Edward Belcher
Residence Taunton MA; a 40 year-old Peddler. Enlisted on 11/29/1864 as a Private. On 11/29/1864 he mustered into MA 7th Light Artillery He was Mustered Out on 11/10/1865 at Galloup's Island, Boston, MA He also had service in: "F" Co. MA 29th Infantry Source:- Massachusetts Soldiers, Sailors and Marines in the Civil War

Note:
HDS shows no Belcher in the 109th. On Broadfoot and muster roll of box 554, extraction 7 and record 2385. This regiment consolidated with the 11th PA, but no record theire either. NFR.

Belcher Edward E.

Note: Enlisted 6/26/61 as a Private. Wounded 9/17/62 at Antietam, MD. Mustered out 7/8/64. Residence Sharon, MA. 23 year old baker. On broadfoot and muster roll of box 544, extraction 3, and record 661. NFR.

Note: This Edwin is a far more intreresting person than this short entry implies.

Belcher Edwin PA 66 Inf D U 8/3/61 P-Corp Tr 73PA

Edwin PA 73 Inf E U 8/3/61 7/14/65 P-Capt W POW Surv

Enlisted in 66th PA Inf., co D after late May 1861 and transferred to the 73rd PA Inf Aug. 1861. The 66th was a regiment that never became organized because of "vextacious delays ensued before the men could be mustered in and many of them joined other commands. The regiment was disbanded in March 1862. HDS has a history but does not have a roster for the 66th, Broadfoot and the Muster Roll (box 554, extraction 7 and record 2386) shows him for the unit

Enlisted 8/3/61 in Philadelphia as a Private in Co. E, 73 PA Infantry. He had to enlist as a white because no African-Americans were accepted into the Union Army during the first year.

Mustered in 8/3/61.

Wounded, shot in the head, at Chancellorsville and left on the battlefield.

Captured and became POW on 5/21/63.

Prisoner at Libby Prison in Richmond. He must have been an Officer, 2nd LT., because only officers were held at Libby.

Exchanged and returned to his unit.

Wounded and became POW at Rocky Face Ridge, GA(5-11 May 64).

Hospitalized and held as POW in Savannah, GA.

Again exchanged to return to his unit.

Promoted 1st LT. 10/1/64

Promoted to Captain 5/25/65.

Mustered out 7/14/65.

Received a Disability pension for the epileptic seizures caused by the head wound.

Only about 120 African-Americans served as Commissioned officers in the Union Army during the War. Edwin is listed in the five officers whose units have not been identified. He is listed as Lt. Edwin Beldier on the internet list posted by the Missouri Commandery of MOLLUS (Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the U.S., founded in 1865 and had as its original member the Commissioned Officers of the Union forces).

Political figure in Georgia during Reconstruction. Joseph T. Glatthar, author of Forged In Battle: The Civil War Alliance of Black Soldiers and White Officers states: One prominent black politician in Georgia, Edwin Belcher, actually served as an officer in a white regiment. He was born in South Carolina and, because he was very light in color, educated at an all white school in Pennsylvania. when whites in Georgia learned of his ancestry in 1867, he responded, "My blood has dyed the soil of the Sunny South as deep as any other soldiers." He then concluded with a touch of sarcasm, "My service during the war was just as acceptable as any other man’s and they was appreciated." Belcher, no doubt told the truth. He had been a prisoner of war and suffered serious wounds, one of which was in the skull and caused epileptic-like seizures that plagued him for the rest of his life. He was in Georgia Legislature from Wilkes county in 1878 - 1789.

His name is inscribed on the plaque of a monument honoring the "African American Pioneers" at the Georgia state Capitol at Atlanta. This monument was erected in 1976 by the Black Caucus of Georgia General Assembly. The title on the plaque is "Expelled Because Of Their Color." Bradley E. Belcher is one of the 33 names listed of legislators that were elected in 1868, but were promptly expelled and never allowed to serve. It was two years before the Supreme Court ruled that Blacks could hold political office. The 1868 election in Georgia was bloody and violent with some 500 Georgians being killed. Roster, Pension record and book refer to him as Edwin. Monument lists Bradley Edwin.

He is not listed as Black in the NPS lists of Colored troops. An entry on the Belcher Genealogy Forum from "Jamie" states: Belcher brothers b. 1840+ in Abbeville, SC, with names Edwin, Algernon, Eugene, Lucious, William. Educated in PA. Edwin/Algernon served in Union from PA during the Civil War. Edwin/Algernon/Eugene settled in GA. Lucious/William settled in D. C. ?? Need info on the SC time and relatives. May be related to a Robert E. Belcher of Abbeville/Edgefield, SC.

