The 150th Anniversary of the United States Colored Troops

Today's blog post comes from archives specialist Jackie Budell. On May 22, 1863, the War Department issued General Orders 143, establishing a Bureau of Colored Troops in the Adjutant General’s Office to recruit and organize African American soldiers to fight for the Union Army. With this order, all African American regiments were designated as United … Continue reading The 150th Anniversary of the United States Colored Troops

Lizzie Borden took a….trip

On June 20, 1893, Lizzie Borden was declared innocent of the crime of murdering her father and stepmother. The National Archives holds a little piece of her history from before the murders. A month before her 30th birthday, Lizzie Borden of Fall River, Massachusetts, had sailed for Europe. In the late 1800s, more and more … Continue reading Lizzie Borden took a….trip

Facial Hair Friday: A bushy beard, a murder, and a missing arm

Today's Facial Hair Friday is not a case of mistaken identity. Jefferson Davis was arrested for murder. But this Jefferson Davis was not the president of the Confederate States. This one was a Union officer, with nearly the same name. Jefferson Columbus Davis was a brigadier general in the Union Army when he shot and … Continue reading Facial Hair Friday: A bushy beard, a murder, and a missing arm