Jefferson, Benjamin

Benjamin Jefferson was a corporal in Company A of the 127th United States Colored Troops Regiment during the Civil War. The Union Army organized the regiment at Camp William Penn in Chelten Hills, Pennsylvania from August 23 to September 10, 1864 and its soldiers went on to serve during the siege of Petersburg and Richmond from September 1864 until April 1865. The 127th USCT also took part in the Battle of Chaffin’s Farm in September 1864 as well as the Appomattox Campaign from March to April 1865. The soldiers also fought in the Battle of Fair Oaks in Henrico County, Virginia on October 27-28, 1864. The regiment was present for the fall of Petersburg on April 2, 1865 and at Appomattox Courthouse for Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s surrender on April 9, 1865. The USCT soldiers then moved to Texas and served in Brazos Santiago and points on the Rio Grande during June and July 1865. The remaining members of the regiment mustered out on October 20, 1865. Jefferson was buried in Chartiers Cemetery in Carnegie, Pennsylvania. (By Brenna McKelvey)