How violent racism forced the Union Army to hide Black soldiers-in-training on a DC island in 1863

Camp Greene Protected First Black Federal Regiment

Hidden on Theodore Roosevelt Island in the Potomac River are historical markers that tell the story of Camp Greene, where America’s first federal Black regiment trained in secret.

Today, visitors can explore this forgotten piece of Civil War history through ranger-guided walks available every Saturday from May through October.

The island served as a protective sanctuary for the 1st United States Colored Troops when racial violence in Washington D. C.

made their training too dangerous on the mainland.

What happened on this small island in 1863 changed the course of American military history and helped pave the way for freedom.

Here’s the remarkable story of how 700 brave men found refuge on Mason’s Island and became the foundation of the Union’s Colored Troops program.

The War Department Created Jobs for Black Soldiers in 1863

The War Department issued General Order 143 on May 22, 1863, creating the Bureau of Colored Troops under Major Charles Warren Foster.

This order moved control of Black regiments from states to the federal government, changing Union military policy.

The Bureau set high standards for white officers leading these units. Applicants took hard tests on tactics, rules, and leadership in Washington.

Only about half passed the tests.

The First Federal Black Regiment Started in Washington

Just days before the official order, the 1st District of Columbia Colored Infantry began service on May 19, 1863.

Army Chaplains Raymond and Turner signed up volunteers from refugee camps, jails, and hospitals around Washington.

Men who escaped slavery in Virginia joined alongside free Black men ready to fight.

The Army soon renamed the unit as the 1st United States Colored Troops, making it the first regiment under federal control.

Fear of Violence Forced the Regiment to Train in Secret

Washington, D. C. was full of racial hatred in 1863. Military leaders worried about what might happen if Black troops walked through city streets.

They secretly moved 700-1,000 recruits to Mason’s Island in the Potomac River. Even President Lincoln didn’t know where they went at first.

Commanders banned white recruiting officers from the island to keep it secret and protect the men from angry mobs.

Mason’s Island Became a Hidden Training Ground

The Army set up Camp Greene on Mason’s Island, now known as Theodore Roosevelt Island. This spot in the Potomac River kept the soldiers safe while staying close to Washington.

Soldiers lived in rows of white tents, learning military drills under their white officers. The camp grew to hold up to 1,000 men during busy training times.

White Gangs Attacked the Black Recruits Despite Secrecy

News about the island camp leaked in June 1863, leading to trouble. A gang crossed to the island and attacked the Black recruits training there.

The Army sent Massachusetts troops to guard the 1st USCT soldiers from more attacks. Military leaders tightened security while trying to keep the camp hidden to prevent more violence.

Walt Whitman Visited the Soldiers During Training

Poet Walt Whitman visited Camp Greene on July 11, 1863. He wrote about seeing the Black soldiers training with discipline.

Whitman noted their clean camp, good location, and growing military skills. His visit came as public opinion slowly shifted toward accepting Black soldiers in combat roles.

Soldiers Went to Church in Washington While Training

The men of the 1st USCT regularly traveled from Camp Greene to attend services at Israel Bethel Church in Washington.

This church held special meaning as the place where the Emancipation Proclamation was read aloud on January 1, 1863.

For the soldiers, these services provided spiritual strength and community support during their training.

Training Ended When Combat Duty Called the Regiment South

After four months of training, the 1st USCT finished at Camp Greene in September 1863. The regiment got orders to Virginia, serving at Norfolk, Portsmouth, and Yorktown through April 1864.

This move took them from protected island training to facing Confederate forces in enemy territory.

Former Slaves Found Safety Where Soldiers Once Trained

From 1864 to 1865, Mason’s Island became a “contraband” camp housing up to 1,200 formerly enslaved people seeking freedom.

The term “contraband” meant escaped slaves seen as captured enemy property. The camp provided shelter, basic medical care, education, and work for these freedom seekers.

The Regiment Fought Hard in Virginia Battles

The 1st USCT joined General Butler’s operations south of the James River, including defending Wilson’s Wharf against Confederate cavalry on May 24, 1864.

They fought at Petersburg and in the Battle of the Crater on July 30, 1864, where Black troops faced brutal combat.

The regiment later served in North Carolina, seeing the surrender of Johnston’s army, the last major Confederate command.

Camp Greene’s Legacy Lives Through 178,000 Black Union Soldiers

The 1st USCT mustered out on September 29, 1865, after losing 185 men: 71 killed in action and 114 to disease.

The regiment’s creation and training at Camp Greene proved the federal government could successfully prepare African American troops for combat.

The island’s dual purpose as both training ground and refugee haven reflected the Civil War’s evolving purpose.

The success of this first regiment opened the door for 178,000 Black soldiers who ultimately served in the Union Army by war’s end.

Visiting Theodore Roosevelt Island

Theodore Roosevelt Island is a free national park with a unique connection to Black military history.

You can reach this D.C. island only by footbridge from the Virginia parking lot off George Washington Memorial Parkway northbound.

The island is recognized as part of the Underground Railroad Network to Freedom.

While bikes aren’t allowed on the island itself, there are racks near the footbridge where you can lock them up. No entrance fee or pass is needed to explore this historic site.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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