Christian Abraham Fleetwood

Object Details

Artist

Merritt & VanWagner, active c. 1886 - ?

Sitter

Christian Abraham Fleetwood, 1840 - 1914

Exhibition Label

Born Baltimore, Maryland

Sergeant Major Christian Fleetwood was one of the first African Americans to be awarded the Medal of Honor. In September 1864, as the Union army struggled to advance on the Confederate capital of Richmond, Virginia, Fleetwood and 1,100 soldiers of the Fourth United States Colored Troops received orders to attack southern forces entrenched at New Market Heights. Under withering enemy fire that decimated his brigade and cut down its color guard, he risked his life to keep the U.S. flag from falling into Confederate hands. In recognition of this conspicuous act of bravery, Fleetwood received nation’s highest military award.

Nacido en Baltimore, Maryland

El sargento mayor Christian Fleetwood fue uno de los primeros afroamericanos en recibir la Medalla de Honor. En septiembre de 1864, mientras el ejército norteño de la Unión pugnaba por avanzar contra Richmond, Virginia, la capital de la Confederación sureña, Fleetwood y 1,100 soldados de la Cuarta Tropa de Personas de Color de Estados Unidos recibieron órdenes de atacar a las fuerzas sureñas atrincheradas en New Market Heights. Bajo el fuego aniquilante del enemigo que diezmó su brigada y arrasó con la escolta del estandarte, Fleetwood arriesgó su vida para impedir que la bandera de Estados Unidos cayera en manos confederadas. En reconocimiento de este acto insigne de valentía, recibió el más alto galardón militar de la nación.

Credit Line

National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution

c. 1890

Object number

NPG.2015.92

Restrictions & Rights

CC0

Type

Photograph

Medium

Albumen silver print

Dimensions

Image/Sheet: 14.7 × 9.8 cm (5 13/16 × 3 7/8")

Mount: 16.4 × 10.8 cm (6 7/16 × 4 1/4")

Place

United States\District of Columbia

See more items in

National Portrait Gallery Collection

Location

Currently not on view

National Portrait Gallery

Topic

Costume\Headgear\Hat\Cap

Personal Attribute\Facial Hair\Mustache

Personal Attribute\Facial Hair\Goatee

Interior\Studio\Photography

Photographic format\Cabinet card

Christian Abraham Fleetwood: Male

Christian Abraham Fleetwood: Military and Intelligence\Army\Soldier

Christian Abraham Fleetwood: Military award\Medal of Honor

Portrait

Record ID

npg_NPG.2015.92

Metadata Usage (text)

CC0

GUID (Link to Original Record)

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/sm4a21fc335-ca61-4c4e-a61f-62dc5932c20f