Free Concert and Informational Program Set for Muskogee "Black Soldiers Fight For Freedom - Learn More About Them"
Contact: Bruce Fisher
(405) 522-5049
Oklahoma City, OK
September 17, 2008
For Immediate Release
The Black Heritage Committee of the Oklahoma Historical Society is presenting a free concert and informational program at the Muskogee Civic Center Friday September 25 beginning at 6:30 p.m. The concert will feature the All Funk Radio Show Band from Dallas. Speaking at the program will be National Park Service expert William Gwaltney, who will explain the role of black soldiers who fought valiantly in the Civil War.
The program will include reenactors from the 1st Kansas Colored Infantry, a unit composed of freedmen and escaped slaves from the Indian Territory who traveled north to Kansas and organized their own combat unit to fight for the Union.
The unit distinguished themselves in the Battle of Honey Springs and were cited by General James Blunt, the Union commander, for their bravery under fire. Though military historians are familiar with this unit, the public in Muskogee and Northeast Oklahoma may not be. "We want people to know this important story, know about the black soldiers who fought so gallantly to preserve the union in the Civil War," said Bruce Fisher, curator of African-American history for the Oklahoma Historical Society. "We are calling this special evening in Muskogee the Support Our Troops Concert and Battle."
"We are proud to present the All Funk Radio Show from Dallas. We are particularly pleased that William Gwaltney is joining us to discuss this important part of the Civil War. Gwaltney is a reenactor with the 54th Mass. Volunteer Infantry, the unit made famous by the movie 'Glory.'" "In addition to the music and discussion, reenactors from the 1st Kansas Colored Infantry will be on hand for a demonstration and firing salute."
This program is being presented on the Friday before the reenactment of the Battle of Honey Springs on Saturday, Sept. 26 and Sunday Sept. 27. Reenactments will be held each day at 1:30pm, camps open at 9am. The admission is $5 per person, children 12 and under are free.
The Battle of Honey Springs was the largest battle fought in Indian Territory, now Oklahoma. Nine thousand total troops were involved in the more than 4 hour battle that took place July 17, 1863. The Oklahoma Historical Society moved the reenactment of the battle to late September so that the viewing public might not have to suffer the heat as did those that fought the battle. The battle was a resounding victory for the Federals who were outnumbered in manpower three-to-one, but held a three to one advantage over the Confederates in artillery.
The Oklahoma Historical Society will reenact the battle of Honey Springs on Saturday and the battle of Greenleaf Prairie on Sunday. The battle of Greenleaf Prairie started out as a simple raid by Confederates on a Federal supply train between Forts Gibson and Smith. The battle, under unusual circumstances, looked at first as though the Federals would be wiped out, but the tide was turned in the nick of time by the happenstance of unwitting rescuers.