Voices Of Freedom - About Us
Dr. Wesley Wilson and Mr. Chauncey Herring, at different points
and places in their lives both came to realize that the role played by
African American men and women, slave and free on both sides was
significant to the final outcome of the Civil War (1861-1865.) They
also realized that a significant amount of American history was being
lost, misrepresented and misunderstood. In addition, African
Americans were being systematically left out of or misrepresented by
the history books and teachings about the Civil War. This of course
resulted in no one being taught the correct and true picture of the
African American and the Civil War.
and places in their lives both came to realize that the role played by
African American men and women, slave and free on both sides was
significant to the final outcome of the Civil War (1861-1865.) They
also realized that a significant amount of American history was being
lost, misrepresented and misunderstood. In addition, African
Americans were being systematically left out of or misrepresented by
the history books and teachings about the Civil War. This of course
resulted in no one being taught the correct and true picture of the
African American and the Civil War.
In 2000, while working on the committee preparing for the Gloucester County, VA, 350th celebration
they discovered their common interest as well as the shared concern for the potential loss of important
African American history. This led them to join forces in the pursuit of their desire to learn more and to
share more with everyone, young and old, black and white, north and south. Because Chauncey had
taken on the persona of Thomas Morris Chester, a black war correspondent who reported on the
United States Colored Troops (USCT) and Wesley who studied and assumed the role of a USCT,
there was formed a natural platform for an interview type format.
they discovered their common interest as well as the shared concern for the potential loss of important
African American history. This led them to join forces in the pursuit of their desire to learn more and to
share more with everyone, young and old, black and white, north and south. Because Chauncey had
taken on the persona of Thomas Morris Chester, a black war correspondent who reported on the
United States Colored Troops (USCT) and Wesley who studied and assumed the role of a USCT,
there was formed a natural platform for an interview type format.
These two living historians have been presenting in this format to schools and groups since that
time. In addition to educating they have been instrumental in establishing monuments in
Gloucester County, VA, and in York County, VA, in recognition of the two USCT Medal of Honor
recipients born there, Brevet Sergeant Edward Ratcliff and Private James Daniel Gardner.
Thomas Chester, in his dispatch to the Philadelphia Press wrote that the 36th USCT, under the
command of Lieutenant Colonel B.F. Pratt, had the honor of being the first infantry regiment to
enter Richmond, VA.
In their Living History presentation, Chauncey Herring, as Thomas Morris Chester, will interview
Wesley Wilson, as Brevet Sergeant Edward Ratcliff, a member of the 36th USCT and Medal of
Honor recipient at the Battle of Newmarket Heights, VA, or as James Daniel Gardner (aka)
Gardiner, also of the 36th USCT and a Medal of Honor recipient, about events leading up to and
after the Regiment’s entering Richmond.
We only rarely use period dialect because the understanding and interpretation can become
confusing and distracting resulting in a loss of the true message. We have also found that dialect
as presented or interpreted can be offensive to some.
Following every presentation, we open the floor to a Question and Answer session about the
Peninsula Campaign in particular and the United States Colored Troops in general.
time. In addition to educating they have been instrumental in establishing monuments in
Gloucester County, VA, and in York County, VA, in recognition of the two USCT Medal of Honor
recipients born there, Brevet Sergeant Edward Ratcliff and Private James Daniel Gardner.
Thomas Chester, in his dispatch to the Philadelphia Press wrote that the 36th USCT, under the
command of Lieutenant Colonel B.F. Pratt, had the honor of being the first infantry regiment to
enter Richmond, VA.
In their Living History presentation, Chauncey Herring, as Thomas Morris Chester, will interview
Wesley Wilson, as Brevet Sergeant Edward Ratcliff, a member of the 36th USCT and Medal of
Honor recipient at the Battle of Newmarket Heights, VA, or as James Daniel Gardner (aka)
Gardiner, also of the 36th USCT and a Medal of Honor recipient, about events leading up to and
after the Regiment’s entering Richmond.
We only rarely use period dialect because the understanding and interpretation can become
confusing and distracting resulting in a loss of the true message. We have also found that dialect
as presented or interpreted can be offensive to some.
Following every presentation, we open the floor to a Question and Answer session about the
Peninsula Campaign in particular and the United States Colored Troops in general.
Chauncey
Herring
Herring
Dr. Wesley C. Wilson
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Mary Elizabeth Bowser was part of a Union spy ring known as "the Richmond underground,"
directed by Elizabeth Van Lew, whose family was well respected and well connected socially in
Richmond. Bowser had been a slave of the Van Lew family, but Van Lew freed her and sent her to
Philadelphia be educated by the Quakers. When Van Lew established a spy ring in Richmond
shortly before the fighting began Bowser returned to work with her for the Union. Van Lew obtained
a position for Bowser as a servant in the Confederate "White House".
