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.