A Hidden History of Black Soldiers

While researching his book, Black Patriots: Recovering a Lost History of the American Revolution, Patrick S. Poole was surprised to find dozens of Black Patriots, including Salem Poor, Peter Salem, James Arcule, and Prince Estabrook, a slave wounded at Lexington who served until 1783. He also uncovered 750 Black patriot pension applications from the 1818 Pension Act, which provide firsthand affidavits of service, and notes Black soldiers appeared in nearly every major battle, sometimes up to 10% of troops, including more than 700 listed in Washington’s army after Monmouth.

Hear more about this amazing and virtually unknown history at his Columbus Library talk.