Truxal Library Exhibit: Juneteenth 2025

"Originally a supply depot for Union forces in Kentucky, Camp Nelson became the site where 10,000 Black soldiers trained in the Civil War. But in the war’s last months, these soldiers were attacked by bitter Southerners. Their remains have never been found, and a team is dedicated to finding them to memorialize their service and heroism." 55 minutes.

"Civil Warriors is a feature film about the experiences of two black families from upstate New York -- fathers and sons who enlisted in the United States Colored Troops (USCT) and fought in the American Civil War. Their compelling true story unfolds through a unique interweaving of historical images with the rhythm and energy of spoken word performance. Contemporary narration guides us and provides historical context as the story unfolds. The men in Civil Warriors stood up to fight for freedoms they barely had. They stood up to be counted as men in a country that called them "boy." They fought and died, but their stories go largely untold. The film is not only about individual men, but also about all of the soldiers who fought in the USCT; it is a history of black people as active agents in their own struggle -- as subjects, not objects of the Civil War." 1 hour 23 minutes.

Recent Maryland legislation created this commission to study "the history of African American Civil War soldiers who fought for the Union Army in Maryland" and make "findings and recommendations regarding the funding, design, construction, and location of an appropriate memorial dedicated to the African American Civil War soldiers in Maryland." This report contains background history, a list of additional resources, and a list of Medal of Honor recipients from Maryland.

National Park Service's overview of the history of the sculpture honoring the 54th regiment, one of the most famous of all the Black Civil War regiments.

"The United States Colored Troops (USCT) was a branch of the United States Army founded in 1863 to recruit, organize, and oversee the service of African American soldiers during the American Civil War (1861–1865). USCT regiments consisted of Black enlisted men led in almost all cases by white officers. By the end of the Civil War, more than 185,000 men had served in the USCT, including more than 178,000 Black soldiers and approximately 7,000 white officers."

"During the Civil War, the United States Colored Troops made up more than 10% of the Union or Northern Army, despite being prohibited from joining until July 1862, 15 months after the war began."