Distinguished in their service, the 29th Regiment Connecticut Volunteers soldiered on in spite of segregation and state-wide prejudice.

By: Westport Museum for History & Culture

Connecticut is intricately tied up in the history of Juneteenth, the (now) Federal holiday commemorating the final emancipation of enslaved African-Americans at the end of the Civil war on June 19th, 1865. The 29th Connecticut Colored Infantry Regiment alongside their compatriots from the CT 31st Colored Infantry Regiments were sent to enforce the emancipation of enslaved people and oversee the peaceful transition of power from the Confederacy.  The two units, who had seen action throughout the war, arrived in Texas on June 10th and remained until they were mustered out of service in November of 1865.

The heroic service of these soldiers continued despite the pro-slavery stance in Connecticut where towns like Westport had long depended on the local enslavement of native people and African Americans for economic prosperity until 1848. After enslavement ended in the state, Connecticut manufacturers and insurance agents continued to profit from southern slave plantations which bought, clothing, grain, shoes, and insurance policies for and on enslaved people. Connecticut willingly complied with the Fugitive Slave Acts of 1793 and 1850 which compelled states to send self-emancipated enslaved person back to their enslavers in the South even if captured in free territory.

In the early days of the war, free African American Connecticut men were not allowed to serve, just as they were not in the beginning of the American Revolution. As with the War for Independence, desperation for conscripts, eased the restriction and eighty percent of all eligible Black men in Connecticut enlisted and fought on behalf of the union. The town of Westport, and others, put up a bond or bonus for enlistment to lure local Euro-Americans like Benjamin Toquet into joining the fight. His letters home tell a story of local views on slavery, African-Americans and the war effort.

After the Civil War, the US Government did not allow African American veterans to form National Guard Units. In New Haven, this led to the independent formation of a military preparedness unit called the Wilkins Guard, named after the first Black Man to enlist in the Connecticut Civil War regiments.  The Army’s lack of preparedness at the start of World War I, meant that “colored” guardsmen  had to be taken seriously and the 1st Separate Company of the Connecticut National Guard. Was formed. The unit was called up for World War I service in the summer of 1917 and was combined with the 372nd Regiment, U.S. Army and 371st infantry—two other “colored” units. Together, they were among the only units prepared for the war. 

To maintain standards of American segregation, the US Army advised French allies in World War I that French and African American officers should not “fraternize” in accordance with social standards in the United States. The French declined to comply and commanding general Mariano Goybet later formally commended the 372nd unit for its exemplary valor at the Battle of Champagne. 

Learn more with  Westport Museum’s Juneteenth Tuesday Treasure video, here or join the Museum’s Destination Westport: Hidden History, Black Stories walking tour, available throughout the summer.