If Your Ancestors Served in the U S Colored Troops — Their Service Records Reveal More Than a Name

Nearly 180,000 Black men served in the Union Army during the Civil War—and I’m showing how their military records can help break through the 1870 census wall in African American genealogy. If one of those soldiers was your ancestor, his service file may reveal far more than a name. I explain how U.S. Colored Troops records can uncover details such as a soldier’s birthplace, physical description, enslaver, military service, and family connections. In some cases, these records even preserve the sworn words of wives, children, and relatives—offering a rare path to the people and places hidden behind the census. #AfricanAmericanGenealogy #USCT #BlackHistory #FamilyHistory #GenealogyResearch