On this day 250 years ago in Cambridge, Massachusetts, General William Heath wrote to John Adams that
There are in the Massachusetts Regiments some few lads and old men, and in several regiments, some negroes.
Among the African Americans serving in the Massachusetts regiments are Privates Jacob Francis, Cuff Chambers (then known as Cuff Blanchard), Manuel Soto, Caesar Glover, Romeo, Barzillai Lew, Alexander Ames, George Middleton, Isaiah Bayoman, Titus Coburn, Grant Cooper, Caesar Dickenson, Charlestown Eaads, Alexander Eames, Asaba Grosvenor, Blaney Grusha, Jude Hall, Cuff Haynes, Cato Howe, Caesar Jahar, Pompy of Braintree, Salem Poor, Caesar Post, Job Potama, Robin of Sandown, Peter Salem, Sampson Talbot, Caesar Brown, Cato Tufts, and Cuff Whitemore
The Connecticut and Rhode Island regiments also included numerous Black soldiers. At that time, General Washington had prohibited the enlistment of additional Black soldiers, but those who had already enlisted were allowed to continue to serve. In recognition of the Continental Army’s need for more recruits, by the end of the year, Washington would allow additional Blacks to enlist.
The United States Army would not again match the integration of the Army in the Revolution until the Korean War.
Sources:
https://www.nps.gov/people/cuff-chambers.htm; O’Donnell, The Indispensables at 58; https://revolutionarywarjournal.com/philip-abbot-african-american-slave-fought-and-died-for-americas-liberty-at-bunker-hill/
On This Day In The Revolution 