Riverside Cemetery – Windsor

Resting Place of Civil War African American Soldiers

Several African American soldiers from the Connecticut 29th and 31st Colored Infantry regiments, the Rhode Island 14th Colored Heavy Artillery regiment, the Massachusetts 54th regiment, and U.S. Navy are buried in the Windsor Riverside Cemetery on East Street and the Palisado Cemetery on Palisado Avenue also in Windsor.

During the Civil War, African Americans were initially prohibited by federal law from enlisting. Only after the emancipation proclamation went into effect, did the War department issue a general order allowing African Americans to join the Armed Forces. The Bureau of Colored Troops identified African American regiments as the United States Colored Troops (USCT). The men of valor sacrificially served and fought not one war, but two: 1) the war against the confederacy for rights to African American’s freedom and 2) the war against a vast system of racial discrimination and unequal treatment within the Union forces. They served under incredible resistance to their involvement and were subjected to constant humiliation.

Yet, they served with incredible perseverance, bravery, fortitude, valor, and intelligence.

This site is open to the public.

This is one of six Freedom Trail sites in Windsor.