A Juneteenth tribute to Middlesex County African-American Civil War Soldiers and Sailors is set for 3 p.m. Sunday, June 22, at Antioch Baptist Church, Saluda.
Reenactors representing the 23rd Regiment of the United States Colored Troops will appear in uniform. Members of this Spotsylvania County-based group will speak about the Civil War involvement of colored soldiers and sailors broadly, as well as their participation in Juneteenth, specifically.
Special recognition will be given to Middlesex and Gloucester resident Samuel Mayo, a member of the Second Regiment of the United States Colored Cavalry and the 25th Corp, Cavalry Brigade who went into Galveston, Texas, with General Gordon Granger on June 19, 1865.
The Rev. Dr. Leonard L. Edloe, pastor of New Hope Fellowship, a church in Hartfield, will reflect on the topic, “Looking for a Better Home on Earth.” The Southside Rappahannock Baptist Association choir under the direction of Marcellus Dungee will sing Negro spirituals that have themes of bondage and freedom. Displays at the program will include a sword that belonged to Civil War sailor David Harris, one of the Stingray Point “contraband” sailors and one of the first Black men to enlist in the United States Navy during the Civil War.
The public is cordially invited to attend.
