United States Colored Troops (USCT) were Union Army regiments during the American Civil War that primarily comprised African Americans, with soldiers from other ethnic groups also serving in USCT units.

Nov 2, 2017 · During the Civil War, more than 180,000 African American men joined regiments of the United States Colored Troops to fight for the Union and their freedom.

Mar 19, 2019 · The compiled military service records of the men who served with the United States Colored Troops (USCT) during the Civil War number approximately 185,000, including the officers who were not African American.

Two years after the first shots of the war were fired, the United States Colored Troops (USCT) were born. African American leaders such as Frederick Douglass set to work helping the government raise Black regiments immediately after their eligibility.

United States Colored Troops (USCT) were the embodiment of Frederick Douglass’s belief that “he who would be free must himself strike the blow." 179,000 men – many who were former slaves – volunteered to fight in the Union army; nearly 37,000 gave their lives for the cause.

Jan 28, 2025 · The United States Army began to organize African Americans into regimental units known as the United States Colored Troops (USCT) in 1863. (War Department General Order 143) The enlistment of free Blacks and enslaved persons was considered a key to winning the war. Many USCT regiments originated as state militia units before 1863.

During the Civil War, the United States Colored Troops made up more than 10% of the Union or Northern Army, despite being prohibited from joining until July 1862, 15 months after the war began. They made up 25% of the Union Navy, even though only 1% of the Northern population was African American.

Jul 22, 2017 · The United States Colored Troops (USCT) was the designation given to the approximately 175 regiments of non-white soldiers that served during the Civil War. The troops were primarily African American, but Native Americans, Asian Americans, and Pacific Islanders were all included within the ranks, as well.

Oct 4, 2023 · By the end of the Civil War, roughly 179,000 black men (10% of the Union Army) served as soldiers in the U.S. Army and another 19,000 served in the Navy. Nearly 40,000 black soldiers died over the course of the war—30,000 of infection or disease.

In 1863 in response to President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation the United States Army began to organize and recruit regiments of African-Americans (both freemen and former slaves) as the United States Colored Troops (USCT). Some USCT regiments originated as state militias that were established before 1863.