"Once let the black man get upon his person the brass letter, U.S., let him get an eagle on his button, and a musket on his shoulder and bullets in his pocket, there is no power on earth that can deny that he has earned the right to citizenship." - Frederick Douglass




Photo courtesy of: Dr. Thomas H. and Joan W. Gandy Collection
Special Collections, Louisiana State University

At a time in our history when our nation was divided and lives were lost in the bloodstained battles of the Civil War, more than 8,000 African American men from Fort McPherson in Natchez, Mississippi, answered the call to fight for freedom. These brave men, most of whom were former slaves, served as members of the Natchez U.S. Colored Troops.

In the face of danger, death, and dark uncertainties, the men left their plantations and served in the U.S. military for their own freedom and the freedom of their families. Unfortunately, their history has largely been ignored or forgotten. Even though their contributions were monumental and clearly vital to the Union Army winning the war, they have, for the most part, been cast aside.


The Natchez African American Civil War Memorial

Now, thanks to the city of Natchez, plans are underway to recognize these men -- and keep their legacy alive. The Natchez U.S. Colored Troops Monument Committee has been formed to make this dream a reality. Its goal is to create a monument -- The Natchez African American Civil War Memorial -- that will honor and bear the names of more than 8,000 African American men who served with six regiments at Fort McPherson in Natchez. The list of names will include those who served in the Navy who were born in Natchez.

The names of these 8,000-plus troops are based on the Muster Rolls of the USCT Regiments stationed at Fort McPherson. The names were provided by Dr. Frank Smith and the African American Civil War Museum, where he serves as founding director.

The six regiments in which the men served include: 6th U.S. Colored Heavy Artillery, 58th U.S. Colored Infantry, 70th U.S. Colored Infantry, 71st U.S. Colored Infantry, 63rd U.S. Colored Infantry, and the 64th U.S. Colored Infantry.

In addition to honoring the Colored Troops, the project includes recognition of their descendants, many of whom are residents of the Natchez area.

Robert Pernell, who chairs the Committee, said the importance of this project is not lost on the community. "We want to build the best monument that we can, and we want to build it in the best location for people to visit," he said.

We Need Your Help

However grand this project may be, and whatever dreams we have for its splendor and longevity, none of this will be possible without the help of the community and supporters like you.

For this reason, we invite you to be part of this first-ever historic project. Join us today! With your support, we can give these brave soldiers the recognition they deserve. Help us to tell their story by making a generous donation today. Your tax-deductible gift will be an investment in history that will honor the legacy of the Natchez U.S. Colored Troops for generations to come.

“A monument recognizing and honoring the sacrifices of USCT soldiers is critical to providing a more accurate and meaningful remembrance of the Civil War. . . . I have always wondered why there aren't more monuments to honor the USCT, which in turn, honors their communities and visibly proves their importance to American history, then and now.” - Dr. Holly A. Pinheiro, Jr.
Author, “The Families' Civil War: Black Soldiers and The Fight for Racial Justice” (University of Georgia Press, 2022)




Photo courtesy of the William E. Stewart Collection, Historic Natchez Foundation.

ABOUT US


The Natchez U.S. Colored Troops Monument Committee was created to erect a monument -- The Natchez African American Civil War Memorial -- to honor and bear the names of more than 8,000 African American men who served with the U.S. Colored Troops at Fort McPherson in Natchez, as well as those who served in the Navy who were born in Natchez. The monument will honor those who served with six regiments, which included: 6th U.S. Colored Heavy Artillery, 58th U.S. Colored Infantry, 70th U.S. Colored Infantry, 71st U.S. Colored Infantry, 63rd U.S. Colored Infantry, and the 64th U.S. Colored Infantry.

The Natchez U.S. Colored Troops Monument Committee is led by Chairman Robert Pernell, who previously served as chair for the “Proud to Take a Stand” monument committee. Pernell is working with Carter Burns, who serves as vice chairman of the committee. Burns is also the executive director of Historic Natchez Foundation. The Natchez USCT Monument Committee is made up of volunteers who serve on five sub-committees: History and Research Subcommittee, Monument Design Subcommittee, Marketing/PR Subcommittee, Site Subcommittee and Finance/Fundraising Subcommittee.




