This is a picture of James E. Murdoch.  He was born in Philadelphia and had a very successful acting career.  Once he retired, he moved to his farm in Ohio.  He was one of my many acting coaches, and I was very fortunate to have him as a teacher.  He’d also written a book on vocal culture.  

Hill, Errol. Shakespeare in Sable a History of Black Shakespearean Actors. Amherst: U of Massachusetts, 1984. 61. Print.

"James E Murdoch - Google Search." James E Murdoch - Google Search. Web. 11 Dec. 2015. <https://www.google.com/search?q=james e murdoch&espv=2&biw=1123&bih=634&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj_7LKB-dTJAhVC7CYKHRaiAywQ_AUIBygC#imgrc=d2FrXwQNaxByIM:>.

The man in this picture is Henry Boyd who was a carpenter that I lived with before I went to fight in the armed forces.  Carpentry was one of the skills I did acquire in my lifetime and I even used it after my time of service.   Anyways, this is an ad of Henry Boyd’s bedsteads.  The “Boyd Bedstead" was a canopy bed that had wooden rails which connected to the head and footboard of the bed.  Boyd’s Bedsteads were sturdy and ended up being very successful, so successful that many other businesses copied his product.  Since Boyd didn’t have the right to have a patent he ensured people were buying his product by stamping his beds.

Bielakowski, Alexander M. Ethnic and Racial Minorities in the U.S. Military: An Encyclopedia. Vol. 1. 2013. Print.

"Boyd, Henry – Cincinnati Cabinetmaker." Internet Antique Gazette. Web. 11 Dec. 2015.

"Digging Cincinnati History: Henry Boyd - Former Slave and Cincinnati Entrepreneur." Digging Cincinnati History: Henry Boyd - Former Slave and Cincinnati Entrepreneur. Web. 11 Dec. 2015.

"Find A Grave - Millions of Cemetery Records and Online Memorials." Find A Grave - Millions of Cemetery Records and Online Memorials. Web. 11 Dec. 2015. <http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=25846193>.

"Henry Boyd." Person Details for Powtan Beaty in Household of , "United States Census, 1860" Web. 11 Dec. 2015. <https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MCLT-MSC>.

This is a sketch by William Waud. It’s from the newspaper company called Harper’s Weekly.  The sketch is of the battle at Chapin’s Farm on September 29, 1864.  I fought in this battle.  This was the day where my brave actions later earned me the Medal of Honor and the Butler Medal.

"Battle of Chapin's Farm." Battle of Chapin's Farm. Web. 11 Dec. 2015. <http://www.sonofthesouth.net/leefoundation/civil-war/1864/october/battle-chapin-farm.htm>.

Ohio's African American Civil War Heritage: A Collection of Essays by the Research History Classes 2000-2003, Washington [Senior] High School, Washington C.H., Ohio. Washington C.H. [i.e. Washington Court House], Ohio: Research History Class of Washington [Senior] High School, 2003. 23-25 & 70-73. Print.

This is a picture of the Black Brigade Monument.  Its located at Smale Riverfront Park in Cincinnati, Ohio.  The monument was dedicated September 9, 2012 for the 150 year anniversary of the Black Brigade.  During the Black Brigade the Confederate troops appeared to be coming for Ohio.  Governor David Tod had called upon the people of Ohio to defend southern borders.  The “Black Brigade”  was the defense for Cincinnati and I served in the Third Regiment, Company 1, for three weeks.  Everyone’s efforts in the Black Brigade played an important role in the retreat of Confederate troops.  

Ohio's African American Civil War Heritage: A Collection of Essays by the Research History Classes 2000-2003, Washington [Senior] High School, Washington C.H., Ohio. Washington C.H. [i.e. Washington Court House], Ohio: Research History Class of Washington [Senior] High School, 2003. 23-25 & 70-73. Print.

"The Black Brigade Monument at Smale Riverfront Park." The Black Brigade Monument at Smale Riverfront Park. Web. 11 Dec. 2015. <http://www.civilwaralbum.com/misc20/black_brigade1.htm>.

