Hertford in Perquimans County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

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A Rare Monument

“In Memory of the Colored Union Soldiers”

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, June 28, 2012

1. A Rare Monument Marker

Inscription.

A Rare Monument. “In Memory of the Colored Union Soldiers”. , News of the bombardment of Fort Sumter inspired many African American men to enlist in the U.S. armed forces, but federal law prohibited their service. Frederick Douglass and other black leaders urged changes to allow black enlistments. By mid-1862, as the numbers of white volunteers diminished, the needs of the U.S. Army grew, and the announcement of the Emancipation Proclamation, became imminent, more voices called for black recruitment. The Proclamation, issued on January 1, 1863, formally authorized African American military service. By the end of the war, about 180,000 blacks – including some from Perquimans County – had borne arms in the U.S. Army (almost 10 percent of total enlistments) and about 19,000 had served in the U.S. Navy., To remember the county’s African American Union soldiers, women of the black community, many of them the wives and widows of those men, erected one of the few such monuments in the nation on Academy Green in 1910. Coordinated by First Baptist Church and the United Daughters of Union Veterans, the monument is inscribed “In Memory of the Colored Union Soldiers Who Fought in the War of 1861-1865.” Academy Green was the location of the county’s first black school, library, and church (present-day First Baptist Church), which freed-men formed in a bush shelter in 1866. The congregation later built a church across the street., (sidebar) , They Answered the Call , Three of the men whom this monument commemorates are buried in Perquimans County. Sgt. John Gordon served in Co. A, 1st U.S.C.T., organized in Washington, D.C., in May-June 1863. The regiment fought in Virginia (Wilson’s Wharf, The Crater, New Market Heights) and North Carolina (Fort Fisher). It also participated in Gen. Edward A. Wild’s eastern N.C. expedition in Dec. 1863 and burned a Confederate camp near Hertford. It mustered out on Sept. 29, 1865. Pvt. John Sharp enlisted in Co. B. 37th U.S.C.T. at age 19 on Jan. 21, 1864, in Plymouth, N.C. His regiment fought at New Market Heights and Fort Fisher and mustered out on Feb. 11, 1867. Pvt. Arthur Mixon served oinCo. G, 40th U.S.C.T., organized in Aug. 1864 in Tennessee, where it guarded railroads and bridges. It mustered out in Oct. 1865.

News of the bombardment of Fort Sumter inspired many African American men to enlist in the U.S. armed forces, but federal law prohibited their service. Frederick Douglass and other black leaders urged changes to allow black enlistments. By mid-1862, as the numbers of white volunteers diminished, the needs of the U.S. Army grew, and the announcement of the Emancipation Proclamation, became imminent, more voices called for black recruitment. The Proclamation, issued on January 1, 1863, formally authorized African American military service. By the end of the war, about 180,000 blacks – including some from Perquimans County – had borne arms in the U.S. Army (almost 10 percent of total enlistments) and about 19,000 had served in the U.S. Navy.

To remember the county’s African American Union soldiers, women of the black community, many of them the wives and widows of those men, erected one of the few such monuments in the nation on Academy Green in 1910. Coordinated by First Baptist Church and the United Daughters of Union Veterans, the monument is inscribed “In Memory of the Colored Union Soldiers Who Fought in the War of 1861-1865.” Academy Green was the location of the county’s first black school, library, and church (present-day First Baptist Church), which freed-men formed in a bush shelter in 1866. The congregation later

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built a church across the street.

(sidebar)
They Answered the Call
Three of the men whom this monument commemorates are buried in Perquimans County. Sgt. John Gordon served in Co. A, 1st U.S.C.T., organized in Washington, D.C., in May-June 1863. The regiment fought in Virginia (Wilson’s Wharf, The Crater, New Market Heights) and North Carolina (Fort Fisher). It also participated in Gen. Edward A. Wild’s eastern N.C. expedition in Dec. 1863 and burned a Confederate camp near Hertford. It mustered out on Sept. 29, 1865. Pvt. John Sharp enlisted in Co. B. 37th U.S.C.T. at age 19 on Jan. 21, 1864, in Plymouth, N.C. His regiment fought at New Market Heights and Fort Fisher and mustered out on Feb. 11, 1867. Pvt. Arthur Mixon served oinCo. G, 40th U.S.C.T., organized in Aug. 1864 in Tennessee, where it guarded railroads and bridges. It mustered out in Oct. 1865.

Erected by North Carolina Civil War Trails.

Topics and series. This monument and memorial is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Notable Events • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the North Carolina Civil War Trails series list. A significant historical month for this entry is January 1863.

Location. This monument has been replaced by another monument nearby.

In Memory of the Colored Union Soldiers image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, June 28, 2012

2. In Memory of the Colored Union Soldiers

It was located near 36° 11.215′ N, 76° 28.244′ W. Monument was in Hertford, North Carolina, in Perquimans County. It was at the intersection of Hyde Park Street and King Street, on the right when traveling south on Hyde Park Street. Touch for map. Monument was in this post office area: Hertford NC 27944, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this memorial monument was in North Carolina’s Coastal Plain. It was also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

and in the Tidewater.

Globally, it was in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it found 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 location: A different marker also named A Rare Monument (here, next to this marker); Colored Union Soldiers Monmument (here, next to this marker); In Honor of Beulah Elizabeth Burke (approx. 0.2 miles away); In Memory of Lillie Essie Burke (approx. 0.2 miles away); John Skinner (approx. 0.2 miles away); John Harvey (approx. ¼ mile away); Jim "Catfish" Hunter (approx. 0.3 miles away); Perquimans County Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Hertford.

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. This marker has been replaced with the linked marker.

Unidentified brothers in arms, ca. 1863-65. image. Click for full size.

circa 1865

3. Unidentified brothers in arms, ca. 1863-65.

Courtesy Library of Congress [LC-DIG-ppmsca-13484]

Part of 1st U.S.C.T., Pvt. John Gordon’s regiment, in formation. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mathew Brady

4. Part of 1st U.S.C.T., Pvt. John Gordon’s regiment, in formation.

Courtesy Library of Congress [LC-USZC2-6431]

Credits. This page was last revised on June 22, 2025. It was originally submitted on June 30, 2012, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 2,286 times since then and 40 times this year. Last updated on July 3, 2015, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 30, 2012, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. 4. submitted on June 25, 2012, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.