Historic Beaufort marker honoring first Black soldiers getting new home

by Shakuria Smith

BEAUFORT, Sc. (WTOC) - The City of Beaufort will relocate a historic marker honoring the 1st South Carolina Volunteers of African Descent during a Memorial Day ceremony Monday.

The marker, which was previously located near Beaufort National Cemetery on Boundary Street, will move to the future site of the 1st South Carolina Volunteers of African Descent Memorial Park near 2248 Boundary Street.

A ceremony recognizing the marker’s new home is scheduled for 2 p.m. Monday, or immediately following the Memorial Day program at Beaufort National Cemetery.

City officials say the soldiers of the 1st South Carolina Volunteers of African Descent were the first African Americans to serve in the U.S. Army. The regiment was formed at Camp Saxton on the grounds of what is now Naval Hospital Beaufort.

The historic marker was first installed in 2002 through a collaboration between retired U.S. Marine Corps General George Christ and the Historic Beaufort Foundation. It was later moved to Boundary Street following the Sept. 11 attacks for increased visibility, though city leaders say access remained difficult because of traffic and limited parking.

The future memorial park will become the first public park visible when entering Beaufort via Trask Parkway and will honor the soldiers and families connected to the historic regiment.

City leaders say the park is a joint project between the City of Beaufort, Beaufort County and Open Land Trust and is currently in the design phase.