Springfield Rifle belonging to African American Civil War Veteran Isaac J. Winters
Some objects have the power to create an instant sense of awe and humbleness…this is one of those objects.
At the Varnum Memorial Armory Museum, we now have the Springfield rifle carried by African American, Isaac J. Winters, of Company F 43rd U.S. Colored Troops during the American Civil War. He fought heroically in — and survived despite being wounded — some of the War’s most horrific combat.
Springfield Rifle belonging to African American Civil War Veteran Isaac J. Winters
This will be part of an upcoming special new exhibit on African American artifacts of the U.S. Civil War. As part of the display, we will tell the wider story of slavery in Rhode Island and how slaves in Rhode Island made the gradual move from this ugly institution to being fighting soldiers and eventually full citizens of our state and country.
Theses objects come to us from Angelo Scarlato who is allowing us to share a small part of his immense and important collection of African American history. Thank you for your generosity, Angelo!
