U.S. Colored Troops

U.S. Colored Troops. . Alhough US. Colored Troops regiments fought in Civil War battles throughout much of the South, their combat presence in Virginia was thwarted, even as thousands of enslaved Virginians sought freedom by crossing into Union-held territory early in the war. Union Gen. George McClellan, a denouncer of emancipation who opposed African Americans joining the fight, regularly captured and sent Black refugees back to enslavers. His and other leaders' actions stalled the recruitment of African Americans to fight in Virginia., Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation, which went into effect Jan. 1, 1863, as well as the need to replenish Union ranks, gave new attention to the effort., The all-Black 4th Division of the Ninth Army Corps was established in January 1864. Among its nine regiments was the 23rd Colored Infantry Regiment, a unit raised in Washington, D.C., that comprised free and once-enslaved African Americans from across Virginia, including from Spotsylvania County and Fredericksburg., In May 1864, the 23rd Colored Infantry joined the push toward Richmond, the Confederate capital, but first they had to punch through the fortified headquarters at Spotsylvania Court House., For many in the 23rd, it would mean fighting in their own hometown against their former enslavers and neighbors., (captions) , African Americans ford the Rappahannock River toward Union lines in summer 1862. Library of Congress , ABOVE: 4th Division, 9th Corps Flag , BACKGROUND: 'Come and Join Us Brothers' recruitment poster