September 29, 1864, in Virginia at the battle of New Market Heights (Chapin’s Farm) marked an important day in my life.  I was in Company G and during retreat and I noticed our flag bearer was killed.  So I retrieved our flag by running through 600 yards of enemy fire.  Once I came back many of our men were killed so I stepped up and took command of what was left of our company and lead them against Confederate troops.  I was later awarded the Medal of Honor which is the highest award anyone can receive while serving in the armed forces.  A total of 13 negro soldiers won the Medal of Honor at the battle of New Market Heights and I was humbled to among them.

Hanna, Charles W. African American Recipients of the Medal of Honor: A Biographical Dictionary, Civil War through Vietnam War. Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland, 2002. 16-17 & 34. Print.

"MedalOfHonor." CMOHS.org. Web. 9 Dec. 2015.

In this picture of me I am wearing two medals.  I was awarded the Medal of Honor, which is on the left.  The medal on the right, is the Butler medal which was made by General Benjamin Butler and awarded to negroes for heroic and courageous acts at the battle of New Market Height’s (Chapin’s Farm).  On the bottom of the medal it says” “US Colored Troops” and above it has the words “Ferro iss libertas perveniet” which is Latin and means “Freedom will be theirs by the sword.”  General Butler saw me retrieve the flag and lead my company that day which is the reason for my being awarded the Butler Medal.

Ohio's African American Civil War Heritage: A Collection of Essays by the Research History Classes 2000-2003, Washington [Senior] High School, Washington C.H., Ohio. Washington C.H. [i.e. Washington Court House], Ohio: Research History Class of Washington [Senior] High School, 2003. 23-25 & 70-73. Print.

Price, James S. The Battle of New Market Heights: Freedom Will Be Theirs by the Sword. Charleston: History, 2011. 86-87. Print.

Web. 10 Dec. 2015. <http://blog.encyclopediavirginia.org/files/2014/06/beaty.jpg>.

This is a picture of my oldest son, A. Lee Beaty.  I had two other sons, Powhatan and John Beaty.  I had A. Lee Beaty in Cincinnati with my wife Mary Le Beaty in 1871.  Since I was a Medal of Honor war veteran and worked at Lincoln and Blaine Clubs, he was exposed to the world of politics at an early age.  He went on to studying law at the University of Cincinnati, and was elected twice to the Ohio Legislature.  

"A. Lee Beaty | The Ohio Statehouse." A. Lee Beaty | The Ohio Statehouse. Web. 11 Dec. 2015. <http://www.ohiostatehouse.org/museum/george-washington-williams-room/african-american-legislators/a-lee-beaty>.

Ohio's African American Civil War Heritage: A Collection of Essays by the Research History Classes 2000-2003, Washington [Senior] High School, Washington C.H., Ohio. Washington C.H. [i.e. Washington Court House], Ohio: Research History Class of Washington [Senior] High School, 2003. 72-73. Print.

This is a picture of Henrietta Vinton Davis.  Henrietta Vinton Davis helped me get my big break as an actor.  She was a well-known negro actress in America and when she came to perform in Cincinnati, she heard of my public speaking abilities and arranged  for us to do Shakespeare scenes together from Macbeth.  We had a very successful performance and were commended by both black and white people.  This led me to perform more shakespeare scenes with her at Ford’s Opera House with a full crowd of over 1,100 people.    

Bielakowski, Alexander M. Ethnic and Racial Minorities in the U.S. Military: An Encyclopedia. Vol. 1. 2013. Print.

"Henrietta Vinton Davis - Google Search." Henrietta Vinton Davis - Google Search. Web. 11 Dec. 2015. <https://www.google.com/search?q=henrietta vinton davis&espv=2&biw=1123&bih=634&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjAxPbW-NTJAhUHWCYKHbfIBW4QsAQIGg#imgrc=sxxUt-3kXrlV9M:>.

Hill, Errol. Shakespeare in Sable a History of Black Shakespearean Actors. Amherst: U of Massachusetts, 1984. 61-63 & 67-69. Print.

This is a picture of Ford’s Opera House which is located in Washington, D.C.  I performed Shakespeare scenes here with Henrietta Vinton Davis, where we performed before a crowd of over 1,100 people, and both black and white communities commended our performance.  Washington Post which was a highly regarded newspaper company said, “…The scene from Macbeth went creditably, all things considered, Miss Davis and Mr. Beaty showing a knowledge of the requirements of the parts which they essayed which, it is safe to say, surprised those in the audience competent to judge.”  (Hill, 1986)  The New York Globe company had said about me, “Mr. Beaty would compare very favorably with many white actors I have seen.  He posses the art of losing sight to self, and the impression he would make, and seems to be entirely absorbed in the part he takes, as though it were real and not theatrical.” (Hill, 1986)

Bielakowski, Alexander M. Ethnic and Racial Minorities in the U.S. Military: An Encyclopedia. Vol. 1. 2013. Print.

