20 Sept 2021 Garand Picture of the Day - 1942

[Mark in Rochester]

Yes, the US armed forces desegregated, post WW2, in the 1940s, I was aware.

The book I am working on is about the 185th New York Volunteers, it was an integrated unit (slightly) during the last days of the civil war. The commanding officer Gustavus Sniper was from Germany. I have confirmed 3 soldiers so far of African American descent. Charles Higate (WIA 29 Mar 65/DOW 2 April 65) was highly thought of and in civilian life was a forman of a bakery in Syracuse N.Y.

Syracuse Journal &
New York World
April 5th, 1865

“Charles Highgate, a Negro, had been a servant in the regiment, and had so popularized himself that the men persuaded him to take up a musket. It is one of the few cases we have had of a black man fighting in the same organization with white men. Highgate never enlisted, but volunteered for this fight, and was the most desperate of all the men engaged. He received no less than six wounds, any of which would have been mortal to people of less that his colossal physique and almost feline vitality. Shot to pieces, in head, breast, arms, and legs, the rebel column charged over him, until our boys, reconquering, brought him to the rear a broken mass, asking them, amidst their plaudits, to be merciful and put him to death. However, he was sent to the hospital at Spain’s farm-house; the doctors thought it absurd to amputate, for had he survived it, he would have had neither legs nor arms; so they simply dressed his wounds. But, to everybody’s surprise, he grew better this morning, and went to City Point with a hope of recovery.

Charles,
son of
C & H. F. HIGHGATE
- - - - 185 Regt NYSV
wounded in the battle
of Gravely Run
Died at City Point
Hospital
April 2, 1865
19 Years and 8 Days