5th USCT
5th United States Colored Troops Company G American Civil War Reenacting Unit
The Fifth United States Colored Troop’s Company G of Ohio is an African
American re-enactment unit of the American Civil War (1863-1865 ). We are
a gentle-persons orientated group encouraging those families who wish to
participate, either as reenactors or historians. Membership is open to any
interested persons, of any race,
desiring to assist in this
endeavour
We are dedicated to educating
the public and preserving the
memories of those African
American who served the Union
from the great State of Ohio.
Members of the unit participate
in battle re-enactments, visit
schools, museums and participate in public events as fully equipped and
trained reenactors of the period. Our organizational network currently consist
of numerous men and lady’s dedicated to preserving our national history.
The United States War Department issued General Order Number 143 on
May 22, 1863, establishing a "Bureau of Colored Troops" to facilitate the
recruitment of African-American soldiers to fight for the Union Army.
Regiments, including infantry,
cavalry,engineers, light artillery,
and heavy artillery units, were
recruited from all states of the
Union and became known as the
United States Colored Troops
(USCT). Approximately 175
regiments of over 178,000 free
blacks and freed slaves served
during the last two years of the
war, and bolstered the Union
war effort at a critical time. By war's end, the USCT were approximately a
tenth of all Union troops. There were 2,751 USCT combat casualties during
the war, and 68,178 losses from all causes. From the great State of Ohio some
5,092 blacks enlisted into the union army. The men of the USCT were the
forerunners of the famous Buffalo Soldiers.
A call to arms...
Once let the black man get upon his person the
brass letters,U.S; let him get an eagle on his button,
and a musket on his shoulder and bullets in his
pocket, and there is no power on earth which can
deny that he has earned the right to citizenship.
Frederick Douglass
