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The Civil War Experience of Sergeant Nimrod Burke (1836-1914)
Company F, 23rd Regiment, US Colored Infantry
On April 12, 1861, the American Civil War erupted! Washington County, Ohio eventually sent
over 4000 men to fight for the Union Forces. From a population of 39,000, this represented the highest per capita of any county
in the United States. Nimrod Burke was one of about 200 known African-American men from Washington and surrounding southeastern
Ohio counties, who served with United States Colored Troops when President Lincoln and the War Department authorized the use
of colored soldiers in January, 1863.
During the early phase of the Civil War, official Union policy had barred enlistment of
African Americans as soldiers. Some African Americans were employed early in the Civil War as civilian cooks, scouts, laborers,
teamsters, or as servants to high ranking Union officers.
Nimrod Burke was hired Major Melvin C. Clark as a civilian scout and teamster with the
36th Ohio Volunteer Infantry Regiment, Union Army when the Civil War started. Nimrod Burke qualified as a scout
because he was born in in Prince William County, Virginia and lived the first eighteen years of his life in the Tidewater
Region of Virginia before coming to Washington County, Ohio with his parents Joseph and Hannah Burke in 1854.
General George B. McClellan commanded 12,500 Union
Soldiers and General Robert E. Lee commanded 13,700 Confederate Forces in the Battle of Antietam on September 17, 1862. The
battle was fought along Antietam Creek near Sharpsburg, Maryland. Ironically Clarke was promoted to full Colonel and killed
the same day in the Battle of Antietam.
The Union won a marginal victory in the Battle
of Antietam. When Confederate Commander General Robert E. Lee retreated this gave President Lincoln the opportunity to declare
victory and enhance his announcement of the Emancipation Proclamation. Provisions in the Emancipation Proclamation included
the enlistment of "free blacks" and "emancipated slaves" as soldiers in the Union Army.
After Colonel Clarke's death, Nimrod continued
to serve as a civilian scout for the Union Army for about a year before he went in March of 1864 and enlisted in the Union
Army in Washington, D.C.. Nimrod was soon appointed as 1st Sergeant of Company F, 23rd United States Colored Infantry Regiment
(USCT). Black soldiers were not allowed to be commissioned as officers during the Civil War. 1st Sergeant was near
the top rank authorized for black soldiers, Sergeant Major being the highest.
The 23rd USCT was organized at Camp Casey, Va.,
from November 23, 1863, to June 30, 1864. The 23rd USCT was first attached to 2nd Brigade, 4th Division, 9th Corps, Army of
the Potomac, from April to September, 1864. Next the 23rd USCT was assigned to the 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, 9th Corps, until
December 1864, then assigned to the 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, 25th Corps, until December, 1865. From that time until mustered
out of service the 23rd USCT served with the 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, 25th Corps, in the Dept. of Texas.
Combat Campaigns:
The 23rd fought combat campaigns from the Rapidan to the James River, Va., in May and June,
1864. They guarded wagon trains for the Army of the Potomac through the Wilderness from June 15-18 they moved into position
at the Siege of Petersburg and Richmond which was begun on June 16, 1864, and lasted to April 2, 1865.
The 23rd participated in the Mine Explosion at Petersburg on July 30, 1864 and at Weldon
Railroad on August 18-21. Then Fort Sedgwick on September 28; Poplar Grove Church September 29-30; at Boydton Plank Road;
on Hatcher's Run October 27-28; and at Bermuda Hundred December 13. They remained on Duty at the Bermuda Hundred front until
March, 1865.
In March, 1865 the 23rd joined the Appomattox Campaign. On March 28-April 9, back to Hatcher's
Run March, 29-31. Finally the Fall of Petersburg on April 2, 1865 and Pursuit of Lee April 3-9 1865. Nimrod Burke and the
23rd were at Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865 when General Robert E. Lee surrendered the Confederate Forces.
The 23rd remained on Duty in the Department of Virginia until May, 1865 then moved to the
Rio Grande River in Texas during May-June. Nimrod continued duty with the 23rd Regiment at Brownsville, Texas until November
30, 1865 when the 23rd Regiment was Mustered Out of Military Service. The Regiment's losses during the Civil War, were 4 Officers
and 82 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded. 1 Officer and 165 Enlisted men died from disease. The total casualties were
252.
At the completion of his service Nimrod Burke returned to Marietta. Washington County,
Ohio and resumed life with his wife Mary Freeman Burke. Late in life, after the death of Mary, he moved to Chillicothe in
Ross County, Ohio where he died and his remains now rest.
