Foundation hosts presentation on 135th US Colored Infantry

NAVASSA, N.C. (WECT) - The African American Heritage Foundation of Southeastern North Carolina hosted a session about the history of the 135th Regiment, US Colored Infantry.

Guests at the Navassa Community Center learned about the regiment’s backbreaking work to ensure the Union won the Civil War.

“The work they had to perform was arduous work through the swamps. They had to cut down trees with pickaxes and create corduroy roads for the armies to pass through. They would do a lot of this work during the night so the army could pass through during the day. So it’s very difficult work for these men,” said Jay Bauer, a member of the 135th U.S. Colored Infantry research team.

The regiment is a point of passion for Bauer and his wife, who will soon publish a book on the troops.

You can learn more about the troops here. To learn more about the African American Heritage Foundation of Southeastern North Carolina, visit here.