Pennington, Elias

Elias Pennington was born in Chester County, Pennsylvania around 1840. He enlisted in Company A of the 8th United States Colored Troops Regiment as a private for a three year term in West Chester, Pennsylvania on August 29, 1863 at age twenty-three. He was five feet and five inches tall with hazel eyes and black hair. The 8th regiment trained at Camp William Penn in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania until leaving for Hilton Head, South Carolina on January 16, 1864. From Hilton Head, Pennington’s regiment advanced to Jacksonville, Florida, and on February 20 they fought in the battle of Olustee. The 8th left Florida in early August for Virginia, and on September 29, joined the Union force at the battle of Chaffin’s Farm in New Market Heights. Pennington fought in both of these major engagements. After witnessing Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s surrender at Appomattox Courthouse on April 9, 1865, Pennington’s regiment sailed to their new station in Texas. The 8th remained in Texas until they mustered out on November 10, 1865. By December 8, 1865, the regiment’s date of discharge, the 8th had lost 251 men, 115 killed in battle. Pennington was buried in Evergreen Cemetery in Chester County, Pennsylvania. (By Brenna McKelvey)