FROM SLAVE, TO SOLDIER, TO CITIZEN

The Pvt Richard Taylor Camp #53, Department of Alabama recently completed a year long project to honor the men of the United States Colored Troops.

An exhibit honoring the 106th US Colored Infantry was opened as part of Black History month on February 4th. The exhibit, located at the Alabama Veterans Museum in Athens Alabama, includes two life sized figures, authentically outfitted as a company Orderly Sergeant and Company Musician. Behind the figures interpretive panels tell the story the USCT, the USCT regiments that included men from North Alabama and 106th USCI which fought at the nearby Battle of Fort Henderson in Athens. Over 140 people attended the exhibit opening.

The 106th was mustered in March and April 1864 in Decatur, AL. By September its organization was still incomplete. Two of its companies were at Fort Henderson in Athens and two others were guarding the rail line in Southern Tennessee. That same month, Confederate General Nathan B. Forest launched a raid into North Alabama in an effort to destroy the railroad supply lines that were supporting Gen Sherman’s march through Georgia. On September 24, 1864, Confederate forces surrounded the garrison at Fort Henderson. Several hours of bitter fighting followed.

Captain Andrew Poe of Company C, 106th USCT wrote, "I fought until only seven of my men stood living beside me. The graves of my poor men and of our enemies are witnesses that I tried to do a soldiers duty."

Eventually Forrest convinced the garrison commander, Col. Wallace Campbell, that he was surrounded by a far larger force. Seemingly outnumbered, Campbell surrendered his entire 900-man garrison.

Many of the African-American members of the 106th who survived the battle were forced back into slavery, being sent to Mobile, Alabama, to help work building the city’s earthworks. Some managed to escape and return to Union lines, a number died while POWs, but many survived until the surrender of Mobile to Union forces in May 1865 and were returned to their regiment.

The soldiers who managed to return to the regiment in the days and months after the fall of Mobile suffered horribly from their time as forced labor in Confederate captivity. Many were no longer fit to serve as frontline troops and were consolidated into the 40th Regiment, USCT which served as a convalescent unit assigned to duties as guards on the Nashville & Northwestern Railroad. They would muster-out of service in Huntsville in 1866.

The exhibit was conceived in late 2021 by Camp Commander Mark Hubbs, and fund raising began during Black History Month 2022. The exhibit was made possible by donations of cash and artifacts from individuals, plus a very generous grant from the Alabama Department of Tourism.

Members of Camp #53 did all the planning, purchasing, writing of interpretive panels and assembly of the exhibit. It will become the permanent property of the Alabama Veterans Museum.

Phyllis Hubbs, the president of the Alabama Auxiliary to the Sons of Union Veterans helped to plan the opening event and served the large SUV cake that she designed.

The exhibit opening was attended by over 140 people including Senator Tom Butler who helped secure the tourism grant. Besides the members of the Taylor Camp, Brothers from the Croxton and Spencer camp were also in attendance. Peggy Towns, a well known African American local history author was also on hand. Peggy was kind enough to offer her time in reviewing and commenting on the text for the interpretive panels.

The Alabama Veterans Museum & Archives is located at 114 West Pryor Street, Athens, Alabama.