Colored Soldiers Monument in Frankfort

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Colored Soldiers Monument in Frankfort
Colored Soldiers Monument in Frankfort 1.jpg
Colored Soldiers Monument in Frankfort is located in Kentucky
Colored Soldiers Monument in Frankfort
Location Frankfort, Kentucky
Coordinates Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Built 1924
Architectural style No Style Listed
MPS Civil War Monuments of Kentucky MPS
NRHP Reference # 97000701 [1]
Added to NRHP July 17, 1997

The Colored Soldiers Monument in Frankfort, Kentucky's Green Hill Cemetery, at the corner of US 60 and US 127, is the only Kentucky monument to black soldiers that participated in the American Civil War, and one of only four in the entire United States. The GAR Monument in Covington is the only other monument built by the Grand Army of the Republic in the state of Kentucky.[2]

History

Due to state laws, Kentucky was not allowed to recruit blacks until March 1, 1864. In total, 23,703 blacks from Kentucky would join a total of 23 Union regiments. This would provide the Union Army one-third of its total forces from the state of Kentucky. Those that enlisted were immediately emancipated. Although generally given garrison duty, these soldiers did see combat action, mostly in Tennessee and North Carolina. After the war ended, some were sent west to Texas to discourage France from conquering Mexico. Only the state of Louisiana provided more black troops than Kentucky.[2][3]

The monument, built in 1924, is made of limestone. Its base is of poured concrete. Inscribed around the column are the names of 142 black soldiers that hailed from central Kentucky. All that is known of its cost is "several hundred dollars". It was dedicated at 4 p.m. on July 4, 1924.[2]

On July 17, 1997, the Colored Soldiers Monument in Frankfort was one of 60 different monuments related to the Civil War in Kentucky placed on the National Register of Historic Places, as part of the Civil War Monuments of Kentucky Multiple Property Submission. The Confederate Monument in Frankfort is the only other one in Frankfort; it is in Frankfort Cemetery one mile (1.6 km) to the west.[4]

Gallery

  • Colored Soldiers Monument in Frankfort 2.jpg

    West side

  • Colored Soldiers Monument in Frankfort 3.jpg

    View from cemetery road

  • Colored Soldiers Monument in Frankfort 4.jpg

    View from US-60

  • Colored Soldiers Monument in Frankfort marker.jpg

    Interpretive marker describing the monument

See also

References

  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Civil War in Kentucky
  3. ↑ Marker at site, see gallery
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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