"Fords Opera House Washington Dc - Google Search." Fords Opera House Washington Dc - Google Search. Web. 11 Dec. 2015. <https://www.google.com/search?q=fords opera house washington dc&espv=2&biw=1123&bih=634&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjWzKqZ-tTJAhXK7CYKHQDRBLMQ_AUIBygC#imgrc=GxLawqAD3FW8hM:>.

Hill, Errol. Shakespeare in Sable a History of Black Shakespearean Actors. Amherst: U of Massachusetts, 1984. 63 & 68-69. Print.

Martin, James B. African American War Heroes. 19-20. Print.

This is a picture of my gravestone.  It is located at the Union Baptist Cemetery in Cincinnati, Ohio.  The inscription on my grave-marker mentions how I was a 1st Sergeant in the Civil War and a Medal of Honor winner.  I died in Cincinnati on December 6, 1916.  I lived to be 79 years old.  

"Find A Grave - Millions of Cemetery Records and Online Memorials." Find A Grave - Millions of Cemetery Records and Online Memorials. Web. 11 Dec. 2015. <http://forums.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=8562387>.

1.  Mr. Beaty, can you tell me about where you’re from and what it was like then, in that time period?

I was born October 8th in 1837 as a slave in Richmond, Virginia.   (Hanna, 2002).  In 1849, when I was about twelve years old, I moved to Cincinnati, Ohio. (Hanna, 2002) I was freed from slavery in my mid twenties, sometime around April of 1861 or it could have been a little earlier  (Hanna, 2002).  Anyway, in those days there was a dispute going on between the northern and southern states.  The South depended heavily on the free labor slaves in their fields, while the Northern states would usually not use slaves.  Northerners then insisted on the abolishment of slave use, so the Southerners chose to secede from the Union altogether!  I was fortunate enough to be living in Ohio as a freed slave at this time because once Virginia seceded they became the Capitol of the Confederacy (History Net-Confederacy).  I couldn’t imagine what my life would be like if were to have ended up staying in Virginia.  

In 1862 I joined a group of negroes along with a few white men to defend Cincinnati from Confederate forces forming against Ohio in Covington and Newport, Kentucky (Caulley and North, 2003).  We were known as the Black Brigade. About a year later I joined up  with the Union forces (Caulley and North, 2003). Throughout my time in service I had many hardships, but I achieved great things for a negro man of my time.  Once the war was over I moved back to Cincinnati where I worked as a cabinetmaker and a janitor. (Caulley and North, 2003)  But I always managed to do a little acting, play writing, and even directing (Bielakowski, 2013).

2.  You said that you have done some work in Drama, so were there any influences you had in your early life that got you interested in drama?

When I moved to Cincinnati, I got to attend school and get an education. (Bielakowski, 2013).  I had fell in love with performing during school through their theatre program. (Becton, Jr. in Reef, 2010) I’d use all my free time to practice and take acting lessons (Bielakowski, 2013).  But I also learned in school how to make cabinets which later led to jobs to support me when acting jobs weren’t available (Bielakowski, 2013).

Once the war was over I pursued acting and writing plays.  Around 1880 I wrote a play called Delmar  and sometimes I called it “Scenes in Southland” (Hill and Hatch, 2003).  In this play I staged it privately and gave myself the role as old Delmar, who was a rich southern plantation owner.  Although there were good reviews given for the play, it was never performed at a public theatre because I had no money to promote the play myself and no one to sponsor me (Hill, 1984).  I managed to get some community theatre at various locations as well as helping to create a Cincinnati Drama Club where I sometimes directed the acts (Hill and Hatch, 2003). All of these experiences led to my success in the as an actor.

3. Did you have any role models who helped you grow with your interests in drama?

Before I went to war I was able to get acting lessons from multiple teachers. One of them was James E. Murdoch  (Hill, 1984).  James was white and had first lived in Philadelphia  but when he retired from his stage career, he moved to Ohio  where I met him. (Hill, 1984).  Mr. Murdoch had worked on stage at cities all over the Union and Europe and he was one of the top ranked American actors of that time (Encyclopedia Britannica) and graciously extended his talents to me with a some acting lessons.

