Historical Illustration: "Emancipation Day in South Carolina" [...]

Prince Rivers

Historical Illustration: "Emancipation Day in South Carolina" [...]

01/24/1863

Historical Illustration

The Library of Congress features a January 1, 1863 historical illustration that depicts African American soldiers celebrating Emancipation Day at Smith's Plantation on Port Royal Island in South Carolina. A caption under the image reads: "'Emancipation Day in South Carolina' the Color-Sergeant of the 1st South Carolina (Colored) Volunteers Addressing the Regiment, After Having Been Presented with the Stars and Stripes, at Smith's Plantation, Port Royal Island, January 1." Some secondary sources suggest that Prince Rivers - a formerly enslaved man turned Union Army Sergeant - is one of the color-bearers represented in the illustration. See the House Divided at Dickinson College's online exhibit information in the Prince Rivers collection on this site.

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Library of Congress

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