One Country, One Flag, One Destiny: African American Service in the Civil War
Ohio´s Regiments
In June 1863, Ohio first African American recruits began reporting for duty at Camp Delaware, in Delaware, Ohio, a city twenty miles north of Columbus. The unit was designated the 127th Ohio Volunteer regiment. Shortly after their arrival in camp, and despite the reassurances of Governor Tod, the recruits were informed that they would be paid ten dollars a month, three less than their white counterparts. While many felt deceived by the government, the men voted to stay when given the option to leave camp. They were going to serve their country. After the formation of the Bureau of Colored Troops in Washington, D.C., the unit was re-designated the 5th United States Colored Troops.
In November, after nearly five months of drilling, the 5th U.S.C.T. was ordered to report to Virginia. Before the unit left for Virginia, a formal presentation of the colors was held. Former Governor William Dennison, Governor Tod, and Langston participated in the ceremony. Governor Tod gave a rousing send-off speech to the unit:
My boys, sons of the State, go forth now as you are called to fight for our country and its government! Let your conduct be that of brave, intelligent devoted American citizens! If such shall be your course, if spared and I can reach you no otherwise, on your return I will come upon my hands and knees to meet and greet you! And my words of commendation and praise shall be prompted by my pride and satisfaction in view of your behavior! But, should your conduct be that of cowards, showing your forgetfulness of the fearful responsibility which now rests upon your shoulders and the supreme dignity of the mission to which your government calls and this State sends you, as you return, I will crawl if need be, away from you, that I may never look again in your faces! I have, however full confidence in you; and my prayer to Almighty God is that He will protect you while he gives you victory in every battle in which you may be called to take part.
Langston accepted the colors on behalf on the regiment.
After leaving Camp Delaware, the unit reported for duty with the Army of the James at Portsmouth Virginia. On December 18, the unit participated in its first engagement with Confederate forces near Sandy Swamp, North Carolina. In a letter to his hometown newspaper, the Athens Messenger, Sergeant-Major Milton Holland described the unit's experiences after leaving Ohio. Participating in numerous expeditions in Virginia and North Carolina, the unit also took part in the Siege of Petersburg and Richmond, Virginia, the Battle of Chaffin's Farm, the assault and capture of Fort Fisher, N.C., the capture of Wilmington, N.C., and numerous other engagements. The unit served bravely until it was mustered out September 20, 1865.