Henrietta Vinton Davis was another actress that helped me along the way through my own acting career.  She was a very successful actress and was probably the best negro actress of our time! (Hill and Hatch, 2003).  She performed in many cities and when she came to Cincinnati she arranged for me to be in the Shakespeare play “Macbeth” with her (Hill, 1984).  This led to other professional work with Shakespeare plays and I would not have been able to succeed without her encouragement and assistance.  

 

4. What was the world like in Drama when you entered it?

Theatre mimicked society of the times so in theatre the real opinions of white people towards those of other races were depicted. (Hill and Hatch, 2003).  In some cases performances would  demean Negro people.  Us negroes would write plays and a lot of them would deal with issues relating to slavery from our own perspective as well as the white peoples. (Hill and Hatch, 2003).  I wrote a play called, Delmar or Scenes in Southland, the subject of the story deals with a slave’s transition from slavery to freedom (Hill and Hatch, 2003).  

In the 1880s there were more and more Negros working within the theaters and they formed new groups of their own and Negros were showing their own playwright skills (Hill and Hatch, 2003). We were trying to succeed in the professional world of drama.    We enjoyed the Shakespeare plays such as Richard III and Othello and we would perform them in our own Negro Theaters (Hill and Hatch, 2003).  We recognized good stories and we wanted to perform them.

5. How did the major cultural, economic, and political situations of your time affect your work in drama?

When I lived in Cincinnati what paused my work with acting was the Civil War.  Many states seceded from the Union from 1860-1861.  A difference in opinion on slavery between northern and southern states and the election of President Abraham Lincoln caused issues for both Negros and White actors and people in general.  In 1862 eleven states seceded from the Union and declared themselves the Confederate States of America.  (History Net-Confederacy ) This caused Northern states to be enraged and soon rumors spread that the Confederate planned to launch an attack on Cincinnati.  I had to put aside my personal plans and take a side in the fight.    People in the city organized a defensive force and at this tome negroes were not allowed to serve in the Union Army.  However, me and 700 other negroes went to help out.  We were a group known as the Black Brigade and we planned our defense for three weeks in September doing everything we could to prepare for a Confederate attack. Over time suspicion of the attack had died down along with the Cincinnati defensive units. (Reef, 2010)

Within the next year Governor Todd authorized negroes to be able to fight for the union.  There were two main negro units in Ohio which were the Fifth Regiment United States Colored Infantry and the Twenty-seventh United States Colored Infantry. (Knepper, George W.  Ohio and Its People.  Kent. Kent State University, 2003.) I was assigned to the Fifth Regiment United States Colored Infantry. (Hill, 1984).)  We had to put up with unfair treatment in comparison to the white soldiers.  We received only half the military pay that the white soldiers were paid. Still, over 5,000 of us negroes chose to served bravely in both the state and federal units in Ohio ( University of Akron; Edmunds et. al, 2007).  Finally in 1864 Congress passed a law for equal pay among both negro and white soldiers ( https://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/blacks-civil-war/).

6.  What were some of the major accomplishments and did you use any methods to help you succeed in drama?

I had accomplishments not only in drama but in the armed forces too.  I was in the armed forces and fought for the Union.   Within two days of my enlistment I was promoted from private to sergeant.  I had also won the Medal of Honor for taking command of my troops, many of whom were killed and injured at the Battle of Chapin’s Farm.  Winning the medal of honor was not an easy thing to accomplish because only 13 negro Americans had received the medal at the Battle of Chapin’s Farm and I was one of them (Hanna, 2002)  

One major accomplishment that I had was being the best known negro public speaker in Cincinnati.  Since I was good at public speaking I was requested by many people for public performances (Bielakowski, 2013).  Public speaking was a way for me to serve others and I was able to do speeches for various charities  (Hill and Hatch, 2003).    My public speeches led me to opportunities that brought more success.  But my biggest accomplishment in drama was that I was able to perform Shakespeare scenes with Henrietta Vinton Davis at Ford’s Opera House.  When It comes to methods I was able to have many teachers who exposed me to different methods and techniques. (Hill, 1984).

