by Sharon C. Bryant, Tryon Palace African American Outreach Coordinator and Bernard George, a member of our 35th USCT reenactment troop
On November 13 in Wilmington, the Cameron Art Museum unveiled “Boundless,” a sculpture honoring the United States Colored Troops (USCT), by award-winning North Carolina artist Stephen Hayes. During a two-day celebration more than 1,000 visitors from across the country gathered to commemorate and celebrate the historic 1864 USCT battle at Forks Road that led to the fall of Wilmington, the Civil War’s last Confederate seaport.
The sculpture explores the past, present, and future in the fight for equality in America. The life size sculpture of Black soldiers engaged in the heat of battle presents the actual cast features of 11 African American men.
Artist Stephen Hayes spent 12 hours casting the features of USCT descendants, USCT reenactors, and African American veterans for this sculpture. The stories of those cast for the sculpture include a young man who is the descendant of four USCT soldiers, dedicated re-enactors, Vietnam veterans, and a young Marine veteran. All were impacted personally and deeply by the story of the 2,000 USCT soldiers who bravely fought at Forks Road.
Tryon Palace’s 35th USCT reenactment group was an important part of this historic celebration. Earlier in 2018, six members of the 35th USCT reenactment group traveled to Wilmington to have their faces cast for the historic sculpture. Of the six reenactors, Vernon “Gus” Guion made the cut, and his likeness is forever engraved on the sculpture. Major Bernard George of the 35th USCT participated in the sculpture’s dramatic unveiling.
The dedication celebration brought together more than 50 African American Civil War reenactors and living historians from across the country. Representing the USCT 35th Regiment out of New Bern were Craig Allen, Sharon C. Bryant, William Davis Jr, Cayden Fontaine, Bernard George, Vernon Guion, Curtis Jenkins, David Theroith, Curtis Thompson, Carol Williams, James Williams, Marshall Williams, Louis Brown, and Martin Harris.
The Tryon Palace USCT reenactment group participated in several major reenactment venues and received many complements from visitors impressed with the knowledge and skills exhibited in their living history camp. On Sunday morning, Chaplain Marshall Williams of the 35th led a spiritual church service. Members of the 35th, and the 135th from Goldsboro, supported the service by singing “Oh Freedom, the Battle Hymn of the Republic,” and other Civil War era songs.
This USCT project is timely and necessary, as the nation looks closely at issues of race and systemic racism. For Hayes, the sculpture is personal. “As a Black man in America, you see the imagery of a Black person in chains, being whipped, begging, kneeling and helpless,” said Hayes. “This project is important to me because, as a creator, I get to change that narrative — by giving Black soldiers a sense of honor and pride.”
A Civil War battle won by the tenacity of the USCT led to the fall of Wilmington, the Confederacy’s last seaport. These USCT soldiers fought for the Union, but they also fought for their freedom and the absolutists of slavery. Their impact is significant, yet the story is virtually unknown.
The project was generously funded by the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation with an Inclusive Public Art grant.
Tryon Palace • 529 South Front Street • New Bern, NC 28562 • 252-639-3500 • www.tryonpalace.org