The Administrative Chairs and Advisor of the Natchez U.S. Colored Troops Monument Committee

Photo taken at the community meeting held Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021, at the Natchez Convention Center. From left: Lance Harris, Devin Heath, Vice Chairman Carter Burns, Chairman Robert Pernell, Deborah Fountain, Mayor Don Gibson, and Roscoe Barnes III.

Harris chairs the Monument Design Subcommittee; Heath chairs the Site Design Subcommittee; Fountain chairs the History and Research Subcommittee; Pernell chairs the Finance /Fundraising Subcommittee and Gibson serves as advisor to this Subcommittee; and Barnes chairs the Marketing/PR Subcommittee.

#NatchezColoredTroops #NatchezUSCT


Photo courtesy of the William E. Stewart Collection, Historic Natchez Foundation.



Our Mission

Our mission for this project, first and foremost, is to honor the more than 8,000 African American men who served with the U.S. Colored Troops at Fort McPherson in Natchez, as well as those who served in the Navy who were born in Natchez. We aim to do this by building a monument, the best one that we can possibly build, that will bear their names. This monument will be known as The Natchez African American Civil War Memorial.

Additionally, our goal is to recognize the descendants of the Colored Troops. To this end, we are working to show people how to use available resources to determine their relationship to the Colored Troops. These resources are presented in newspaper articles and on social media platforms. According to Mimi Miller, executive director emerita of Historic Natchez Foundation, there are many descendants of the Colored Troops now living in the Natchez/Adams County area.

“We have a very stable African American population in Natchez, and I’m amazed at the deep roots they have here,” Miller has said. “We would not be surprised to find out that a very high percentage of them, perhaps as high as 90 percent, are descendants of the Natchez U.S. Colored Troops.”

As Chairman Robert Pernell has stated, "This monument will be a place of reverence, pride, and honor that will help to tell many untold stories about Natchez's past."

Every effort will be made to ensure this project will be well designed. Its history is built on solid research. In addition to shedding light on the contributions of the men who served, the monument will be a tangible and lasting testament to their courage and sacrifice.

It is our hope that it will not only educate people of diverse backgrounds, but that it will also be a source of inspiration, especially for people of color. Beyond this, this monument should serve as a catalyst for further research -- and needed dialogue -- on history and race relations. In no uncertain terms, it will contribute to the cultural legacy of Natchez.

Once completed, it will stand as a beacon of light for local citizens and visitors near and far. It will also be a vital addition to the city's growing list of historic sites. Perhaps more importantly, the monument will allow us to give recognition to the men who truly deserve it.

In order to make this project a reality, we need the support of the community. We need donors who can appreciate the significance of this historic project. For this reason, we are launching a fundraising campaign and calling on citizens everywhere to join us and make a financial donation to this cause. We need financial gifts that are large and small. We need the help of individuals, groups, businesses, schools, and churches, among other institutions.

Contact Us


If you have questions or ideas about the Natchez USCT Monument project that you want the committee to consider, please contact us by email at natchezusct@juno.com.

You may also contact the chairperson of the appropriate subcommittee listed below:

History and Research Subcommittee
Contact Chairwoman Deborah Fountain at descendantsofnatchezusct@gmail.com

Monument Design Subcommittee
Contact Chairman Lance Harris at lharris@mdah.ms.gov

Site Subcommittee
Contact Chairman Devin Heath at devin@visitnatchez.org

Finance/Fundraising Subcommittee
Contact Mayor Dan Gibson at mayor@natchez.ms.us

Marketing/PR Subcommittee
Contact Chairman Roscoe Barnes III at roscoe@visitnatchez.org

Chairman Robert Pernell can be reached at robeperne@gmail.com, and Vice Chairman Carter Burns can be reached at carterburns@natchez.org.


Follow us on Facebook!

The Natchez U.S. Colored Troops Monument Committee has its own official Facebook page. Go to Facebook and follow us at “Natchez U.S. Colored Troops (USCT) Monument Committee - Natchez, MS.” Visit this link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/natchezusctmonumentcommittee