Rest in Peace, Dr. Edwin S. Redkey

I was saddened to learn recently that Dr. Edwin S. Redkey died on June 10th at the age of 79.

Dr. Redkey was the editor of the classic work A Grand Army of Black Men: Letters from African-American Soldiers in the Union Army, 1861-1865 (1992), a book which inspired Noah Andre Trudeau to write his book Like Men of War: Black Troops in the Civil War, 1862-1865 (1998). Trudeau called Redkey’s book “a revelation in every sense of the word” and used it as one of the starting points for his research.

Redkey also contributed an excellent essay entitled “Henry McNeal Turner: Black Chaplain in the Union Army” in Black Soldiers in Blue: African American Troops in the Civil War Era (2002) edited by John David Smith.

His obituary states that, “having specialized in American History and Race Relations, Ed helped found the field of African American Studies and made significant scholarly and popular contributions to it.”

He will be missed.

Rappahannock Exodus: The 1862 Flight to Freedom and Beyond

Members of the 23rd USCT







Chief Historian, John Hennessy



At noon this Saturday at the John J. Wright Museum, John Hennessy will be presenting a program entitled “Rappahannock Exodus: The 1862 Flight to Freedom and Beyond.” The recreated 23rd USCT is sponsoring this event along with John J. Wright. After the talk is over, attendees will have the chance to explore the exhibit "Emancipating Their Homeland: Spotsylvania-born U. S. Colored Soldiers” with the members of the 23^rd who will be there in uniform to assist and answer questions. This is a free program, so don’t miss your chance to come and learn about a topic that is already growing in popularity. Hope to see you there!