Black Civil War soldier honored

EAGLE, Neb. — “Taps'' and musket fire will sound Saturday over the grave of the only black Civil War veteran known to be buried in Cass County.

Not much is known about Wyatt Hogan, who will be honored by American Legion Post 197 of Eagle and the Sons of the Union Veterans of the Civil War.

James Heng of Post 197 said the records of Hogan's birth and death were lost long ago in a fire, but legion members found what they believe to be Hogan's unmarked grave in Eagle Cemetery. Cemetery records indicate Hogan is buried there.

Heng said military records show that Hogan served in the Union Army from 1863 to 1865. He was a private in Company B of the 83rd Infantry Regiment, which was reorganized into the 2nd Regiment of the Kansas Colored Infantry.

Heng, 65, is a Civil War buff with five ancestors who served in the Union Army. He said more than 90 black Civil War veterans are buried throughout Nebraska.

The service for Hogan will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in the cemetery on U.S. Highway 34, two miles east of Eagle.

The U.S. flag will be raised and then lowered to half staff, Heng said. Participants will march up a hill to Hogan's grave, where a bronze marker has been placed. A Civil War re-enactor will stand guard.

Flowers will be placed on the grave, and a choir from Lincoln will perform. “Taps'' will be played, followed by three volleys of musket fire.

The muskets will be fired by eight to 10 members of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, Heng said.

Members of Post 197 have been working on the services for Hogan since June. They tried to reach members of his family but were unsuccessful.

“We do not know how he came to be here, but there are 20 other Civil War veterans buried in that same cemetery and more down the road in Alvo,” Heng said.

“After the war, lots of veterans were given land grants to homestead, so that might have brought (Hogan) here.”

According to Kansas State Historical Society records, the 2nd Regiment served bravely.

On April 30, 1864, the regiment turned an engagement at Jenkins Ferry, Ark., in the Union Army's favor when it fixed bayonets, crossed 300 yards of open field and captured a Confederate cannon battery.

The historical society account says 70 members of the 2nd Regiment eventually died of their wounds. The unit killed 150 of the Confederates and took others prisoner.

The 2nd Regiment's battle cry that day was: “Remember Poison Springs.”

A few days earlier, many soldiers in the 1st Regiment of the Kansas Colored Infantry had been killed after being captured at Poison Springs, Ark.

“Very little is known about Wyatt Hogan,” Heng said, “but we do know it's important to honor him and all the veterans who fought for our country.”

Contact the writer:

444-1272, kevin.cole@owh.com