Bowser pretending to be uneducated but hardworking and was hired as a regular employee. Her
access provided her with opportunities to overhear valuable information. As a black servant, Bowser
was ignored by the President's guests. Her reporting focused on conversations she overheard
between Confederate officials at the President's residence and on documents she was able to read
while working around the house. Bowser had a photographic memory and could report every word of
the documents she saw at the "White House."
In recognition of her intelligence contributions, Bowser was inducted into the US Army Intelligence
Hall of Fame at Fort Huachuca, Arizona, on 30 June 1995.
directed by Elizabeth Van Lew, whose family was well respected and well connected socially in
Richmond. Bowser had been a slave of the Van Lew family, but Van Lew freed her and sent her to
Philadelphia be educated by the Quakers. When Van Lew established a spy ring in Richmond
shortly before the fighting began Bowser returned to work with her for the Union. Van Lew obtained
a position for Bowser as a servant in the Confederate "White House".
Bowser pretending to be uneducated but hardworking and was hired as a regular employee. Her
access provided her with opportunities to overhear valuable information. As a black servant, Bowser
was ignored by the President's guests. Her reporting focused on conversations she overheard
between Confederate officials at the President's residence and on documents she was able to read
while working around the house. Bowser had a photographic memory and could report every word of
the documents she saw at the "White House."
In recognition of her intelligence contributions, Bowser was inducted into the US Army Intelligence
Hall of Fame at Fort Huachuca, Arizona, on 30 June 1995.
"Black Dispatches" was a common
term used by the Union military for
intelligence on Confederate forces
provided by Negroes. This source
of information represented the
single most prolific and productive
category of intelligence obtained
and acted on by Union forces
throughout the Civil War; and more
often than not was provided by
women. Women were especially
effective because they were the
“invisible” workers moving among
the Confederate households and
troops performing everyday, "black
woman", chores such as cooking,
cleaning and laundering.
Such Union agents as Mary
Elizabeth Bowser, Harriet Tubman
and Mary Touvestre are portrayed
by the "Voices".
".
term used by the Union military for
intelligence on Confederate forces
provided by Negroes. This source
of information represented the
single most prolific and productive
category of intelligence obtained
and acted on by Union forces
throughout the Civil War; and more
often than not was provided by
women. Women were especially
effective because they were the
“invisible” workers moving among
the Confederate households and
troops performing everyday, "black
woman", chores such as cooking,
cleaning and laundering.
Such Union agents as Mary
Elizabeth Bowser, Harriet Tubman
and Mary Touvestre are portrayed
by the "Voices".
".
Harriet Tubman - best known as the conductor was, during the war
known as the general because of her covert and extensive
knowledge the Confederate areas of operations. Tubman made
many forages behind Confederate lines to obtain information on
troop strengths and activities. She planned and assisted the escape
and evasion of captured Union troops and in June 1863, lead 500
USCT’s from Fortress Monroe up the Columbee River in S.C.,
destroying Confederate supplies and freeing 800 slaves. Harriet
Tubman remains the only woman to lead United States troops in a
combat raid behind enemy lines. She was buried in N.Y. in 1913, with
full military honors
known as the general because of her covert and extensive
knowledge the Confederate areas of operations. Tubman made
many forages behind Confederate lines to obtain information on
troop strengths and activities. She planned and assisted the escape
and evasion of captured Union troops and in June 1863, lead 500
USCT’s from Fortress Monroe up the Columbee River in S.C.,
destroying Confederate supplies and freeing 800 slaves. Harriet
Tubman remains the only woman to lead United States troops in a
combat raid behind enemy lines. She was buried in N.Y. in 1913, with
full military honors
Dr. Saundra Cherry-Nelson: is the voice that
portrays Harriet Tubman, Mary Elizabeth Browser
and Mary Touvestre, bringing to life the role of
Black women who become spies and secret
agents for the Union.
portrays Harriet Tubman, Mary Elizabeth Browser
and Mary Touvestre, bringing to life the role of
Black women who become spies and secret
agents for the Union.
Robert Smalls (aka) Walter Darden
Robert Smalls (April 5 , 1839–February 23,
1915) was a slave who, during and after the
Civil War, became a ship's pilot, sea
captain, and politician. He freed himself and
his family from slavery on May 13, 1862, by
commandeering a Confederate transport
ship, the USS Planter, to freedom in
Charleston harbor. He was born in Beaufort,
South Carolina, and eventually became a
politician—serving in both the South
Carolina State legislature and the United
States House of Representatives. During his
career, Smalls authored legislation that
created the first free and compulsory public
school system in America in South Carolina,
founded the Republican Party of South
Carolina, and successfully convinced
President Lincoln to accept African
American soldiers into the Union army. He
is notable as the last Republican to
represent South Carolina's 5th congressional
district.
