USCT Heritage Trail

The USCT Heritage Trail is a unique and nationally significant educational and recreational resource which highlights the role of African-American troops (officially designated the United States Colored Troops at the time) in the Battle of Fort Blakeley. Over 4,000 African-American soldiers, a large majority of them former slaves, fought as part of the Federal army besieging Fort Blakeley (April 1-9, 1865) during the combined-forces operation designed to capture the city of Mobile, the last major Southern city to remain in Confederate hands during the Civil War. Their presence at Blakeley ranks as one of the largest concentrations of African-American soldiers in any Civil War battle. The circa 1.5 mile trail system winds past portions of three distinct lines of earthworks dug by USCT units during the siege of Fort Blakeley, as well as sections of connecting approach trenches. Interpretive panels and a cell phone-based audio tour provide information about the actions of USCT units during the siege and battle.