In May 1863, the Bureau of the Colored Troops was established by the United States War Department to organize African Americans into regimental units. This initiative included both free Black individuals and enslaved people. The troops were formed into various branches, including cavalry, artillery, and infantry. During the Civil War, approximately 180,000 African Americans served in these Union regiments, making significant contributions to the Union's efforts.

Please see the internet links for more information about the U.S.C.T.

Several soldiers in the U.S.C.T. have their own profiles because they have identifiable headstones. These include Richmond Davis, Samuel Drake, Washington Markin, Andy Sledge, and James. R. Stephens. However, no headstones can be found for many of the soldiers who served in the U.S.C.T. Therefore, the profiles for the unfound soldiers are provided as a group and associated with a single pin on the Glenwood Cemetery map.

Major Driscoll

Major Driscoll, born around 1842 in Madison, Alabama, was the son of Terry and Margaret Driscoll. Freedman's Bank records indicate they were enslaved on the Parson Turner Plantation. He signed a contract through the Freedman’s Bureau with Daniel Darwin for two years of labor in exchange for wages and rations. Mr. Driscoll enlisted in Company I of the 15th Regiment of the United States Colored Infantry. He also served as a private in Company G, 101^st Infantry.

Mr. Driscoll married Laura Wallace in Madison County, Alabama on 01 Dec 1884. In 1913, Mr. Driscoll was a laborer living at 318 Oak Avenue in Huntsville, Alabama with his wife, Laura.

Archie Eldridge

Archie Eldridge was born in Buckingham, Virginia about 1819. A Civil War veteran, he enlisted on February 1, 1864, in Nashville, Tennessee. He joined the 15th Regiment, United States Colored Infantry Company K, and was later enlisted in the 101st Regiment, United States Colored Infantry Company G. Private Archie Eldridge served in various roles, including as a teamster (horse handler) and cook, and is commemorated on the Civil War Memorial. He was discharged from the military due to disability (old age).

William Hobbs

William Hobbs enlisted in the United States Army Company C. At fifty years old, he made a deposit in the Freedman's Bank in Huntsville, Alabama. His parents were Clinton and Linsey Hobbs, and he had four siblings: Lisa, Margaret, Arthur, and Wesley. William and his wife, Margaret Hobbs, had three children: Mary, Joseph, and Julia Ann. In 1867, Mr. Hobbs registered to vote, alongside many recently freed African American men.

Wesley Jones

Wesley Jones was a member of the 10th Cavalry Troop I, famously participating in the charges on El Caney and San Juan Hill. He was stationed at 10th Cavalry Hill in Huntsville, Alabama in January 1899 and later promoted to sergeant at Fort Ethan Allen, Vermont. Born in Madison County, Alabama in 1856 to Jefferson and Lee Ann Jones, Mr. Jones’ grandparents, Harry and Judy Jones, lived on the Widow Jones plantation in New Market. Mr. Jones was married to Titia Jones.

John W. Pleasants

John W. Pleasants, born in Huntsville, Alabama, in December 1891, was the son of Reverend Henry and Lucy Pleasant. His siblings were John W., Robert, Henrietta, and Minnie. In 1917, Mr. Pleasants was ordered to report for military duty in Madison, Alabama, and was sent to Camp Dodge in Iowa to serve in the United States 366th Infantry. However, on January 25, 1918, he was discharged from the military, along with six other men, due to physical limitations.

In the 1900 census, at age 9, he was noted as having been a student for three years. John’s father worked as a drayman, delivering goods around town, and the family rented a home on Franklin Street. His mother, originally from Virginia, had spent some time living in Alabama. The family likely attended the wedding of Henry’s sister-in-law, Miss Letha Ann Rice, to Mr. John Malone, which was officiated by Reverend William Fletcher and highlighted in the social column of The Journal on February 28, 1896.

Peter Sawyer

Peter Sawyer, born in Williamson County, Tennessee in 1845, was the son of Moses and Mary Sawyer, who were enslaved on Dr. Fearn's plantation. Mr. Sawyer enlisted in Company B of the 44th United Colored Infantry. He married Caldonia Sawyer and is buried in Glenwood Cemetery.

Mordecai Steele

Mordecai Steele enlisted in Company H of the 15th Regiment of the United States Colored Infantry. He actively participated in the Old Soldiers Union, which supported Civil War veterans. Mr. Steele is honored on the African American Memorial in Washington, D.C., the sole national memorial recognizing the contributions of the United States Colored Troops and sailors during the Civil War. His wife was Susan Steele.

Squire (Esquire) Taylor

Squire (Esquire) Taylor, born in Alabama in 1841, married Lydia Taylor and had ten children, seven of which are: Monroe, Lee, Charly, Percy, May Fany, Squire, and Pea Taylor. He enlisted in Company H of the 125th United States Infantry. Private Taylor died on July 6, 1923, and is also buried in the historic Glenwood Cemetery.

"Squire Taylor, aged eighty-nine years, one of the pioneer negroes of Madison county, died Friday night at 8 o'clock at his home on the lower end of Madison street. He leaves a wife, six sons, four daughters, and a large number of grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great, great grandchildren. Funeral services will be held today and interment will be made in the colored cemetery."

William Wallace Skillen

William Wallace Skillen served with the 110th Regiment, Company D of the United States Army during the Civil War. Born in Madison County, Alabama in 1840, he was the son of Derry and Sally Skillen. Mr. Skillen had seven siblings: Jesse, Dolphus, Lewis, Alex, Ann, Manda, and Mary. He married Ann Woodring Skillen and passed away in December 1890 in Huntsville, Alabama. There is no evidence he is buried in Glenwood Cemetery but his service deserves his inclusion in the U.S.C.T. list.

Major Driscoll, US, Civil War Pensions Index, 1861-1900, Publication number T289, Fold3.com.

Major Driscoll, US, Civil War Service Records (CMSR) - Union - Colored Troops 14th-19th Infantry, 1861-1865, Publication number M1822, Fold3.com.

Major Driscoll, U.S., Freedman's Bank Records, 1865-1874, Ancestry.com.

Major Driskell, Alabama, U.S., County Marriage Records, 1805-1967, Ancestry.com.

Major Driscoll, U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995, Huntsville, Alabama, 1913, Ancestry.com.

Archibald Eldridge, US, Civil War Service Records (CMSR) - Union - Colored Troops 56th-138th Infantry, 1864-1866, Fold3.com.

Archie Eldridge, US, Civil War Service Records (CMSR) - Union - Colored Troops 14th-19th Infantry, 1861-1865, Publication number M1822, Fold3.com.

William Hobbs, Ollye Conley, local Glenwood Cemetery historian

Wesley Jones, Ollye Conley, local Glenwood Cemetery historian

John W. Pleasants, 1900 US Census, Huntsville, Madison County, AL, Ancestry.com.

John W. Pleasants, The Journal, Huntsville, AL, Feb 28, 1896, p. 3.

John W. Pleasants, US Lists of Men Ordered to Report to Local Board for Military Duty 1917, Ancestry.com.

John W. Pleasants, Entries of Local Military Board - Form 1029, Jan 25, 1918, Ancestry.com.

Peter Sawyer, Ollye Conley, local Glenwood Cemetery historian

Mordecai Steele, US, Civil War Pensions Index, 1861-1900, Publication number T289, Fold3.com.

Squire Taylor, Huntsville Times, Sunday, 08 July 1923, page 14

William Wallace Skillen, Ollye Conley, local Glenwood Cemetery historian