Memorial proposed to recognize US Colored Troops in QA

CENTREVILLE — For many years, Chris Pupke, past president of the Queen Anne’s County Historical Society and advisory board member of the Kennard African American Cultural Heritage Center, has shared his knowledge of the county’s African American history with the community through a series of lectures. His talks on the county’s United States Colored Troops veterans, those enslaved and free men who gave their service and lives to the Union Army during the Civil War, have honored descendants and enhanced public knowledge of the County’s diverse history.

On Aug. 13, joined by veteran’s representative Jim Barnett; fine artist and charter Captain Tilghman Hemsley, and Marcia Landskroener, Pupke presented a proposal to the Queen Anne’s County Commissioners for the creation of a statue to honor the county’s USCT veterans.

Accompanied by visual aids, his presentation featured the regiments and military campaigns in which Queen Anne’s County free and enslaved men courageously served. In describing the invaluable service of the nation’s USCT veterans, Abraham Lincoln proclaimed that “without the military help of the black freedmen, the war against the South could not have been won.”

More than 120 Queen Anne’s County men fought with the 39th USCT in the Battle of the Crater, part of the July 1864 Siege of Petersburg. They were trained to lead the attack until a last-minute change proved to be disastrous. When the USCT were sent in to salvage the operation, they discovered the mission was lost. “But they stood fast. These heroes stood in reserve, ready to do their duty, to honor their oath to the country, for which they paid a dear price,” Pupke declared.

James Bond of Centreville, described as a “mulatto”, was enslaved by Dr. James Bordley of Centreville. Bond enlisted on December 17, 1863 and was immediately made a sergeant. Sgt. Bond may have been among the casualties of the Battle of the Crater.

In the fall of 1863, more than 125 men from Queen Anne’s County enlisted in the 7th USCT Regiment. The fight took them to the barrier islands from Hilton Head to Jacksonville. “You know these men were brave,” Pupke told the audience of commissioners and interested citizens. “If you’ve ever walked the beach and seen the movie Glory, it was that kind of fight.”

Particularly poignant was the recollection by Colonel James Shaw of the September 1864 Battle of Chaffin’s Farm: “Not a man faltered, but all who did not fall reached the work, charged boldly, and did all in their power to take it….they are all missing.”

Before Queen Anne’s County’s Robert Riley enlisted in Company B, 7th USCT Regiment, he had been enslaved on the Wye River. His Pension File included a surgeon’s note of “scars of whip on back when a slave.” But as a USCT soldier, Private Riley was present at the Battle of Fort Gilmer and among his fellow African American troops at Lee’s surrender at the Appomattox Courthouse. Riley is buried in Chesterfield Cemetery in Centreville.

To honor these men who fought for their freedom and for their country, a group of veterans approached Tilghman Hemsley with the idea of creating a statue in their memory. “I thought it was a very worthy idea,” he stated. After walking the grounds of the Courthouse, Hemsley believed the best placement for the monument would be set in the same promenade as the memorial honoring county POWs; “not a large monument but certainly worthy of their service.” The inscription would include the quote by Abraham Lincoln with the USCT story engraved in granite. Hemsley shared concept drawings of the proposed statue with completion for the monument expected for 2025, the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

On Sept. 7, from 5-7 p.m., the Queen Anne’s County Historical Society will host a free fall picnic at Wright’s Chance, 119 S. Commerce Street in Centreville. This event replaces the July event which was postponed due to the intense heat experienced throughout the entire month. Pupke will discuss Queen Anne’s County USCT history. Kay Brown, a member of Bryan’s United Methodist Church, will share church history and the success of Bryan’s United Methodist Church in preserving a significant piece of Queen Anne’s County history. This opportunity was provided by a grant awarded to the church by the Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture and the Maryland Historical Trust’s African American Heritage Preservation Program.