scene of explosion saturday july 30th alfred r. waud, artist.
on june 2, 1864, regiment moved white house landing part of mg ambrose burnside s ninth corps in mg george meade s army of potomac. men worked laborers until june 28 when accompanied mg philip sheridan s cavalry prince george s court house assigned all-black 4th division commanded bg edward ferrero in trenches before petersburg. time, continued recruit regiment, former slaves virginia , maryland. first action regiment saw @ battle of crater. in battle, white assigned surgeon or other support activities , job acting chaplain comfort wounded , dying soldiers. after battle, 400 men maryland assigned regiment few indiana, , late august regiment considered @ full strength , regimental staff officers authorized. on september 1, 1864, white elected chaplain officers of regiment approved in october; discharged private , mustered in chaplain effective october 25 pay of captain. while in lines before petersburg, white complained of respiratory illness, , had chronic cough rest of life.
in late october, regiment moved poplar grove church, west of petersburg. on november 18, ordered out of line of siege , travel bermuda hundred on james river , assigned provost duty @ army s supply depot @ city point. in december, assigned corps led mg godfrey weitzel. lee retreated richmond on april 2, 1865, , union forces entered on april 4; 28th usci among first regiments enter city , white walked @ head of column. later day white witnessed arrival of abraham lincoln , celebration among people of richmond @ great emancipator . in richmond, white gave speech on broad street. many liberated black people in city searched among black troops relatives, , prominence drew notice crowd , reunited mother, event emotionally recounted in letter christian recorder.
after 3 days in richmond, 28th returned city point , did not accompany army appomattox court house lee surrendered. after lee surrendered, regiment assigned guard prisoners of war processed through city point , guard prison camp @ point lookout in st. mary s county, maryland. lee surrendered on april 9, 1865, @ point white soldiers discharged enlisted 3 years or duration , had volunteered more 3 years before. black soldiers, not allowed enlist until later in war became responsible occupying south. while @ city point, white provided religious counselling private samuel mapp of company d, 10th usct, sentenced die army. white chaplain @ city point, , overwhelmed duties.
Comments
Post a Comment