As the Civil War raged on Sept. 5, 1862, 706 African-American men voluntarily reported for duty with Cincinnati's Black Brigade.

Many had been pressed into service days earlier, without explanation that they would be digging defensive lines across the Ohio River in Northern Kentucky. They were released to go home Sept. 4.

Once it became clear they were needed to protect Cincinnati against the threat of Confederate invasion, even those blacks who had hidden from the press gangs reported on Sept. 5. After marching through downtown, the men were presented with an American flag on which had been written "The Black Brigade of Cincinnati."

They worked until Sept. 20, when mustered out as the threat abated. Their commander, William Dickson, thanked them in a speech:

"Soldiers of the Black Brigade: You have finished the work assigned to you upon the fortifications for the defense of the city. ...You have made miles of military roads, miles of rifle-pits, felled hundreds of acres of the largest and loftiest forest trees, built magazines and forts. The hills across yonder river will be a perpetual monument of your labors."

Rebecca Goodman

E-mail rgoodman@enquirer.com or call (513) 768-8361.