People, Locations, Episodes

Mary Elizabeth Bowser, Undercover Agent born

*This date in 1840 celebrates the birth of Mary Elizabeth Bowser. She was a Black undercover agent during the American Civil War.

Bowser was born a slave on a plantation near Richmond, Virginia to owner John Van Lew, a hardware businessman. Van Lew’s daughter, Elizabeth and her mother freed the slaves after his death in 1851. Mary Elizabeth stayed with the Van Lew family as a servant; the family had her educated in Philadelphia. She married William or Wilson Bowser, a free Black man, while she worked at the Van Lew home.

William Carney, Military Officer born

*William Carney was born on this date in 1842. He was a Black military officer.

From Norfolk, Virginia, his mother was held in captivity with her free husband at the time of his birth. During Carney’s early childhood, he received some schooling by a minister in secret. After the death of his mother’s master in 1856, the entire family moved to New Bedford, Massachusetts. There on the wharf as a teenager William H. Carney assisted his father who joined many other freed Blacks who worked at sea.

Robert B. Elliott, Soldier, and Politician born

On this date, we remember Robert Brown Elliott, a Black lawyer, politician, and military officer born in 1842.

Elliot was born and educated in Liverpool, England. After serving in the British navy, Elliott arrived in Boston in 1867. Robert Elliott was a brilliant lawyer who was admitted to the South Carolina bar and elected to the South Carolina legislature in 1868 during Reconstruction. In March 1869, Elliott was appointed assistant adjutant-general, becoming the first black commanding general of the South Carolina National Guard.

Josiah T. Walls, Soldier and Politician born

Josiah Walls was born on this date in 1842. He was a Black soldier, teacher, and politician. He has the awkward distinction of twice being unseated in Congress by opponents who challenged the election.

Adam Paine, Black Seminole Soldier born

*This date in 1843 is celebrated as the birth date of Adam Paine, a Black Seminole who served in the United States Army.   Sometimes referred to as Adam Payne, he was born in Florida. Paine enlisted in the Army at Fort Duncan, Texas, in November 1873 and joined other Black Seminoles known as the “Seminole-Negro Indian Scouts.”   Col. R. S. Mackenzie’s main […]

Menelik II, King and Military Leader born.

*Menelik II was born on this date in 1844. He was a Black African king of Shewa and Emperor of Ethiopia. Menelik was the son of the Shewan Amhara king, Negus Haile Melekot. He was born in Ethiopia, where, as a boy, he enjoyed a respected position and received a traditional church education. In 1855, […]

William Hemings, Soldier, and Farmer born

*William Hemings was born on this date in 1845. He was a Black soldier, farmer and relative of Sally Hemings.

The Saint Patrick’s Battalion, a story

*On this date in 1846, African American Registry celebrates St. Patrick’s Day by honoring the Saint Patrick’s Battalion.

Pompey Factor, Military Scout born

*The birth of Pompey Factor in 1849 is celebrated on this date. He was a Black Seminole scout for the U.S. Army during the Indian Wars.

Gordon ‘Whipped Peter’, Slave, and Soldier born

*The birth of Gordon “Whipped Peter” is celebrated on this date in c 1850. He was a Black slave in America who escaped and became the subject of photographs documenting the extensive scarring of his back from his overseers’ whippings. Gordon was born in Louisiana on a plantation owned by John and Bridget Lyons. He […]

Henry O. Flipper, Military Officer born

*This date marks the birth of Henry Ossian Flipper who was the first Black man to graduate from West Point. He came from a family of slaves, born in Thomasville, GA.

The XIX Army Corps is Formed

*On this date, in 1862, the XIX Army Corps was formed. They were a segregated regiment of the Union Army during the American Civil War.  The XIX Corps spent most of its service in Louisiana and the Gulf, though several units fought in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley. It was assigned to Maj. Gen. Nathaniel P. Banks, the […]

The First South Carolina Volunteer Colored Infantry is Formed

*On this date in 1863, the 1st South Carolina Volunteer Infantry Regiment (Colored) was formed. General Rufus Saxton formed This Union Army regiment during the American Civil War. It was composed of escaped slaves from South Carolina and Florida. It was one of the first black regiments in the Union Army. Department of the South staff officer James D. Fessenden was heavily involved in efforts […]

The Corps d’Afrique is formed

*On May 1, 1863, the Corps d’Afrique was mustered into service. This Black Corps served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. The Corps d’Afrique was formed from the four infantry regiments of the Louisiana Native Guard raised by Major General Benjamin F. Butler and the five colored infantry regiments raised by Brigadier […]

The 28th Indiana Colored Regiment is Formed

*On this date in 1863, the 28th Regiment, United States Colored Troops, was formed. Also called the 28th Regiment, Indiana Infantry (Colored) was a Black combat unit from Indiana that fought in the American Civil War.   The United States Department of War authorized Indiana to raise one regiment of infantry composed of Blacks on November 30, 1863. On December 3, the state’s […]