Civil War Veteran: Henry C. Keith in the 8th USCT
Civil War Veteran: Henry C. Keith in the 8th USCT
Civil War veteran Henry C. Keith served in the 8th United States Colored Troops (Pvt. Co. B 8th USCT) which placed him at the heart of some of the Civil War’s most pivotal and harrowing moments. The 8th US Colored Infantry was mustered into service in Philadelphia in September 1863, a time when the Union Army was increasingly recognizing the strategic and moral imperative of enlisting African American soldiers. For Henry “Harry,” as he was often called, and his fellow soldiers, their enlistment was not just about preserving the Union; it was a profound act of self-assertion and a claim to their rightful place as citizens and men of valor.
The son of Frank Keith was born on September 5, 1840, in Cecil County, Maryland, Henry C. grew up in a landscape marked by rolling hills and fertile farmlands, where the Susquehanna River met the Chesapeake Bay. This picturesque county, however, was not immune to the tensions brewing across the nation. As the whispers of war grew into roars, young Henry’s life in this rural, agrarian community was about to intersect with the tumultuous course of American history.
Henry C. Keith aka Harry Keath & Service in the 8th USCT
In 1863, as the Civil War raged, Henry enlisted in the 8th United States Colored Troops (USCT), Company B. The 8th USCT, formed in Philadelphia, was a beacon of hope and defiance, a unit where African American soldiers fought not only for the Union but for their very right to freedom and equality. The 8th USCT saw significant action, notably in the Battle of Olustee in Florida, a fiercely contested and bloody engagement. As muskets fired and cannons roared, Henry and his comrades faced not just the Confederates but the harsh realities of a nation grappling with its soul.
Training and Challenges:
Upon enlistment, the men of the 8th USCT underwent rigorous training at Camp William Penn, located just outside Philadelphia. This training was crucial, as many of the recruits had no prior military experience. However, the enthusiasm and determination to prove themselves equal to white soldiers drove them to quickly adapt and excel in their training. Despite their dedication and hard work, these troops often faced inferior equipment and discrimination from parts of the Union Army’s leadership, reflecting the broader racial prejudices of the time.
Combat and Valor:
The 8th USCT was deployed to the Eastern Theater of the war, where they quickly found themselves in the thick of combat. One of their most significant engagements was the Battle of Olustee in Florida on February 20, 1864. This battle was the largest fought in Florida during the war and proved to be a brutal encounter. The 8th USCT, along with other USCT regiments, was heavily involved in the fight, which ended in a Confederate victory. Despite the defeat, the valor and bravery displayed by the 8th USCT and other African American units in the battle were undeniable. They fought fiercely, even as they faced heavy casualties, demonstrating their courage and dedication to the cause of the Union and to their own freedom.
The Cost of Courage:
The Battle of Olustee was a stark illustration of the high cost of courage. The 8th USCT suffered significant losses, with many soldiers killed, wounded, or captured. The captured African American soldiers faced a grim fate, as Confederate forces often treated black prisoners of war with extreme brutality, refusing them the same rights as white prisoners. The survivors of the 8th USCT, including Henry, would carry the physical and emotional scars of this battle for the rest of their lives.
Legacy of Service:
Despite the hardships and the discrimination faced both within and outside the military, the service of Henry C. Keith and his comrades in the 8th USCT contributed significantly to the Union victory and the eventual abolition of slavery. Their bravery helped to challenge and change perceptions of African Americans, earning them a place of honor in the history of the United States.
Henry’s time with the 8th USCT would have been marked by moments of fear, pride, camaraderie, and profound personal growth. The experiences of battle, the bonds formed with fellow soldiers, and the injustices faced would have deeply influenced his views on freedom, equality, and what it means to fight for one’s rights. This period in his life was not just about survival but about asserting his humanity and claiming his place in the narrative of America’s quest for a more perfect union.
After the Civil War: USCT Veteran Love, Life, Family in an Un-United Nation
After the war’s end, the nation, scarred yet whole, embarked on a path of reconstruction. Like many other Black Americans who returned home after the end of the Civil War, Harry was not content to stay in his place of origin after the end of the Reconstruction Era. So, Harry followed the Susquehanna upriver, and found love. Henry C. Keith married Rachel J. Smith in 1884 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Their union, set against the backdrop of a still-divided nation, was a testament to hope and perseverance. Together, they welcomed their daughter, Sadie Lavena Keith, into a world that was vastly different from the one Harry had known in his youth, but not as changed as the one he and his fellow soldiers in the 8th USCT had fought for.
Harry’s journey led him to don the badge of a policeman in 1885, after William C. Williams resigned. He was a member of the Grand United Order of Odd Fellows, the Afro-American League, and a musician in the Perseverance Band; these choices were reflections of his deep commitment to community and empowerment. Through these roles, he championed the cause of African Americans, striving for equality and justice in a world still marked by the institution that justified slavery.
Twilight Years: Reflections of a Life Well-Lived:
As Henry C. Keith died at home on March 27, 1921, in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. He left behind a legacy but no known descendants survive today. His only known offspring, his daughter, Sadie Keith, married John D. Smith circa 1909, and died April 20, 1935 with no surviving children. Harry, like many other Civil war veterans, and the entire Keith family (that is known to us) is buried Lincoln Cemetery, Harry’s final resting place is a silent testament to a life that witnessed and contributed to some of the most transformative periods in American history.
Harrisburg Daily Independent. “Appointed Patrolman.” September 4, 1888.
Harrisburg Daily Independent. “Harrisburg’s Centennial Police Force-Relic of the Administration of the Late Mayor S. Cameron Wilson.” August 13, 1902.
Harrisburg Telegraph. “Afro-American League-Sixth Ward Colored Voters Join the State Organization.” November 19, 1900.
Harrisburg Telegraph. “Local News Jottings.” April 6, 1885.
Harrisburg Telegraph. “Obituary for HENRY C. KEITH.” March 28, 1921.
Harrisburg Telegraph. “Police Officer Dismissed.” August 31, 1888.
“Harry C. ‘Henry’ Keith (1840-1921) – Find a Grave…” Accessed March 1, 2024. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/142000211/harry_c-keith.
“Sarah K Keith Smith (1885-1935) – Find a Grave…” Accessed March 1, 2024. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/176551260/sarah_k-smith.
“Union – U.S. Colored Troops Infantry (Part 1).” Accessed November 9, 2022. http://www.civilwararchive.com/Unreghst/uncolinf1.htm#8.
