The United States Colored Troops (USCT) are the free enslaved African Americans who fought for the Union Army during the Civil War. By the end of the war, USCT represented almost 10% of the Union Army. This presentation will focus on the USCT from Queen Anne’s County. These individuals fought valiantly at the Battle of the Crater and Fort Gilmer, among other battles. Their contributions helped win the war, preserve the Union, and end slavery. And yet, for too long, their contributions have been forgotten or ignored. In this discussion, we will explore the remarkable accomplishments of the 7th, 19th, and 39th regiments of the USCT and meet some of the more than 435 USCT veterans who came from Queen Anne’s County.
Chris Pupke is a former President of the Queen Anne’s County Historical Society and serves as a member of the Advisory Board at the Kennard African American Heritage and Cultural Center, where he offers lectures on African American history in Queen Anne’s County through the Institute for Adult Learning. He has been researching the United States Colored Troops from Queen Anne’s County for more than a decade and is helping to establish a memorial in their honor at Kennard. Mr. Pupke is also the Executive Director of the Biophilia Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving biodiversity.
This program is presented by the Talbot Historical Society in partnership with the Talbot County Free Library and will take place at the Talbot County Free Library, located at 100 W. Dover Street, Easton, MD 21601. The lecture will be held on February 4, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. The lecture is free and open to the public, but reservations are requested.
For questions or to make a reservation, please call 410-822-0773 or email kaylaw@talbothistory.org.