Soldiers of African Descent in the Continental Army

This “descriptive list” for a company of the 7th Massachusetts Regiment was compiled at West Point in June 1782. It records the names, places of birth, residences, physical descriptions, and enlistment details for the 50 men in the company, including five soldiers of African descent. Eight weeks later these men encamped at Verplanck’s Point. 

Descriptive List
Unknown maker
June 16, 1782
Paper and Ink
Museum of the American Revolution (Benninghoff Collection)