Bill Text: IL HR0878 | 2023-2024 | 103rd General Assembly | Introduced

---

Bill Title: Recognizes the brave men from Galesburg who joined the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment to help bring victory and, ultimately, the destruction of slavery throughout the country.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2024-08-14 - Filed with the Clerk by Rep. Dan Swanson [HR0878 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2023-HR0878-Introduced.html

---

HR0878 LRB103 42059 LAW 75283 r
HOUSE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, Following the Emancipation Proclamation in
January of 1863, President Abraham Lincoln called for the
raising of a Black regiment for the Union Army; and
WHEREAS, Massachusetts Governor John Andrew quickly
answered President Lincoln's call and began forming the 54th
Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment, one of the first
Black regiments to serve in the U.S. Civil War; and
WHEREAS, Black men from across the state, country, and
even other nations traveled to Boston to join this historic
regiment; and
WHEREAS, The 54th Massachusetts helped inspire the
enlistment of more than 180,000 Black soldiers, a boost in
morale and manpower that President Lincoln recognized as
essential to the victory of the United States and the
destruction of slavery throughout the country; and
WHEREAS, Twelve of these brave African Americans who
answered the call and enlisted on April 26, 1863 with Company H
of the 54th Massachusetts hailed from the City of Galesburg;
and

HR0878 - 2 - LRB103 42059 LAW 75283 r
WHEREAS, Sergeant Joseph Barquet, Corporal Samuel Wells,
Private Clay Welcome, Private Joseph White, Private Preston
Williams, Private Reuben Caldwell, Private John Davis, Private
John Dickinson, Private Hiram Garnet, Private George Hubbard,
Private Henry Kirk, and Private William Timms served bravely
with the 54th Massachusetts; and
WHEREAS, Sgt. Barquet, the most prominent of these figures
in Galesburg's history, is known for serving as chairman of
the Convention of 1866 to discuss civil rights, being a
staunch advocate for the desegregation of schools, and
delivering many speeches for equal rights for African
Americans, especially African American veterans; and
WHEREAS, While serving with the 54th Massachusetts, Pvt.
Kirk and Pvt. Dickinson were wounded and captured at the
Second Battle of Fort Wager in South Carolina in 1863; and
WHEREAS, Pvt. Kirk and Pvt. Dickinson were held captive in
Salisbury, North Carolina until March 4, 1865 when a prisoner
exchange of 8,684 Union soldiers took place, which included
120 who were African American; and
WHEREAS, Despite six out of the 12 either being wounded or
captured, only one died while in service to their country,
Pvt. Williams, who died due to an accident while in

HR0878 - 3 - LRB103 42059 LAW 75283 r
Jacksonville, Florida; the rest of the brave men left the 54th
Massachusetts being discharged at the expiration of their
term; therefore, be it