There are some interesting historical and genealogical connections to the life and times
of Nimrod Burke. Sergeant Nimrod Burke’s ancestors had been slaves for generations to the Carter family who were the
ancestors of General Robert Lee.
American Civil War Honor Roll Dead from the 23rd U.S. Colored Infantry Regiment.
Soldiers of the 23rd U.S. Colored Infantry Regiment, who
were killed or died while on active duty in the Civil War and buried in Cypress Hill Cemetery, Long Island, New York.
Name Date
of Death
Hughes, Wesley Pvt
Oct. 30, 1864
Woodland, Shadrake
Oct. 10, 1864
Bailey, J. Sgt
Nov. 28,1864
Bishop, N. Sgt
Nov. 26,1864
Brooks, Jacob Pvt
-- -------------
Reed, James Pvt
Nov. 21, 1864
Yates, Enoch Pvt
Nov. 21,1864
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Soldiers of the 23rd U.S. Colored Infantry Regiment, buried at Prince George County, Virginia.
Name
Date of Death
Bailey, J. Sgt Nov.
28, 1864
Bishop, N. Sgt Nov.
26, 1864
Gordow, G. Pvt Oct.
28, 1864
Gray, J. Pvt
Dec. 25, 1864
Hays, A. Pvt Feb.
05, 1865
Jones, J. Pvt Jan.
20, 1865
Miller, J . Pvt
Nov. 26, 1864
Parker, A. Pvt
Nov. 23, 1864
Parker, R. Pvt
Oct. 21, 1864
Savage, A. Pvt
Nov. 13, 1864
Smith, R. Pvt Jan.
28, 1865
Williams, R. Pvt
Aug. 29, 1864
Williams, W. Pvt
Dec. 06, 1864
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27th Regiment, United States Colored Infantry
Organized at Camp Delaware, Ohio, January 16, 1864.
Ordered to Annapolis, Md. Attached to 1st Brigade, 4th Division, 9th Corps, Army of the Potomac, to September, 1864. 1st Brigade,
3rd Division, 9th Corps, to December, 1864. 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 25th Corps, December, 1864. 1st Brigade, 3rd Division,
25th Corps, to January, 1865. 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, 25th Corps, to March, 1865. 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, 10th Corps,
Dept. of North Carolina, to July, 1865. Dept. of North Carolina to September, 1865.
SERVICE.-Campaign from the Rapidan
to the James River, Va., May-June, 1864. Guard trains of the Army of the Potomac through the Wilderness. Before Petersburg
June 15-19. Siege of Petersburg and Richmond June 16 to December 7, 1864. Mine Explosion, Petersburg, July 30, 1864. Weldon
Railroad August 18-21. Poplar Grove Church September 29-30, and October 1. Bodyton Plank Road, Hatcher's Run, October
27-28. On the Bermuda front till December 1. 1st Expedition to Fort Fisher, N. C., December 7-27. 2nd Expedition to Fort
Fisher, N. C., January 7-15, 1865. Bombardment
of Fort Fisher January 13-15. Assault and capture of Fort Fisher January 15. Sugar Loaf Hill January 19.
Federal Point
February 11. Fort Anderson February 18-20. Capture of Wilimgton February 22. Northeast Ferry February 22. Campaign of
the Carolinas March 1-April 26. Advance on Kinston and Goldsboro March 6-21. Cox's Bridge March 23-24. Advance on Raleigh
April 9-14. Occupation of Raleigh April 14. Bennett's House April 26. Surrender of Johnston and his army. Duty in the Dept.
of North Carolina till September. Mustered out September 21, 1865.
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Charles Burke joined the Union Army at Marietta, Washington
County, Ohio and had military training at Camp Delaware, near Columbus, Ohio. He served with the 27th United States Colored
Infantry from August 1864 until September 1865. Private Charles Burke was severely wounded at Sugar Loaf Fort, North
Carolina in February 1865 and spent the remainer of the Civil War recovering from his wounds.
On 13 August 1868 Charles Burke married Sarah
Woods at Stafford, Monroe County, Ohio. Mr. Edward Okey, J.P. performed the ceremony. Around 1870 the couple relocated
to Rainbow, near Marietta, Washington County, Ohio where they raised 16 children. Charles and Sarah Burke are buried in the
Putnam Cemetery, located in (Devola) Marietta, Washington County, Ohio |
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