The Forty-third regiment United States Colored Troops

by Jeremiah Marion Mickley

He has taken part in the following actions, viz.: Antietam, Sept. 17th, 1862; Chancellorsville, May 3rd and 4th, 1863; skirmish at Middletown, Va., June 21st, 1863; Gettysburg, July 1st, 2nd and 3rd, 1863; Poplar Grove Church, Sept. 29th and 30th, 1864; Hatchie's Run, Oct. 27th and 28th, 1864; skirmish on Bermuda Front, Dec., 1864; Farra's Island, at Dutch Gap Canal, Jan. 25th, 1865; and capture of Richmond, April 3rd, 1865.

SUTLER.

Thomas McCabe, of Elmira, N.Y., was appointed Sutler of this Regiment, April 18th, 1864, and remained in this position up to date of its final discharge. As a gentleman of strictly honest dealings, sobriety and intelligence, his relation with this command was throughout satisfactory. He possessed the confidence and esteem of the officers and men.

SERGT. MAJ. R. B. FORTEN.

Sergt. Maj. R. B. Forten, of Philadelphia, was appointed Sergeant Major of this Regiment, April 8th, 1864, from a private of Co. A. He died June, 1864. This colored soldier, who was formerly a resident of London, in Europe, possessed a liberal education, was intelligent and cultivated in no ordinary degree, but even to a most favorable comparison with our own race. He discharged the duties of his position with ability and entire satisfaction. Wesley Jackson, (colored) Sergeant of Co. C, was appointed Sergeant Major, July 1st, 1865, for distinguished bravery in action, and in place of George S. Massey reduced to the ranks. John C. Brock, of Carlisle, Pa., was appointed Quarter Master Sergeant, of the Regiment from Commissary Sergeant. Joseph S. Hill, Sergeant of Co. C, was appointed Commissary Sergeant of the Regiment, in place of John C. Brock promoted. The officers in command, as well as others of the Field, Staff and Line, take great pleasure in giving their uniform testimony in favor of the good degree of intelligence, true bravery and faithfulness of the afore-mentioned colored non-commissioned officers.

Edward S. Perkins, (white) of Athens, Pa., and Hospital Steward, U.S. A., was assigned to this Regiment, March 11th, 1864. At the battle of Hatchie's Run, Oct. 27th and 28th, 1864, he was taken prisoner by the enemy, and confined in Libby Prison until Feb. 5th, 1865, when he was paroled. Upon discharge of this Regiment he was assigned to the 62nd U.S.C.T.

THE REGIMENT.

We take pleasure in mentioning the patriotism, energy and great activity of the Supervisory Committee who had in charge the recruiting and organizing of colored troops at Philadelphia, during the war. Their success in the undertaking, resulted not only complimentary to themselves, but it was also most opportune to the Government, by adding to our armies an important element to aid in obtaining the complete victory; and according to another view of the case, by introducing the stone that had been so long rejected, or preserved only as a stumbling stone, but which the builders would then take up in establishing and cementing a stronger and better Union.

