African Americans
During the Civil War
There were approximately three thousand Blacks from the area surrounding Plymouth to the Coast, and down to New Bern NC who joined the Union. There were three Black Army Regiments were formed in Plymouth; 1st. North Carolina Volunteers of African Descent, 2nd. North Carolina Volunteers of African Descent, and 37th U. S. Colored Troops. In addition, many blacks who were recruited here became parts of other Black regiments. At the fight at Battery Wagner in Charleston, SC as depicted in the movie "Glory, the all Black Regiment" the 54th Mass. Volunteers, had 4 men from Plymouth in the Union Uniform. However, in the actual battle, there were 108 men recruited in Plymouth that made up parts of other black regiments in the same fight.

At the Civil War Port-O-Plymouth Museum, there is a file with 3000 Black soldiers recruited from this area with complete data sheet on physical description, place born, occupation, place of service, and discharge data or place of death. Also, there were hundreds of Black men that joined the Union fleet stationed here at Plymouth under various commanders during Union occupation.