of a recruiting effort in the lower Shenandoah Valley, the 19th United Sates Colored Troops (USCT) marched into Winchester and stopped here on the old Market House site. A block behind you, at her house near the present-day George Washington Hotel, staunch Confederate sympathizer Mary Greenhow Lee was aghast. She wrote in her diary that she felt "inexpressible horror" at the thought of "being where negro troops were garrisoned." Although the regiment only remained in Winchester until day's end and gained no new recruits during its brief visit, nearly 170 African Americans from Winchester did serve in USCT regiments during the war. The 19th USCT, which had been organized in Maryland, continued on its march south to join the Army of the Potomac in the Overland Campaign to Richmond and Petersburg, Va., Edward Hall, an enslaved man, fled Winchester late in 1863 and ventured into Maryland, where he enlisted in the 30th USCT. Hall rose to the rank of sergeant and fought in some of the Civil War's fiercest engagements, including Petersburg's notorious Battle of the Crater on July 30, 1864, and assaults against Fort Fisher, N.C. After the war, Hall returned to Winchester, reunited with his family, and worked as a gardener and laborer until his death in 1915. He is buried in Winchester's Orrick Cemetery, along with another African American Union veteran, Richard Festus (alias Dickson) who served in the 11th United States Colored Heavy Artillery., (captions) , Freedom Fighters , Proud USCT soldiers pose while recuperating from illness and wounds at L'Overture Hospital, Alexandria, Va. From left to right: Tobias Trout, 31st USCT, wounded at the Crater; William DeGraff, 22nd USCT; John Johnson, 27th USCT; Jerry Lisle, 28th USCT, wounded at the Crater; Leander Brown, 30th USCT, wounded at the Crater; Samuel Bond, 19th USCT; Robert Deyo, 26th USCT. - Charles T. Joyce Collection, When the war began, Black men were forbidden to serves as United States soldiers, but by 1863 they had become an important part of the war effort. Recruiting poster such as this one encouraged them to enlist and fights. - Courtesy NMAAHC

On April 3, 1864, as part of a recruiting effort in the lower Shenandoah Valley, the 19th United Sates Colored Troops (USCT) marched into Winchester and stopped here on the old Market House site. A block behind you, at her house near the present-day George Washington Hotel, staunch Confederate sympathizer Mary Greenhow Lee was aghast. She wrote in her diary that she felt "inexpressible horror" at the thought of "being where negro troops were garrisoned." Although the regiment only remained in Winchester until day's end and gained no new recruits during its brief visit, nearly 170 African Americans from Winchester did serve in USCT regiments during the war. The 19th USCT, which had been organized in Maryland, continued on its march south to join the Army of the Potomac in the Overland Campaign to Richmond and Petersburg, Va.

Edward Hall, an enslaved man, fled Winchester late in 1863 and ventured into Maryland, where he enlisted in the 30th USCT. Hall rose to the rank of sergeant and fought in some of the Civil War's fiercest engagements, including Petersburg's notorious Battle of the Crater on July 30, 1864, and assaults against Fort Fisher, N.C. After the war, Hall returned to Winchester, reunited with his family, and worked as a gardener and laborer until his death in 1915. He is buried in Winchester's Orrick Cemetery, along

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with another African American Union veteran, Richard Festus (alias Dickson) who served in the 11th United States Colored Heavy Artillery.

(captions)
Freedom Fighters
Proud USCT soldiers pose while recuperating from illness and wounds at L'Overture Hospital, Alexandria, Va. From left to right: Tobias Trout, 31st USCT, wounded at the Crater; William DeGraff, 22nd USCT; John Johnson, 27th USCT; Jerry Lisle, 28th USCT, wounded at the Crater; Leander Brown, 30th USCT, wounded at the Crater; Samuel Bond, 19th USCT; Robert Deyo, 26th USCT. - Charles T. Joyce Collection

When the war began, Black men were forbidden to serves as United States soldiers, but by 1863 they had become an important part of the war effort. Recruiting poster such as this one encouraged them to enlist and fights. - Courtesy NMAAHC

Erected by Virginia Civil War Trails.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Civil War Trails series list. A significant historical date for this entry is April 3, 1864.

Location. 39° 11.06′ N, 78° 9.856′ W. Marker is in Winchester, Virginia. It is in Old Town. It is at the intersection of North Cameron Street and

The aforementioned George Washington Hotel image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark P Brock-Cancellieri, August 17, 2025

2. The aforementioned George Washington Hotel

Rouss Avenue, on the right when traveling south on North Cameron Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 15 N Cameron St, Winchester VA 22601, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

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: Jacob H. Yost Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Rouss City Hall Historical Tour (within shouting distance of this marker); Second Battle of Winchester (within shouting distance of this marker); George Washington's Political Career Began on This Site (within shouting distance of this marker); Winchester During the Civil War (within shouting distance of this marker); The Winchester Star (within shouting distance of this marker); Colonel James Wood (within shouting distance of this marker); Lord Fairfax (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Winchester.

Also see . . . The Long Journey to Freedom. (Submitted on October 8, 2025.)

Credits. This page was last revised on October 8, 2025. It was originally submitted on October 5, 2025, by Mark P. Brock-Cancellieri of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 72 times since then and 20 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 5, 2025, by Mark P. Brock-Cancellieri of Baltimore, Maryland. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.