On Memorial Day, Civil War soldier from "the only black unit from Milwaukee that fought" was honored

On Memorial Day, Civil War solder from “the only black unit from Milwaukee that fought” was honored

On Memorial Day, Civil War solder from "the only black unit from Milwaukee that fought" was honored

MILWAUKEE -- After more than 120 years, a Civil War-era veteran has been honored.

"This is unlike anything we`ve ever done before," Cpl. Rickey Townsell, with Company F 29th Infantry, USCT said.

Memorial Day ceremony for Private William Reed

On Memorial Day, Monday, May 30th, Company F, 29th Infantry, United States Colored Troops re-enactors hosted a grave-site ceremony for Private William Reed.

"Not only to be a part of living history, but also, to give a fallen soldier his honor," Cpl. Townsell said.

During the Civil War, Private Reed was one of 75 members of the original Company F, 29th Infantry, United States Colored Troops.

Private William Reed

Cpl. Rickey Townsell

"We represent the only black unit from Milwaukee, southeastern Wisconsin that actually fought in the Civil War," Cpl. Townsell said.

Having died in 1895, Private Reed was in an unmarked grave in what was known as the colored section of the only cemetery in the city that would allow black soldiers to be buried in its plots at the time.

In fall 2015, Private Reed received a headstone, but his proper military honors remained delayed -- until Monday.

Private William Reed

"This is fantastic. This is one of our own. This is who we actually portray," Carla Brockman said.

The ceremony included soldiers dressed in authentic Civil War uniforms, a 21-gun salute with muskets from the Civil War era and some representation of the wives who joined Company F, 29th Division.

Memorial Day ceremony for Private William Reed

"They were the cooks, and the teachers, and the seamstresses, and the nurses, because white stewards didn`t take care of black soldiers," Brockman said.

The members of Company F were mainly from Illinois, but a small group were native Wisconsinites. Some of those who served with the company are said to have witnessed the surrender of General Robert E. Lee.