While doing some browsing on the Library of Congress website the other day I ran across some neat photographs of United States Colored Troops (USCT) flags. The images painted on the flags are very striking and I only wish these photographs had been taken in color. The mottoes on the flags tell strong stories of what these men were fighting for.
One Cause, One Country: 45th USCT
We Will Prove Ourselves Men: 127th USCT
Strike for God and Liberty: 25th USCT
Let Soldiers in War Be Citizens in Peace: 24th USCT
Sic Semper Tyrannis: 22nd USCT
Rather Die Freemen, Than Live To Be Slaves: 3rd USCT
To the best of my knowledge these images were taken in 1864 before these flags were presented to the actual units. The 25th's motto was "Strike for God and Liberty."
ReplyDeleteThese Pennsylvania USCT flags and some of the reverses can be seen in Richard A. Sauers book "Advance The Colors!: Pennsylvania Civil War Battle Flags Vol. I."
ReplyDeleteThe "We Will Prove Ourselves Men" flag is actually the 127th USCT (the one is difficult to see).
ReplyDelete