Richmond National Battlefield Park event Nov. 2 to commemorate 5th USCT voting in 1864 presidential election

Richmond National Battlefield Park will host a commemorative event Saturday, Nov. 2, to honor the anniversary of the 5th United States Colored Troops voting in the 1864 presidential election at Fort Harrison. The event, titled “Election Day 1864: Black Soldiers Vote on the Front Lines,” will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Fort Harrison visitor center, 8761 Battlefield Park Road.

The commemoration will feature park ranger-led programs, living history reenactments, and educational activities designed for all ages. Visitors can participate in historical election day activities, explore self-guided interactive exhibits, and enjoy picnicking on the grounds.

The event will highlight the significance of the 5th USCT's vote, which took place Nov. 8, 1864, just 39 days after the unit captured Fort Harrison from Confederate forces. These soldiers, stationed near Fort Harrison, were among the first African Americans to vote in a U.S. Army election, casting 194 votes for Abraham Lincoln’s reelection.

The event schedule includes historical tours and living history presentations depicting Thomas Morris Chester, the only African American reporter for a Civil War daily newspaper, and interactive exhibits focusing on the 5th USCT’s vote and the significance of Black suffrage.

For details about the event, visit www.nps.gov/rich and www.Facebook.com/RichmondNPS.