The Forty-third regiment United States Colored Troops

In Short

Published in 1866, this book functions as a hybrid of a regimental history and a political manifesto. It documents the formation, training, and service of the 43rd Regiment of the United States Colored Troops, tracing their path from recruitment in Philadelphia to the fall of Richmond. More than a mere roster of names and battles, the book serves as a primary source for the era’s debates on race, loyalty, and the responsibilities owed by a grateful nation to the soldiers who helped secure its survival.

The Story

The narrative begins with the formation of the 43rd Regiment at Camp William Penn in Philadelphia in 1864, a time when the Union Army was desperate for fresh, committed soldiers. The regiment, comprised of Black volunteers, is quickly thrust into the brutal realities of the Virginia campaign. The story follows their movement toward the front, most memorably through Washington, D.C., where they are reviewed by President Lincoln. This moment is presented as a turning point, symbolizing the mutual confidence between the President and the freedmen who had taken up arms to defend the Union.

From the start, the regiment faces the dual challenge of fighting a formidable Confederate army and contending with the pervasive prejudice of the era. The text details their grueling labor in the trenches before Petersburg, where they worked with the spade to fortify lines, proving their discipline and commitment under fire. The arc of the campaign includes several key engagements, such as the Weldon Railroad, Poplar Grove Church, and the intense battle of Hatchie’s Run. In each instance, the regiment demonstrates a high level of bravery, often holding the line during critical, chaotic moments.

As the war reaches its climax, the regiment moves toward the heart of the Confederacy. The story culminates in the dramatic capture of Richmond on April 3, 1865. The text paints a vivid, almost poetic picture of the city’s final hours—the sounds of the retreating Confederate forces, the desperation of the final defense, and the triumphant arrival of the Union forces. For the men of the 43rd, the capture of Richmond is not just a military victory; it is a profound symbolic act, as they enter the former capital of the rebellion that sought to keep their people in bondage.

The final section of the book shifts from military history to a sharp, uncompromising argument about the aftermath of the war. With the fighting concluded, the author addresses the immediate post-war climate, questioning the status of the newly freed soldiers. He argues that the bravery demonstrated by these troops earns them an undeniable right to citizenship and suffrage. He contrasts the proven loyalty of these men with the treasonous actions of those who fought for the Confederacy, insisting that the government must choose to reward the former and punish the latter. The story does not end with the soldiers returning home, but with a firm, moral demand for a nation that honors its promises to those who fought for its survival.

How It Unfolds

The call to arms The book opens by establishing the urgent need for the regiment, emphasizing the character and discipline of the men who enlisted. It frames their service as a crucial, necessary addition to the Union cause.

The march to the front The regiment travels from Pennsylvania to the Virginia front, receiving a significant review by President Lincoln along the way. This phase establishes the unit’s pride and the high expectations placed upon them by the government.

The trials of the trenches The narrative moves into the long, grueling months of the Siege of Petersburg, where the men demonstrate immense physical endurance. This portion highlights the reality of modern infantry warfare, focusing on their labor as much as their combat.

The final advance The regiment participates in a series of engagements that lead directly to the fall of the Confederate capital. This section captures the momentum of the Union army and the specific, historic role these soldiers played in the final collapse of the rebellion.

The plea for justice The book concludes by pivoting from the field of battle to the halls of government. It argues that the war is not truly over until the men who fought for the Union are granted the full, equal rights of citizenship.

The People

The book focuses on the officers who led the 43rd, framing their backgrounds as a testament to the diverse, dedicated leadership required for such a pioneering unit. Brevet Colonel H. Seymour Hall is presented as the archetypal soldier; his long history of service, from the early battles of the war to his eventual loss of an arm, serves as a standard of gallantry for the entire regiment. His promotion from private to colonel is highlighted as proof that merit and energy defined the leadership of the unit.

Major Horace Bumstead represents the intellectual and moral fiber of the officer corps. A graduate of Yale, his presence in the regiment is used to show that the cause of the colored troops attracted the best of the educated Northern elite. Surgeon Ai. Waterhouse and Assistant Surgeon J. L. Chipman are singled out for their professional competence and sobriety, traits the author insists were vital for maintaining the health and morale of the troops in the field.

Other officers, such as Adjutant Ezra S. Dean, First Lieutenant James Sculley, and First Lieutenant L. H. Parkhurst, are sketched through their specific battle experiences and the injuries they sustained. The author lists their wounds and their previous regiments to establish their legitimacy and experience. These men are not portrayed as mere careerists, but as patriots who endured profound physical hardship to command a regiment that the nation initially viewed with skepticism.

In Its Own Voice

The importunate cry of the nation,--"On to Richmond," being answered so successfully by Freedmen clad in blue, must and will appear as a significant fact in the history of the war.

The author uses this line to emphasize that the success of the Union was directly tied to the service of Black soldiers, making their contribution an indelible part of the historical record.

Punish treason, and reward loyalty.

This brief, powerful imperative appears in the concluding section, where the author outlines the moral path he believes the United States must take regarding its former enemies and its newly liberated citizens.

What It's Really About

At its core, the book is a brief for equality. It attempts to dismantle the prejudice against Black soldiers by providing a meticulous record of their competence, discipline, and courage under fire. The underlying argument is that the battlefield is a great equalizer; once a man has proven his devotion to the Union through the sacrifice of his blood, the question of his citizenship should be considered settled. The book questions the moral consistency of a nation that would accept the service of a soldier but then deny him the rights afforded to the very people who fought to destroy the republic. It is a work of advocacy that uses the cold, hard facts of military history to demand a more just peace.

Why Read It Today

Readers interested in the logistics and human experience of the American Civil War will find this a valuable, firsthand account. It is a lean, unsentimental look at the military life of the 43rd Regiment, stripped of the romanticism that often colored later historical accounts. Because it was written in 1866, it offers an unfiltered, immediate view of the post-war mindset, capturing the raw frustration and hopeful defiance of those who had witnessed the war’s brutality and demanded that the victory lead to meaningful social change.

The book is not without its challenges. The prose is densely structured, often reading like a series of reports rather than a continuous narrative, and it contains the formal, occasionally rigid language of the mid-19th century. A modern reader must also navigate the author’s period-specific attitudes and the occasional inclusion of poetry that reflects the patriotic fervor of the time. However, these elements are exactly what make it a compelling historical artifact. It provides a rare, honest look at the transition from war to the uncertain peace of the Reconstruction era. For those who want to understand the specific role of Black regiments and the political intensity of the year following the war, this book offers a direct, unvarnished window into the past.