Petersburg/Richmond 30th USCT at Petersburg

[Sheltowee]

Reading a fictional account of Petersburg. A subject upon which I am very weak.

The author has an incident where retreating members of the 30th USCT are fired upon by fellow Union troops (intentionally). This was at the Crater.

Is this accurate? @Bryce - can you help?

 

[George1863]

Sumner Shearman doesn't mention anything to this effect in his memoirs. He was a captain in the 4th Rhode Island Volunteers (9th Corps, 2nd division) and entered the 'Crater' in the second wave, after Ledlie's 1st division had bogged down. The 30th USCT followed in the third wave, being in the third division of 9th Corps. I find it hard to credit that such an incident occurred and Shearman glossed over it. He was in the 'Crater' when the USCT troops came up and succeeded in occupying Cemetary Hill for a short while. He states also that before the troops stuck in the hole surrendered, an order to withdraw was issued, presumably by Burnside.

 

[Sheltowee]

Sumner Shearman doesn't mention anything to this effect in his memoirs. He was a captain in the 4th Rhode Island Volunteers (9th Corps, 2nd division) and entered the 'Crater' in the second wave, after Ledlie's 1st division had bogged down. The 30th USCT followed in the third wave, being in the third division of 9th Corps. I find it hard to credit that such an incident occurred and Shearman glossed over it. He was in the 'Crater' when the USCT troops came up and succeeded in occupying Cemetary Hill for a short while. He states also that before the troops stuck in the hole surrendered, an order to withdraw was issued, presumably by Burnside.

Thanks- I too have not discovered any evidence of this event.

Flipped to the author's notes at the end. He again states that white Union soldiers fired on blacks at the Crater- but provides no source.

Ralph Peters- I have always appreciated his writing.

 

[George1863]

Peters' source may relate to a National Tribune article of Thursday, October 17th, 1907 ('The Massacre In The Crater'). This was written by D.E. Proctor, captain of Company F, 30th USCT. He writes that 'it is claimed' that US troops in the Crater shot 'several' USCT men withdrawing from Cemetary Hill and seeking cover among them; but he doesn't confirm that he witnessed this incident. As with Shearman, he was in the 'Crater' at the time these shootings were said to have happened.

I accessed the NT article through the 30th USCT page of 'The Siege of Petersburg online' website, which looks like a very interesting and comprehensive resource.

 

[Bryce]

I know that one of the park rangers re-wrote the script for the movie that they show to visitors at Petersburg battlefield park. The movie includes the battle of the Petersburg crater He does mention union soldiers firing on their black comrades, but I think this was rare. The really important fact is that the Confederates Killed quite a number of black soldiers after they were captured or after they were wounded. I wrote an article on it, which I'm happy to share with any of you.

 

[bschulte]

I know that one of the park rangers re-wrote the script for the movie that they show to visitors at Petersburg battlefield park. The movie includes the battle of the Petersburg crater He does mention union soldiers firing on their black comrades, but I think this was rare. The really important fact is that the Confederates Killed quite a number of black soldiers after they were captured or after they were wounded. I wrote an article on it, which I'm happy to share with any of you.

Here is Bryce's article from Civil War History, the academic journal published by Kent State University Press.