There were approximately
three thousand Blacks from the area surrounding Plymouth to the
Coast, and down to New Bern NC who joined the Union. There were
three Black Army Regiments were formed in Plymouth; 1st. North
Carolina Volunteers of African Descent, 2nd. North Carolina
Volunteers of African Descent, and 37th U. S. Colored Troops. In
addition, many blacks who were recruited here became parts of other
Black regiments. At the fight at Battery Wagner in Charleston, SC as
depicted in the movie “Glory”, the all Black Regiment – the 54th
Mass. Volunteers, had 4 men from Plymouth in the Union Uniform.
However, in the actual battle, there were 108 men recruited in
Plymouth that made up parts of other black regiments in the same
fight.At the Civil War Port-O-Plymouth
Museum, there is a file with 3000 Black soldiers recruited from this
area with complete data sheet on physical description, place born,
occupation, place of service, and discharge data or place of death.
Also, there were hundreds of Black men that joined the Union fleet
stationed here at Plymouth under various commanders during Union
occupation. Below is a picture of Black sailors here in Plymouth
aboard the USS Miami.
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