This entry fits with what I know about Edwin, but adds some new and interesting data.. Algernon does not show in any of the Union regiment from PA or other states that I have seen. He had a brother named Sumner P. Belcher who worked in Washington, D. C. (only brother mentioned in the pension file). The descendant tree for Robert E. Belcher does not mention any of these people (not surprising since they were the offspring of a White plantation owner and his slave mistress). In a further correspondence with Jamie, Algenon served in the Union Navy with Admiral Farragut in the battles of New Orleans and Mobile. I have not researched Navy records. See Robert Belcher of Edgefield family tree and paper on Edwin Belcher for further information.

Listed on Broadfoot as a Captain and on muster roll as Private to Corporal (box 554, extraction 7 and record 2387). Muster roll also shows an Edward Belcher in the same company, but he is not on Broadfoot roster. NFR.

Belcher Edwin

Note: Does not show on HDS roster of over 900 men. Both Broadfoot and muster roll (box 551, extraction 9, record 37) with no company listed. This was a 1-year unit that mustered in 10/4/64 and mustered out 7/1/65. NFR.

Belcher Eli

Note: Enlisted 8/11/62 in Kanawha County in 153 WV Militia, Captain Lewis Belcher’s Company I.

Belcher Elijah

Note: US colored troop. See entry for Allen to understand the unit and period of service. Benjamin was also in same unit and he is probably from LA. On Broadfoot and muster roll of box 589, extraction 6 and record 1176. NFR.

Belcher Erastus J. P. (S.) IL 6 Cav I (K) U 1/30/65 6/12/65 P

Note: Enlisted 1/30/65 as a Private. Mustered out 6/12/65. Res, Palastine ( Hamilton & Saline Cos.), IL. NFR. Born 10 Mar 1849. Believe he is the son of John Belcher and Mary Monk, Elk Garden, Russell, Co.. VA. They had 13 children and I believe six of their sons served in the war for both the Union and the Confederacy. They were: Samuel H. of 72nd VA Militia, Joseph of the 6th IL. Inf., John L. of 37th VA Inf., Charles Wesley of 22nd VA Cav. and 72nd Militia, George W. H. of 22nd VA Cav. and 29th VA Inf., and Erastus J. P. of 6th IL Cav. They had a son-in-law (Henry D. Belcher, 8th VA Cav., who married daughter Mary Ann) and at least four grandchildren (Henry D.’s sons Alexander of 60th VA Inf. and James Harvey of the 6th VA Inf. Samuel H. had two sons, John with several possibilities for units and George of 17th VA Cav.) There were five Belchers in the 6th IL Cav., same Co. I. Erastus and Joseph are mentioned above. The others were Spencer J., Thomas and Wesley J. He is not listed on Broadfoot because no IL troops were listed, but he is on the muster roll as Erastus S. in Co. K with box 539, extraction 6 and number 1266.

Esquire OH 173 Inf D U 8/23/64 6/26/65 P Surv

Note: Enlisted in 173 OH 8/23/64 as a Private/ Mustered in 9/16/64. Mustered out 6/26/65. 27 years old. This was a one-year regiment, organized 9/18/64 in Gallipolis, Galllia Co., OH. Men mustered out at Nashville, TN, 6/26/65. The only casualties were 108 Enlisted men DOD. Interesting that there was no combat deaths, but nearly 10% DOD at this late date in the war in Nashville TN. He may have served in the 183 OH Inf at sometime, but not sure when. The HDS roster for the 183 OH shows no Belcher on roster, but did show a Josiah A. Belch, 18 years old who DOD at Nashville. The 183 was a 1-years regiment that mustered in about a month after the 173rd. Both Broadfoot and muster roll shows him for both regiments. For 173rd OH (box 552, extraction 7 and record 1756) and for the 183rd OH (box 552, extraction 7 and record 1757) with reference to 173rd OH. NFR

Note: Enlisted 3/15/64 at Danby MI as a Private. Mustered in 4/14/64. Died of disease 7/10/64 at City Point, VA. Buried City Point National Cemetery, Hopewell VA. 19 years old. May be brother of Alonzo and son of Andrew P., same unit. Not on Broadfoot, but muster roll box 545, extraction 3 and record 1580, with alternate name of Eugene W. Belsher. NFR.