Program shows blacks in Civil War

Descendants of a black Civil War soldier were guests at the program.
By KATIE LIBECCO
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- The Fifth U.S. Colored Troops of Ohio, Company I, presented a living history program at Lanterman's Mill on Saturday to explain the role of the black soldier in the Civil War.
They had information, photographs and historical documents on display.
There is also a Fifth U.S. Colored Troops of Ohio, Company C in Toledo and Company G in Cleveland.
Steffan Jones, a member of Company I, talked about plans that community groups have put forward to build another monument in the city dedicated to Youngstown soldiers from every era.
Quotable
"It will be a massive monument dedicated to all veterans that fought in Youngstown, lived in Youngstown or came to Youngstown," said Jones. "It won't discriminate against race. It will be a monument of equality."
Guests were descendants of George Porter Logan, including Sonya Justice, his great-great-great-granddaughter, and Wanda Washington, his great-granddaughter. Logan fought in the Civil War and was buried in Oak Hill Cemetery.
"I came here today to teach the oral history of my family," Justice said. "There's a lot of history about my family and the more I learn, the more I want to know."
Research from the Fifth U.S. Colored Troops of Ohio, Company I, on the Oak Hill Cemetery is available at the Arms Family Museum of Local History, 648 Wick Ave. Company I, a six-member re-enactment group, was created in September of 1996.
Eight blacks from Youngstown fought in the Civil War, according to military records.