Rex, William H.

William H. Rex was born in Wilkinsbane, Pennsylvania in 1842 and served for a few months in Company H within the 24th United States Colored Troops Regiment of Pennsylvania volunteers. Rex left his work as a barber and moved to Lancaster by March 3, 1865 where he joined the regiment for a one-year commitment. The company had been assembled one month prior, and, once enlisted, Rex moved with the rest of his regiment to their station in Camp William Penn in Chelten Hills. He traveled with several soldiers who had served in the USCT prior to 1865, but no available records indicate whether Rex had any prior military experience. Regardless, within two weeks of his enlistment, Rex was promoted to 1st Sergeant. He moved shortly after his enlistment to Point Lookout, Maryland to guard rebel prisoners. Through the rest of the summer they also traveled to Richmond, Virginia and, later, to Roanoke with the duties to maintain order and distribute supplies. The war ended with the Confederate surrender in April 1865, and by September the regiment began moving northward in preparation for its discharge on October 1st. (By Brandon Rothenberg)