On November 12, 2022, the park near Mobile, Alabama at the site of the Battle of Fort Blakeley will hold the grand opening of its new trail exploring the participation of the United States Colored Troops in the fighting. The Union assault force was about a third Black. 5,000 United States Colored Troops participated in the costly assault.
According to the sponsors, here is info on the Grand Opening Ceremony:
What: USCT Heritage Trail Opening
When: 10:00-11:30 AM, Saturday, November 12, 2022
Where: Parking available at East Pointe Baptist Church, across from the entrance to Historic Blakeley State Park on Hwy. 225 (34742 AL-225, Spanish Fort, AL 36527). Baldwin County Transportation will provide buses to the event site, 1.5 miles north on Cloverleaf Landing Road.
This new cultural heritage resource features nearly two miles of trails which will help visitors learn about the role of African American troops in the Battle of Fort Blakeley. Offering access to original Civil War earthworks dug under fire by one of the largest contingents of African-American soldiers to fight in any Civil War battle, the trail is a new and nationally-significant educational and heritage tourism product. It is made possible by the generous support of Impact 100 of Baldwin County. Dr. John David Smith, a renowned scholar of the role of black troops as a part of “United States Colored Troops” (USCT) units in the Civil War and the Charles H. Stone Distinguished Professor of American History at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte, will deliver a short address about the significance of the USCT as part of our grand opening ceremonies.
RSVP to Gina Hall, Historic Blakeley State Park office manager (office@blakeleypark.com, 251-626-0798)
This event sponsored in part by the Alabama Tourism Department, the Pensacola Civil War Roundtable, and the Mobile Area Civil War Roundtable
I first learned of this ceremony on Emerging Civil War.
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