This Veterans’ Day, I’d like to remember Calvin Freeman. I know he was a Milliken’s Bend veteran, and served with the 11th Louisiana Infantry, African Descent (later renamed the 49th U.S. Colored Infantry). But that’s about all I know. I … Continue reading →
Lt. Col. Cyrus Sears would command the far right wing of the Union defensive line at Milliken’s Bend, and it was two companies of his 11th Louisiana who made their stand behind some cotton bales that brought a devastating enfilading … Continue reading →
The massive records of the Freedmen’s Bureau (more formally, the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands) are now available online. FamilySearch, the National Archives, and the mobilization of thousands of volunteers made this effort possible. Among these records are … Continue reading →
The poster above is featured in the online portal for the new Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC). The broadside was issued on July 6, and prominently mentions both Port Hudson and Milliken’s Bend as examples … Continue reading →
In anticipation of my upcoming appearance at Chuck Beard’s ever-popular East Side Storytellin‘ event on Tues. June 7 – the 153rd anniversary of the battle – I thought I’d take this moment to provide a quick run-down on some of … Continue reading →
