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| 1 | HOUSE RESOLUTION | ||||||
| 2 | WHEREAS, The 29th United States Colored Infantry Regiment, | ||||||
| 3 | formed on April 24, 1864, played a crucial role in the fight | ||||||
| 4 | for the Union during the American Civil War; and | ||||||
| 5 | WHEREAS, Comprised of 2,072 brave African American men | ||||||
| 6 | from Illinois, Missouri, and Wisconsin, the 29th U.S. Colored | ||||||
| 7 | Infantry Regiment stood as the largest Black Civil War | ||||||
| 8 | regiment; and | ||||||
| 9 | WHEREAS, The 29th U.S. Colored Infantry Regiment | ||||||
| 10 | demonstrated valor and dedication in significant battles, | ||||||
| 11 | including the Siege of Petersburg, the Battles of the Crater, | ||||||
| 12 | Globe Tavern, Poplar Grove Church, and Boydton Plank Road, and | ||||||
| 13 | the Appomattox Campaign; and | ||||||
| 14 | WHEREAS, The 29th U.S. Colored Infantry Regiment played a | ||||||
| 15 | pivotal role in the Juneteenth proclamation, which marked the | ||||||
| 16 | liberation of slaves in Galveston, Texas on June 19, 1865, a | ||||||
| 17 | day now celebrated as Juneteenth; and | ||||||
| 18 | WHEREAS, The volunteerism and sacrifice of African | ||||||
| 19 | American soldiers such as Pvt. William H. Costley, who was the | ||||||
| 20 | first enslaved male freed with the assistance of Abraham | ||||||
| 21 | Lincoln, and others who joined the Union Army, exemplify the | ||||||
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| 1 | courage and determination in the fight to end slavery; and | ||||||
| 2 | WHEREAS, In April 1864, 12 African American men, some | ||||||
| 3 | formerly enslaved individuals, demonstrated their commitment | ||||||
| 4 | to freedom and justice by volunteering for the Union Army at | ||||||
| 5 | the Tazewell County Courthouse; the names and ranks of these | ||||||
| 6 | brave men are Sgt. Marshall Ashby, Cpl. William Henry Ashby, | ||||||
| 7 | Pvt. William Henry Costley, Pvt. George H. Hall, Pvt. Wilson | ||||||
| 8 | Price, Pvt. Thomas M. Tumbleson, Pvt. Nathan Ashby, Pvt. | ||||||
| 9 | William J. Ashby, Pvt. Morgan Day, Pvt. Edward J. Lewis, Pvt. | ||||||
| 10 | Thomas G. L. Shipman, and Pvt. George W. Ure; and | ||||||
| 11 | WHEREAS, The Illinois State Historical Society, Tazewell | ||||||
| 12 | County Board, and Tazewell County Clerk have sponsored efforts | ||||||
| 13 | to honor and remember the legacy of the 29th U.S. Colored | ||||||
| 14 | Infantry Regiment, and it is important to educate future | ||||||
| 15 | generations about the bravery and resilience of these men and | ||||||
| 16 | their legacy in the ongoing pursuit of equality and justice | ||||||
| 17 | for all; therefore, be it | ||||||
| 18 | RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE | ||||||
| 19 | HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that | ||||||
| 20 | we honor the memory and sacrifice of the 29th United States | ||||||
| 21 | Colored Infantry Regiment and all African American soldiers | ||||||
| 22 | who fought bravely for freedom during the Civil War; and be it | ||||||
| 23 | further | ||||||
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| 1 | RESOLVED, That we commemorate their contribution to the | ||||||
| 2 | advancement of civil rights and celebrate their role in | ||||||
| 3 | shaping American history. | ||||||