1915) was a slave who, during and after the
Civil War, became a ship's pilot, sea
captain, and politician. He freed himself and
his family from slavery on May 13, 1862, by
commandeering a Confederate transport
ship, the USS Planter, to freedom in
Charleston harbor. He was born in Beaufort,
South Carolina, and eventually became a
politician—serving in both the South
Carolina State legislature and the United
States House of Representatives. During his
career, Smalls authored legislation that
created the first free and compulsory public
school system in America in South Carolina,
founded the Republican Party of South
Carolina, and successfully convinced
President Lincoln to accept African
American soldiers into the Union army. He
is notable as the last Republican to
represent South Carolina's 5th congressional
district.
Carver Memorial Presbyterian Church, Newport News VA, in
1987, formed an African American youth mentioning, tutoring
and educational experience program for inner city children
and named it The Voices of Freedom/ Help Them Now
(VOC/HTN). This program has mentored an estimated 225
youth, both male and female from grades 4 through
middle/high school and from schools and communities
throughout Tidewater Virginia. In addition to adult leadership
and role modeling, the program is assisted by high school
and college youth who had previously matriculated the HTN
program.
The program is designed to have an overarching theme that
is dynamic, current, interesting, relative and of educational
value to the participants. In 2005, the selected theme
became the Civil War and the role played by African
Americans, male, female, military and civilian, north and
south, and more specifically the African American Sailor
(USCS).
Tidewater VA was the hot bed of the Civil War, on both land
and sea, such as the battle of Hampton Roads and the
Peninsula campaigns. Thus Tidewater provides a wealth of
experiential learning opportunities, historical sites and
museums related to the Civil War, especially naval, for both
youth and parents thus providing a family learning
opportunity.
As the Voices of Freedom, these youth, along with adult living
historians, are representing 18, 000 or more male and at
least 12 female African American's, or 20% of the US Civil
War navy. At least 5,000 of these sailors were Virginians and
the bulk of those were from the Tidewater region These
youth are also being taught sea faring skills and lore of the
period as well as modern sailing skills, kayaking, canoing,
swimming, scuba diving, marine navigation, marine biology
and environmental stewardship.
1987, formed an African American youth mentioning, tutoring
and educational experience program for inner city children
and named it The Voices of Freedom/ Help Them Now
(VOC/HTN). This program has mentored an estimated 225
youth, both male and female from grades 4 through
middle/high school and from schools and communities
throughout Tidewater Virginia. In addition to adult leadership
and role modeling, the program is assisted by high school
and college youth who had previously matriculated the HTN
program.
The program is designed to have an overarching theme that
is dynamic, current, interesting, relative and of educational
value to the participants. In 2005, the selected theme
became the Civil War and the role played by African
Americans, male, female, military and civilian, north and
south, and more specifically the African American Sailor
(USCS).
Tidewater VA was the hot bed of the Civil War, on both land
and sea, such as the battle of Hampton Roads and the
Peninsula campaigns. Thus Tidewater provides a wealth of
experiential learning opportunities, historical sites and
museums related to the Civil War, especially naval, for both
youth and parents thus providing a family learning
opportunity.
As the Voices of Freedom, these youth, along with adult living
historians, are representing 18, 000 or more male and at
least 12 female African American's, or 20% of the US Civil
War navy. At least 5,000 of these sailors were Virginians and
the bulk of those were from the Tidewater region These
youth are also being taught sea faring skills and lore of the
period as well as modern sailing skills, kayaking, canoing,
swimming, scuba diving, marine navigation, marine biology
and environmental stewardship.
Monitor Merrimac gun turret
Civil War Sailor
Mary Touvestre was a freed slave who worked as a
housekeeper for a Confederate engineer who was repairing
and transforming the USS Merrimac into the Virginia, the
Confederate’s first ironclad (warship). She overheard the
engineer talking about the importance of the ship and
realized that it could be a significant weapon against the
Northern blockade. At great personal risk, she stole the
plans for the ship and fled to Washington, where she met
with the Department of the Navy. Upon seeing the plans and
hearing Touvestre’s report, the Union Navy sped up the
construction of its ironclad, the USS Monitor.
housekeeper for a Confederate engineer who was repairing
and transforming the USS Merrimac into the Virginia, the
Confederate’s first ironclad (warship). She overheard the
engineer talking about the importance of the ship and
realized that it could be a significant weapon against the
Northern blockade. At great personal risk, she stole the
plans for the ship and fled to Washington, where she met
with the Department of the Navy. Upon seeing the plans and
hearing Touvestre’s report, the Union Navy sped up the
construction of its ironclad, the USS Monitor.