Page Maintained by: 

Angela Y. Walton-Raji, Author, Genealogist, Scholar

 

Engagement Calendar

 

 

December 19th 2008 was the 145th Anniversary of the organization of the 11th US Colored Infantry.  Organized in Ft. Smith, Arkansas, more than 200 men from the city of Ft. Smith and neighboring towns and settlements got the word that Federal troops had arrived in the city and that they were recruiting able bodied black men to serve in the Union Army.  These men, had the courage to abandon their roles as slaves and to take a stand for their freedom. They withstood protest from enslavers and took the charge to serve in the United States Army, to fight for their freedom.   Long forgotten and never mentioned in local history, these men would join the ranks of what would be more than 200,000 black soldiers that served the Union Army in the Civil War.   

The 11th US Colored Infantry would be one of several regiments to be organized in Arkansas, and they would be one of several Black regiments that would be seen in Ft. Smith during the Civil War.  Towards the end of the war, the city of Ft. Smith would be patrolled by members of the 57th US Colored Infantry, who would even see action at Massard Prairie.

During the month of February--Black History Month, this page will honor the 207 men who enlisted at Ft. Smith.

 

Gravestone of Pvt. Elijah Bryant, of Dripping Springs, Arkansas at the Dripping Spring Cemetery in Crawford County. Byant enlisted in Ft. Smith in December 1863. (Photo taken by Tonia Holleman of Van Buren, Arkansas)

 

 

 

 

The History of the 11th U. S. Colored Infantry, Ft. Smith's Black Union Army Regiment * * * * * * * * * The Entire Roster of Soldiers that Served in the 11th  U.S. Colored Infantry 1863-1866  * * * * * * * * * * Headstones of Soldiers of the 11th US Colored Infantry * * * * * * * * * * Burial Sites of Arkansas Black Civil War Soldiers * * * * * * * * * * Black Civil War Soldiers Honored in Van Buren! * * * * * * * * * * History of ALL Black Civil War Regiments in Arkansas Battles fought in Arkansas involving Black Soldiers

 

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The National Marshals Museum is Coming to Ft. Smith!! FORT SMITH - The word is now official. The National U.S. Marshals Museum is coming to Fort Smith. Claude Legris, chairman of the Fort Smith Marshals Museum Steering Committee, made the announcement live on KFSM's 5NEWS at 5 on Thursday evening.   Among those who will be honored at the museum will be the Black US Deputy Marshals who rode for Judge Isaac C. Parker. More information about the museum and the announcement can be found HERE.

Descendants of Black US Deputy Marshals Show Support of US Marshals Museum

 

Judge Parker's Black U.S. Deputy Marshals

 

Ft. Smith University Students will Help in Marshals Museum

 

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A Musical Treasure--Alphonso Trent

Ft. Smith Musical Treasure-The Legacy of Alphonso Trent If you grew up in Ft. Smith, on the North side, you probably heard of Alphonso Trent, and remember his beautiful home on North 9th street. But few are living, who ever had the opportunity to hear his music. Now, you have the opportunity to finally hear the music of this gifted musician, and also learn about some of the early roots of American jazz from our own local legend.   Hear his music online: Alphonso Trent's Music

Ft. Smith Black History: Earliest Black Residents of Ft. Smith & Van Buren Ft. Smith and Van Buren Early Black History Slave Owners from Ft. Smith 1860  Ft. Smith Freedman's Bureau Field Office Freedmen at Last!  Ft. Smith Black Population - 1870 Earliest Black Marriages of Ft. Smith Judge Parker's Black U.S. Deputy Marshals Black Newspapers of Ft. Smith Ft. Smith Regional Links

 

African American Deaths & Burials in Ft. Smith, Arkansas The Josenburger Burials The Johnson Burials Arkansas/Oklahoma Funeral Programs & Obituaries Oak Cemetery Black Burials Black Civil War &  Buffalo Soldiers Buried in Ft. Smith

 

Crawford County Arkansas Black History Slave Owners from Crawford County, 1850 Black Civil War Soldiers of Crawford County    African American Burials in Crawford County: Slave Burials of Fairview Cemetery, Van Buren   Beal Cemetery   Crown Hill (Pickett Hill)   Lewis Cemtery   St. Paul's Cemetery (coming soon) African Americans Buried in Historic Fairview Cemetery (coming soon)

 

Arkansas African-American Genealogy Society

Freedom's Spirit Black History Journal

The Black Chronicle of Northwest, Arkansas

Coming Soon ! ! ! !

History of Education for Ft. Smith's Black Population

Howard; Washington School Dunbar, St. John's, Lincoln 

The First Freedman's School in Ft. Smith

Black Arkansas Links

Black Western Frontier Links

Getting Started in African American Genealogy

Look Up Your NW Arkansas Black History !!

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Coming Soon

Biographies of Black Leaders from NW Arkansas 

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Last Updated February 3, 2009

Copyright © 2004-2009 Angela Y. Walton-Raji

Developed data and external links on Arkansas Freedmen.com is posted, maintained and updated by Angela Y. Walton-Raji. This is the new website for Freedmen of the Frontier originally published on Angelfire.com  Material placed on this web site may not be copied, transmitted, sold, published or shared in any way without permission in writing.  Information  may be used for personal and for non-commercial use. All questions regarding material on this site can be obtained by contacting:

Angela Y. Walton-Raji