VBA History in Focus: 100 Objects – African American Soldiers in the Civil War and Afterwards

In honor of Black History Month, the latest episode of VBA History in Focus: 100 Objects pays tribute to the more than 200,000 African Americans who served in the Union military during the Civil War. Black soldiers and sailors saw action in 39 major engagements and earned 26 Medals of Honor. After the war, they often struggled to obtain benefits from the federal government for their service. Despite the obstacles they encountered, thousands of Black Veterans successfully pursued their claims and received compensation for their service-related wounds or medical conditions.

This video is adapted from the History of VA in 100 Objects virtual exhibit:
VA.gov/HISTORY/100_Objects/

To learn more about the experiences of African American soldiers in the Civil War, visit Object 54 in the exhibit: Civil War Broadside Recruiting “Men of Color:”
VA.gov/HISTORY/100_Objects/054_USCT_Broadside.asp

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