Civil War Museum Presenting Program On Unique Unit

VERNON, CT — The New England Civil War Museum and Research Center is presenting a special program on a special unit of the war this weekend.

Noted re-enactor Kevin Johnson will be at the museum Saturday at 1 p.m. to portray Pvt. William Webb of the 29th Connecticut Colored Infantry, known for being the first unit to march into Richmond to occupy the Confederate capital.

The museum, is located on the second floor of Vernon's town hall in a fully preserved Grand Army of the Republic Hall, where veterans met after the war.

According to the National Park Service, the 29th was organized at Fair Haven and mustered in March 8, 1864.

Major action for the unit included siege operations against Petersburg and Richmond from Aug. 13, 1864, to April 2, 1865. It then was the first unit ordered into Richmond on April 3, 1865.

the 29th was in New Orleans from Oct. 27 to Nov. 11, 1965 and was honorably discharged in New Haven on Nov. 25, 1865.