Chapter 5: Civil War: DC’s First Regiment of US Colored Troops

The Outbreak of the Civil War

The family of George Pointer’s granddaughter, Mary Harris, was directly affected by the Civil War. After its outbreak in 1861, sixty-eight Union forts were quickly constructed around the perimeter of the District, and three were near the Harris farm. The population of the District, especially Washington City, grew with the influx of soldiers, new government workers, and fugitives from slavery^.1

In 1862 Pres. Lincoln signed a bill that emancipated all enslaved people in the District and gave financial compensation to their former owners.²

The war was well underway and Black men wanted to fight for the Union, but there was substantial prejudice in the government against Black soldiers. Finally, in the spring of 1863 the US War Department established the US Bureau of Colored Troops, and the First Regiment in DC was formed.³

The First Regiment USCT

Within a few weeks of the formation of the First Regiment USCT, George Pointer’s two eldest great-grandsons, John and Joseph Harris, enlisted and went for training to Mason’s Island (now Roosevelt Island) near Georgetown. Their enlistment was a brave decision in the face of substantial prejudice against Black soldiers and the threat of the Confederacy to enslave or execute captured Black soldiers. In the first year they were paid less than white soldiers and were often assigned duty that involved hard manual labor. The men could not rise above the level of sergeant; their officers were white⁴

The Battles of the First Regiment

In December 1863 the 1^st Regiment joined other USCT troops under the command of General Wild. In North Carolina they successfully withstood a rebel attack and freed over two thousand slaves while destroying rebel property. Their performance earned the commendation of their general.⁵

In the spring of 1864, the 1^st Regiment was attacked by a large Confederate cavalry unit at Wilson’s Wharf southeast of Richmond, Virginia. However, they held their own and the rebels retreated.  After the war the Confederate general who had been at the battle noted that the USCT soldiers he had faced had shown extreme bravery.⁶

The 1^st Regiment was then combined with other USCT troops and advanced to a position outside Petersburg, Virginia. On June 15, their day-long assault on that city began and it was considered a success as the troops had captured some batteries. Again, their commanding general gave them high praise. Yet the battle continued for the next couple of days, and there were both deaths and numerous injuries. John Harris suffered a severe wound that eventually required hospitalization and surgery, although six months later he would return to the regiment.⁷

The Rebel Invasion of the District

In July, while Joseph and the 1^st Regiment were at the siege of Petersburg, the District of Columbia was invaded from the north by eleven thousand Confederate troops. They attacked Fort Stevens and Fort Reno, both located in the countryside around the Harris farm. The skirmishing continued several days as the rebels damaged property and stole cattle, but they finally retreated. The Harris family and their neighbors who had fled the fighting were able to return home.⁸

Black Regiments and the Battle for Richmond

Two weeks after the rebel invasion of the District, Union troops attempted again to capture Petersburg. Along with the 1^st Regiment, Maryland’s 30^th Regiment USCT was to play a part early in the assault; one of its soldiers was William Pointer, cousin to the Harris brothers. A badly planned explosion trapped Union soldiers in a crater where many died. Fortunately, both William Pointer and Joseph Harris survived.⁹

In the fall, the 1st Regiment attacked Richmond from the east, but eventually the troops were forced to retreat. The commanding officer praised the skill and the valor of the men of the 1^st Regiment, but unfortunately, they had suffered some casualties, including Joseph Harris who became ill.¹⁰

Black troops generally received poorer rations than white troops and were four times more likely to contact diseases. Joseph’s illness was serious, and he was transferred to a big US Army hospital in Virginia. About the time of his arrival, his brother John left the hospital and rejoined the 1^st Regiment. Six weeks later in April, General Lee surrendered. The USCTs marched triumphantly into the city of Raleigh although within a week of Lincoln being assassinated.¹¹

The Victory Celebration in Washington, DC

The men of the 1^st Regiment returned to Washington, DC in October where they were greeted by cheering crowds. Two days later they marched to the White House where President Andrew Johnson addressed them. When the men were discharged, their commanding officer promised all of them letters of recommendation. The Black men in the USCT regiments had proven their great worth. Some thirty-seven thousand Black soldiers died in the war, but those who survived were changed forever. Many soldiers including Joseph Harris had become literate, and they were optimistic about the future.¹²

Questions for Students

• Why did the Union initially not want to create Black regiments at the beginning of the war?
• Why did they decide to create Black regiments in 1863?
• Why were the Black regiments so successful?
• What impediments did the Black regiments face?
• Why were there no Black officers in the 1^st Regiment?

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Endnotes

1. Barbara Boyle Torrey and Clara Myrick Green, Between Freedom and Equality, Washington, DC: Georgetown University Press, 2021, pp. 62-63.
2. Torrey and Green, 63-65
3. Torrey and Green, 68-69
4. Torrey and Green, 71-73; 76-77
5. Torrey and Green, 77
6. Torrey and Green, 78
7. Torrey and Green, 78-80
8. Torrey and Green, 80-82
9. Torrey and Green, 82-83
10. Torrey and Green, 84
11. Torrey and Green, 85-86
12. Torrey and Green, 87-90