US Colored Troops in the Timbuctoo Cemetery
This burial ground is the resting place for several African American Civil War soldiers and many early residents of Timbuctoo whose markers have long since disappeared. Three United States Infantry (USCI) regiments of the United States Colored Troops (USCT) and one state Colored Troop are represented: 22nd USCI, 6th USCI, 29th USCI and 29th Connecticut Infantry (Colored). Most of these soldiers mustered into service at Camp William Penn near Philadelphia to serve for a three-year enlistment. They served as Privates, Corporals, and Sergeants in various companies. Most were free-born; some could read and write, but all were eager to fight for freedom and citizenship. Charles Love also enlisted in the Regular Army after the Civil War and served until 1894.
Five Civil War Veterans were mustered into the 22nd USCT that was noted for its high number of New Jersey volunteers. This regiment fought in several major battles and was the only black regiment given the honor to be part of President Lincoln’s funeral procession in Washington, DC and also participated in the Army’s pursuit of John Wilkes Booth.
Civil War Pension files and other military records are a rich source of information about each soldier's war experience. These files also provide a surprising level of detail about each soldier's life after the war, including names of spouses and and children, vocations, challenges faced in documenting military service to qualify for various pension programs, and other issues of interest. A brief biography of each soldier appears below. However, research is ongoing. Additional information will be added as it is discovered.
This section Copyright 2018 by Gail Astle. All rights reserved.