| George Carter (1843-1902) was one of about 185,000 African Americans who served in the Union army, which began accepting black recruits in 1863. Born a slave, Carter was free at the outbreak of the war. He married Rosa Quales in 1862 at Fort Monroe, Virginia. He enlisted in the army, apparently in Hartford, Connecticut, in October 1863, joining the 10th Regiment, United States Colored Infantry. The regiment was involved in the campaign against Richmond from May-June1864 and helped capture the rebels’ Fort Powhattan on May 5. The 10th was also on the front in operations against the Confederate stronghold of Petersburg, about 20 miles south of Richmond, through the summer of 1864. They were among the first units of the Union army to enter Richmond on April 2-3, 1865, after the fall of the Southern capital. Carter came North after the war, and lived in Babylon, Long Island for about 20 years, before moving to Mt. Vernon. He worked for several years as head gardener on a large estate in Eastchester, and died December 13, 1902, survived by four children. |
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