 Andrew Jackson Smith and Martin Delany will introduce themselves to
the public at 10 a.m. in the library's multipurpose room. The
program is free and open to the public.Andrew Jackson Smith was a
fugitive slave who made his way to Clinton. He later traveled to
Boston, where he joined the 55th Massachusetts Infantry, an
all-black regiment that was formed in 1863. Smith served valiantly
in the 55th, carrying the unit's battle flags after the original
color-bearer was killed. Smith was posthumously awarded the Medal of
Honor by President Bill Clinton in 2001. The medal will be on
display for visitors to see.
Martin Delany was a recruiter for the United States Colored
Troops, the USCT, during the Civil War and was one of the very few
African-Americans to become an officer during the Civil War. Delany
was commissioned as a major in the 104th USCT and once met with
Abraham Lincoln to discuss the role of African-American soldiers.
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Smith is portrayed by his grandson, Andrew Bowman. Delany is
portrayed by Khabir Shareef of Storyteller's Drum, from
Indianapolis, Ind. The day before their public appearance at the
library, the two men will meet with students from several
Springfield schools.
This program is part of the Civil War sesquicentennial
commemorative events that are sponsored by the Abraham Lincoln
Presidential Library and Museum and the Illinois Historic
Preservation Agency.
[Text from file received from the
Illinois Historic Preservation Agency] |
