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SALISBURY, MD---During the Civil War, nearly 200,000 African-American soldiers joined the Union army and navy to fight for freedom.

Dr. Clara Small, professor of history at Salisbury University, and the Rev. David Briddell have chronicled a small portion of their history in the new book Men of Color to Arms! Manumitted Slaves and Free Blacks From the Lower Eastern Shore of Maryland Who Served in the Civil War. The authors celebrate the book’s release with a signing from 2-4 p.m. Saturday, April 10, at SU’s Edward H. Nabb Research Center for Delmarva History and Culture, 190 Wayne Ave. (This was rescheduled from February 6 due to snow.)

The names, ranks and dates of enlistment and discharge, desertion or death are listed for some 1,300 Lower Shore residents. Also included for some of the soldiers are town of residence, age, freedom status (free or slave during the war), slave owners’ names and dates the slaves received their freedom. The authors also include historical information to create a greater understanding of the role played by African-American soldiers during the war.

Among the families included in the book are Bailey, Bowen, Bivens, Briddell, Brittingham, Carey, Collins, Costen, Dale, Davis, Dennis, Downing, Duncan, Fassett, Fitchett, Fletcher, Franklin, Gibson, Griffin, Hall, Hammond, Handy, Hargis, Henry, Holland, Horsey, Hudson, Jackson, Jacobs, Jarman, Johnson, Jones, Lane, Leonard, Long, Marshall, Massey, Miles, Mitchell, Morris, Parker, Parsons, Pitts, Porter, Powell, Purnell, Robbins, Robinson, Selby, Shockley, Showell, Smith, Spence, Stewart, Sturgis, Taylor, Tingle, Truitt, Warren, Washington, Waters, Whaley, Williams and Wright.

Admission is free and the public is invited. For more information call 410-543-6312 or visit the Nabb Research Center Web site at .