Officers on the 29th CT Colored Regiment Monument

Captain Henry C. Ward on the 29th Connecticut Colored Regiment Monument

Lieutenant Colonel Henry C. Ward on the 29th Connecticut Colored Regiment Monument

Last month, I told you about a white officer named William J. Ross assigned to lead the Connecticut 29th Colored Regiment. I told you about how on the 29th Connecticut Colored Regiment Monument in New Haven, William J. Ross is listed twice...once as a Captain, then again in the role he was promoted to which was Major.

I also told you about John Bishop who was another white officer with the 29th who was promoted from 2nd Lieutenant to 1st Lieutenant and also listed twice on the 29th Connecticut Colored Regiment Monument in New Haven...once for both of his ranks.

Well, I've found a third example of the same. Henry C. Ward, a 33 year old white officer in the 29th, was promoted from Captain, to Major, to Lieutenant Colonel, to Colonel. Similar to William J. Ross and John Bishop, Henry C. Ward is listed on the New Haven monument twice… once each for 2 of his 3 promotions.

The irony here is we know there are hundreds of African Americans missing from the monument, all while these white officers are listed multiple times. The known challenges for the African American men of the 29th included the regiment being led by White officers because black people were not considered capable, along with their limited ability to promote. So, to have African American men missing from the monument, all while presenting the promotions of the white officers by listing them twice is a troubling thing to me.

In my mind, this reflects the same perspective of value based on color as was the case 150 years ago.

Is that what we want???

Join me November 9th @ 6pm at the New Haven Museum as I present a lecture on the men of the 29th Connecticut Colored Regiment… this specific question being one I intend to address.