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

First Shots of Freedom

— African American Heritage Trail —

Photographed by Mike McKeown, April 11, 2026

1. First Shots of Freedom Marker

Inscription.

First Shots of Freedom. . On May 4, 1864, Union Brig. Gen. Edward Ferrero, leader of the all-Black 4th Division, Ninth Army Corps, was ordered by Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant to defend the supply train crossing the Rapidan River at Germanna Ford ahead of the Battle of the Wilderness. The night of May 6 was when the Confederates chose to attack., "The enemy was projecting an attack upon the rear of the advancing columns. Gen. Ferrero was ordered to guard with his Phalanx [black] division, the bridges, roads and trains. ... That night the Confederates attacked ... the enemy was driven back before daylight." , , Joseph T 14/i/son, "The Block Phalanx: A History of the Negro Soldiers of the United States," 1897, On May 15, 1864, during the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House, 4th Division's 23rd Colored Infantry Regiment was baptized by fire. Led by Gen. Thomas Rosser, a Confederate cavalry group had just repelled the Union's 2nd Ohio Cavalry at The Alrich Farm at the junction of Old Plank and Catharpin roads, and would now face the 23rd Colored Infantry., "I have the honor to report that at 12:30 p.m. this day ... ordered the colored regiment to advance on the enemy in line of battle, which they did, and drove the enemy in perfect rout." , , Brig. Gen. Edward Ferrero, The 23rd Regiment assaulted Rosser's cavalrymen and, to the cheers of onlookers, drove the general and his horsemen into the tree line with musketry cracks and fixed bayonets., The engagement at The Alrich Farm marked the first known shots fired on the attack by Black soldiers in Virginia against Gen. Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia., (captions) , LEFT: An engagement at The Alrich Farm in May 1864 marked the first known shots fired by Black soldiers against Gen. Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia. Courtesy of John F. Cummings, 'Images of America: Spotsylvania County', BELOW: Sgt. Nimrod Burke, Company F, 23rd Colored Infantry Regiment, poses for a portrait in his military garb. Library of Congress

On May 4, 1864, Union Brig. Gen. Edward Ferrero, leader of the all-Black 4th Division, Ninth Army Corps, was ordered by Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant to defend the supply train crossing the Rapidan River at Germanna Ford ahead of the Battle of the Wilderness. The night of May 6 was when the Confederates chose to attack.

"The enemy was projecting an attack upon the rear of the advancing columns. Gen. Ferrero was ordered to guard with his Phalanx [black] division, the bridges, roads and trains. ... That night the Confederates attacked ... the enemy was driven back before daylight."
—Joseph T 14/i/son, "The Block Phalanx: A History of the Negro Soldiers of the United States," 1897

On May 15, 1864, during the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House, 4th Division's 23rd Colored Infantry Regiment was baptized by fire. Led by Gen. Thomas Rosser, a Confederate cavalry group had just repelled the Union's 2nd Ohio Cavalry at The Alrich Farm at the junction of Old Plank and Catharpin roads, and would now face the 23rd Colored Infantry.

"I have the honor to report that at 12:30 p.m. this day ... ordered the colored regiment to advance on the enemy in line of battle, which they did, and drove the enemy in perfect rout."
—Brig. Gen. Edward Ferrero

The 23rd Regiment assaulted Rosser's cavalrymen and, to

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the cheers of onlookers, drove the general and his horsemen into the tree line with musketry cracks and fixed bayonets.

The engagement at The Alrich Farm marked the first known shots fired on the attack by Black soldiers in Virginia against Gen. Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia.

(captions)
LEFT: An engagement at The Alrich Farm in May 1864 marked the first known shots fired by Black soldiers against Gen. Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia. Courtesy of John F. Cummings, 'Images of America: Spotsylvania County'

BELOW: Sgt. Nimrod Burke, Company F, 23rd Colored Infantry Regiment, poses for a portrait in his military garb. Library of Congress

Erected by Spotsylvania Museum.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #18 Ulysses S. Grant series list. A significant historical date for this entry is May 4, 1864.

Location. 38° 16.525′ N, 77° 37.511′ W. Marker is near Spotsylvania Courthouse, Virginia, in Spotsylvania County. It is on Sawtooth Lane west of Catharpin Road, on the left when traveling west. Located at the entrance to the Wilderness Elementary School. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 11600 Catharpin Rd, Spotsylvania VA 22553, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Photographed by Mike McKeown, April 11, 2026

2. First Shots of Freedom Marker

marker is on far right

Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area,

in Northern Virginia,

and in the Piedmont.

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 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: U.S. Colored Troops (here, next to this marker); Heroics of Sgt. Benjamin Brown (here, next to this marker); 23rd USCT At the Alrich Farm (approx. half a mile away); Jackson on the Move (approx. 1.1 miles away); Matthew Fontaine Maury (approx. 1.1 miles away); Maury House Trail (approx. 1.1 miles away); Ordeal of the Wellfords (approx. 1.2 miles away); Rearguard Action (approx. 1.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Spotsylvania Courthouse.

Other markers no longer nearby. U. S. Colored Troops in Spotsylvania (was here, next to this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); The Wilderness and the Overland Campaign (was here, next to this marker but has been permanently removed); Sergeant Benjamin Brown (was here, next to this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

Credits. This page was last revised on April 16, 2026. It was originally submitted on April 12, 2026, by Mike McKeown of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 15 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 12, 2026, by Mike McKeown of Baltimore, Maryland. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.