 

7. What key opportunities lead you to turning points in your life with drama?

The opportunities lead me to doing drama was a cause and effect situation.  First there was the opportunity to move to Ohio as a freed man who could pursue my own livelihood and education.  Earning an education provided the second opportunity which was being exposed to threatre in school and obtaining my first acting role before a live audience.  Doing theatre at school was an opportunity that exposed me so I could discover my love for performing.  Later I was able to have the opportunity to join local public performances, that led to more acting offers.

Henrietta Vinton Davis, who was an accomplished negro actress had heard of my work and when she came to Cincinnati, she set up for me to perform with her Shakespeare scenes in Macbeth!  Our performances turned out to be a success and were praised by both negro and white communities (Bielakowski, 2013). This led me to do other work with her.  I was given the opportunity to perform at “Fords Opera House” in Washington, D.C., doing more Shakespeare scenes with Mrs. Davis including Mrs. Davis as Lady Macbeth and I as Macbeth.  We also performed Richard III where I played Henry IV and she was Lady Anne.  Then there was a scene from Ignomar and I played Ignomar and she was Parthenia.  We performed before a crowd of 1,100 people (Hill, 1984).

8.  What hardships or roadblocks did you have to overcome to become a successful actor.

I feel the hardships and roadblocks weren’t so much on-stage as they were off stage.  My roadblocks were living to another day, and being free.  I was a negro man in a time where we  weren’t treated equally.  When I moved to Cincinnati the fugitive slave law had been passed (Civil War Trust, 2014).  This law enabled Slave Masters to capture negro back runaway slaves and return them to their masters.  That left me at risk for being put back into slavery at any time.  A lot of negroes fled to Canada to avoid capture.  We negro slaves had no rights in court to fight this.  If I were brought back to slavery I may not even discovered my love for performing. (Hill and Hatch, 2003)

I also had to survive war because if I had not survived war than I wouldn't have been able to have the professional acting opportunities I had gotten after the war.  Although the battle of Chaffin’s farm marked a successful day in my career as a union soldier it was a day I could’ve lost my life and my future.  When we started attacking the Confederate forces we faced an even stronger attack from confederate forces.  Once I realized our color bearer was killed I ran through open fire through what felt like five football fields long to grab our flag.  That could’ve killed me. Once I got back to my company I saw all of the white officers either dead or wounded.  With the situation at hand I assumed the position and took control of the men who were left.  My actions were commended by General Benjamin Butler and I later received the medal of honor (Bielakowski, 2013). I wouldn’t have been able to have the opportunity to perform courageously if I were killed in war or brought back to slavery.

9.  What personal stories can you tell us that best show how you became successful in the arts?

Becoming successful in the arts was definitely not something that happened over night.  It was a process where I had to work my way up.  I started as a slave and ended a successful professional actor all because of one opportunity leading to another.  The very first step that got me anywhere was when I came to Cincinnati and became a free man.

Once I was in Cincinnati I was able to get an education which also gave me a chance to participate in the school theatre program and find my love for performing (Reef, 2010).  I then obtained acting lessons from many teachers and did community theatre.  Then I took a break with drama  to go to war with the Confederacy and once I got back I picked up acting again.  I also had done public speaking which helped me get a reputation for being a good performer.  I then was able to be discovered by Henrietta Vinton Davis who had used her fame to get me multiple acting jobs with her where I was able to become a successful negro actor. (Bielakowski, 2013).

10. How did your work impact the world of drama?

My work impacted the world of drama because when I would be critiqued, it would be because of my talent.  I would be judged for my abilities and not just my race.   When I performed at Ford’s Opera House with Henrietta Vinton Davis, local newspapers praised the performances of both Ms. Davis and I.  Washington Post which was a white newspaper company had said in their critique, “The scene from Macbeth went creditably, all things considered, Miss Davis and Mr. Beaty as showing a knowledge of the requirements of the parts of which they essayed which, it is safe to say, surprised those in the audience competent to judge” (Chinoy, 1981).

There were many different groups who gave reviews of my performance.  The New York Globe had said this about my performance, “Mr. Beaty would compare very favorably with many white actors I have seen.  He possesses the art of losing sight to self, and the impression he would make, and seems to be entirely absorbed in the part he takes as though it were real and non theatrical” (Hill, 1984). I also feel that not only my work in drama but my public speaking affected how the world accepted me because I was able to use my talent and speak for charitable causes. (Hill, 1984).