The First Battalion of the 43rd Regt. U.S.C.T., composed of Companies A, B, C, D, E and F, was recruited and organized, March, 1864, at Camp William Penn, Philadelphia, and left Camp, April 18th, under command of Lieut. Col., now Brevet Col., H. Seymour Hall. It proceeded by railroad and steamer to Annapolis, Md., and there joined the 9th Corps, under command of General Burnside. It was associated with the 1st Brig. of the 4th Div. of this Corps, commanded by General Ferrero. The Corps took up its march April 23d, to join the Army of the Potomac. On their way through Washington they were reviewed by President Lincoln, in the presence of many other public officers, and a large assembly of citizens. As these were the first colored troops destined to the Potomac Army, their soldierly appearance and movements were closely scanned. In passing in Review they saluted gracefully with their Colors and by loud hurrahs that Great Emancipator of their race. This, as President Lincoln afterwards expressed himself, was most gratifying to him, and riveted the confidence he had in the devotion of the Freedmen, and their efficiency to do a full share in the struggle. According to the public press, also, the occasion inspired the hearts of the large assembly who witnessed it, with a great degree of favor and interest. On that same day they crossed the Long Bridge into Virginia, and camped near Alexandria. They had now returned under the Starry Flag to the soil of their oppressors, ready by great achievements in the field and with their lives, to express their sincere gratitude to "Massa Lincoln," and seal their devotion to the Union. Much as the so-called Confederacy and its emissaries in the North feigned contempt and ridicule in the case of employing this troop, the true sequel is that they regarded its advent with no flattering prospects for the success of the Rebellion, but rather, as it was, a stunning blow. Going from Alexandria by way of Fairfax C.H., and Centerville, they arrived at Manassas Junction, and were immediately stationed to do guard duty on the railroad. Afterwards they were quickly marched by Rappahannock Station and over the Rapidan to reinforce the right of the army, which had been partially broken on that day. During the celebrated Wilderness Campaign, and up to Cold Harbor and Old Church, their position was on the right flank of the army. In these engagements they manifested great steadiness and intrepidity under severe fire, and immediately proved themselves a reliable troop. Their losses in these actions were comparatively light. Company G, under command of Capt. A. D. Wright, joined the First Battalion of the Regiment, June 6th, near Old Church, Va. June 12th, they marched by White House Landing and New Kent C.H., crossing the Chickahominy at Jones' Bridge, to the James River, where they took up a position protecting the crossing of the army. They passed over the James on the 17th, and next day marched to the front before Petersburg. Here they were employed by working parties in the trenches and on fortifications, under the almost constant fire of the enemy. The field works and the "Covered Way," leading to the front line were mostly constructed by the colored troops.

Preparatory to the battle of July 30th, this Battalion of the 43rd Regiment, with the addition of Co. G, moved up through the "covered way" to the ravine at the mouth of the Mine, and there awaited the explosion and the order to charge. Under command of the brave Brevet Col. Hall, at that time Lieut. Col., they advanced nobly to the charge, behaving with great coolness and gallantry, taking the works which the enemy stubbornly tried to retain, and capturing prisoners and colors. The lack of an ultimate and permanent triumph on that day, was, by no means or measure, the fault of this troop, but on account of other failures and neglects, as was afterwards reported by the Investigating Committee. In this battle it would be difficult to enumerate particular cases of great bravery, where all seem to vie with each other in the brilliancy and gallantry of their achievements. Colored non-commissioned officers fearlessly took command after their commandants (white commissioned officers) were killed, or borne severely wounded from the field, and led on the attack to the close. As each brave color bearer was shot down, another and another would immediately grasp the National emblem, all riddled with balls, and plant it further on the enemies line. In this terrific engagement, this Battalion, of the 43rd, had its Colors almost entirely cut up by the fire, and the Color Staffs splintered and broken. Its casualties were, one officer killed, ten severely wounded, including the gallant Col. Hall, who sustained the loss of his right arm, and two taken prisoner; and twenty-eight men killed, ninety-four wounded and twelve missing. It was afterwards discovered that the missing were men rendered helpless by reason of severe wounds, and whom the Rebels deliberately put to death on the field, by bayoneting them. The following is an extract from the official report of the Brigade commander, relative to that battle. "The 43d Regt. U.S.C.T. charged over the crest of the Crater, and right upon the enemies works, carrying them, capturing a number of prisoners, a Rebel battle flag, and re-capturing a stand of National colors. Lieut. Col. H. Seymour Hall, commanding 43rd Regt. U.S.C.T., lost his right arm while bravely leading his Regiment." Here on this, as on many other fields during this war, for the sacred cause of our Republican Liberties, Free Institutions and Union, the blood of the Anglo-Saxon and the African mingled very freely in the full measure of a devoted offering.