During the Civil War 18,000 men and women of African descent served in the U.S. Navy, about 15 percent of the total enlisted force. Eleven African American Vermonters have been identified among this number. They include Seamen Joseph Gomes and William Hyland of Arlington, Landsmen Cornelius Dalton and David Dalton of Burlington, John F. Davis of Middlebury, Charles A. Duval of Northfield, Rodman S. Lanson and Alonzo Woodbeck of St. Albans, Joseph Wood of Woodbury, Ordinary Seamen Patrick Williams (town not credited) and Walter P. Williams of Sandyhill(?).¹

(to be continued ...)

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Notes:

 1. Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, online database, National Park Service.

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See Researching and writing about Vermont Blue-Jackets in the Civil War for explanations of references.

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