Bibliography

1. -Bielakowski Alexander (editor), Ethnic and Racial Minorities in the U.S. Military: An Encyclopedia, “Beaty, Powhatan (1837-1916) “African American Medal of Honor Recipient”. 2013. <https://books.google.com/books?id=w_Mqj6UuRgQC&pg=PT51&lpg=PT51&dq=how+powhatan+beaty+became+an+actor&source=bl&ots=pEI9C9PdyA&sig=ablOgbcCXk7wshouUR6ku0GRLVY&hl=en&sa=X&sqi=2&ved=0CEsQ6AEwCGoVChMIgs-7kofuyAIVgZseCh2KzAQd#v=onepage&q=how%20powhatan%20beaty%20became%20an%20actor&f=false>  Book.

2. -Black, White and Beyond- Africans Americans in the Civil War <https://learn.uakron.edu/beyond/civilwar.htm> Web.

3. -Chinoy Helen Krich, Jenkins Walsh Linda. Women in American Theatre. 1981 < https://books.google.com/books?id=VqKejFYZii4C&pg=PA84&dq=how+powhatan+beaty+affected+the+world+of+drama&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CCgQ6AEwAmoVChMI87mq3Yn6yAIVh6oeCh3n-gaj#v=onepage&q=how%20powhatan%20beaty%20affected%20the%20world%20of%20drama&f=false> Book.

4. -Collie Jay, North Jennifer, Ohio’s African American Civil War Heritage:  A Collection of Essays by the Research History Class of Washington High School, Washington, C.H., Ohio:  Essay:  Powhatan Beaty, pages 70-73, October 22, 2003, Book.

5. -Encyclopedia Britannica <http://www.britannica.com/biography/James-Edward-Murdoch> Web.

6. -Fugitive Slave Act-September, 1850. Copyright © 2014 Civil War Trust. <http://www.civilwar.org/education/history/primarysources/fugitive-slave-act.html>  Web.

7. -Hanna Charles W.   African American Recipients of the Medal of Honor:  A Bibliographical Dictionary, Civil War Through Vietnam War  2002     

<https://books.google.com/books?id=8SEkCQAAQBAJ&pg=PR4&dq=African+American+Recipients+of+the+Medal+of+Honor:+A+Biographical+Dictionary,+Civil+War+through+Vietnam+War.&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CBwQ6AEwAGoVChMIq-PY3MPtyAIVyfMeCh3nFgDx#v=onepage&q=powhatan%20beaty&f=false> Book.

8. -Hill, Errol G and James V. Hatch, A History of African American Theatre. 2003. <https://books.google.com/books?id=4ePerohXDIUC&printsec=frontcover&dq=a+history+of+african+american+theatre&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CB0Q6AEwAGoVChMIuPjeuZ2CyQIVgTo-Ch2WSwdC#v=onepage&q=a%20history%20of%20african%20american%20theatre&f=false

9. -Hill, Errol; Shakespeare in Sable: A History of Black Shakespearean Actors. 1984 pages 50, 61-63, and 67-69. <https://books.google.com/books?id=97UmAQAAMAAJ&q=shakespeare+in+sable&dq=shakespeare+in+sable&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CBwQ6AEwAGoVChMItLOK_JyCyQIViXQ-Ch2pcAzu>  Book.

10. -History Net - Confederacy <http://www.historynet.com/confederacy> Web.

11. -History - Confederate States of America <http://www.history.com/topics/american-civil-war/confederate-states-of-america> Web

12. -National Archives- Teaching With Documents:The Fight for Equal Rights: Black Soldiers in the Civil War <https://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/blacks-civil-war/> Web.

13. -Reef Catherine,  A to Z  of African Americans in the Military,  revised edition, 2010 www.factsonfile.com <https://books.google.com/books?id=bq8dVn_W2XQC&pg=PT48&lpg=PT48&dq=powhatan+beaty+drama&source=bl&ots=10PhPljHL_&sig=SQUqFja4P0_EiVNUY7Oz3p9Ts_k&hl=en&sa=X&sqi=2&ved=0CEsQ6AEwCGoVChMIzOWbhI7uyAIVh6oeCh0yYQvU#v=onepage&q=powhatan%20beaty%20drama&f=false>  Book.