Peter experienced many dangerous and difficult circumstances once he enlisted in the United States Colored Troops. Listen to the audio recording of his interview, in which he describes those situations. If you miss something while listening, click on the image to the right to see a typed version of the recording.
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Drag the map below to explore Peter Churchwell's journey.
Start at the red marker in Wilmington, N.C.
As you move north look for the places Churchwell talks about:
How do you think he would have traveled to each place? |
Would you return to the army after escaping slavery a second time?
Yes:
Returning to the army could be a dangerous choice. Peter had already escaped slavery once, only to be forced back after Confederate soldiers captured him in battle. It was even more dangerous to be a member of the U.S.C.T. because many Confederate soldiers did not believe in taking black troops captive. Instead, Rebel soldiers would kill African-Americans captured in battle. |
No:
This could be a dangerous choice as well. Though Union soldiers occupied parts of North Carolina, the Confederate Army still battled for control, making it impossible to count on continued Federal protection. Additionally, when soldiers enlisted in the army they signed up for specific periods of time. Failure to fulfill the length of your enlistment was considered desertion and punishable in a variety of ways such as imprisonment and even execution. |
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