october december african american soldier actor american civil war served union_army richmond campaign received america highest military decoration medal honor taking command company battle farm officers killed wounded following war actor appearing amateur theater productions home cincinnati ohio known stage performance appearance ford 9th street washington opposite davis early life born slavery october richmond virginia moved cincinnati ohio received education gained freedom april exact date unknown ohio school developed interest theater public acting debut school concert leaving school black cabinet maker eventually worked turner continued study acting privately received training field coaches including retired professional stage actor philadelphia year outbreak civil war confederate victory battle richmond kentucky august rumors impending confederate attack cincinnati began richmond miles south cincinnati organized union troops lay cities attack confederate colonel led cavalry raid union lines kentucky previous month feared september men cincinnati organized work units build fortifications city cincinnati african americans initially pressed service bayonet point appointment commander black troops treatment improved significantly promised treated fairly kept distinct unit called allowed return home prepare military service orders report morning duty men released day september morning seven reported duty men served company number brigade despite danger confederate attack unarmed unit assigned build defenses near kentucky far advance union lines days cleared forests constructed forts magazines roads dug trenches rifle pits brigade disbanded september threat attack having service june ohio fielded african american combat unit ohio blacks recruited service regiments states enlisted cincinnati june year term service union_army group men recruited massachusetts regiment joined private promoted sergeant days later placed charge squad seven recruits ordered report columbus ohio sent boston arriving columbus june learned massachusetts regiments unable accept service governor ohio immediately requested permission form ohio regiment african americans permission granted june squad members later designated 5th united states colored troops months recruitment organization outside delaware ohio unit set virginia september risen rank sergeant regiment division black troops assigned attack center confederate defenses new market heights defenses consisted lines line manned brigadier general attack met intense confederate fire turned reaching line retreat color bearer killed returned yards enemy fire retrieve flag return company lines regiment suffered severe casualties failed charge officers eighty enlisted men entered battle sixteen enlisted men including survived attack officers remaining took command company led second charge confederate lines second attack successfully drove fortified positions cost men end battle percent black division killed captured wounded actions commended battlefield general seven months later april awarded medal honor continued distinguish engagements actions road october earned mention general orders regimental commander colonel twice recommended promotion commissioned officer came colonel requests receive promotion lieutenant time mustered army participated thirteen battles numerous skirmishes post war life war returned cincinnati raised family son ohio state legislator assistant district attorney southern ohio resumed career turner pursued amateur acting public speaking engagements gave public readings charitable causes known african american community cincinnati 1870s acted local theaters directed music drama exhibitions city wrote play rich southern entitled scenes performed january lead role set kentucky mississippi massachusetts work covered end slavery transition freedom blacks privately run play received engage self promotion moved public theaters january working assistant engineer cincinnati water works prominent african american actress came perform city davis large musical dramatic festival hall proved successful included productions took role culmination festival performance selected scenes playing title role davis newspapers black white communities cincinnati praised performances actors commercial stating threw energy power successful festival led invited play principal actor washington production organized davis company including davis amateur actors area performed entirety scenes scene davis premier black actress time star played opposite king production played ford house people play primarily white attendees reviewer washington_post reported intelligence leading performers command respect disposed find cause laughter said washington newspapers praised principal actors noted inexperience supporting cast evident reviewers african american newspapers especially pleased production important venue like ford theater wrote performance leap leap colored man woman ground long held sacred white brother sister continued tour davis performed philadelphia returning cincinnati helped form city literary organization drama director lived rest life cincinnati died age seventy december buried medal honor citation citation took command company officers having killed wounded led
Powhatan Beaty