And now, 10 proposed names for Forts that could replace Confederate Generals.
1. Fort Salem. Would be named after two Black Patriots from the Revolutionary War, Salem Poor and Peter Salem. Both were former slaves who fought for American Independence and both were individual cited for valor at a time where Black men were not typically given such honors.
2. Fort Augusta. For Dr. Alexander Augusta. Augusta is widely regarded as the first Black physician in American history. He was born in Virginia, was educated in Toronto, and served the Union in the Civil War as a commissioned major, and had white doctors reporting to him.
3. Fort Smalls. For Robert Smalls. Smalls, a slave, stole a Confederate transport ship, the CSS Planter and escaped, surrendering the ship to Union forces. Smalls action convinced Lincoln to allow Black men to serve in the Union Army and Smalls was named Captain of the Planter.
4. Fort Richards. For Mary Richards, a Union Spy. Born a slave, Richards became a vitally important spy during the Civil War. She once broke into Jefferson Davis' house, pretending to be a maid, in order to steal Confederate documents.
5. Fort Stowers. For Freddie Stowers, a World War I Army Colonel. Stowers unit was order to assault Côte 188, a fortified hill held by the Germans. When the Germans feigned surrender and then launched a second attack, all the officers senior to Stowers were killed in action...
Stowers led his men crawling to the German machine gun nest, then led a charge into the trenches. Stowers was hit with a machine gun bullet, but continued on. A second bullet and blood loss forced him to the ground. With his dying breath, he encouraged his men to keep fighting.
Inspired by his leadership, the men drove the Germans from the hill and claimed victory. Stowers succumbed to his injuries and died. Stowers was recommended for the Medal of Honor shortly after the battle, but the paperwork was never processed. H.W. Bush corrected this in 1991.
6. Fort Henry Johnson. Johnson was a WWI soldier whose once fought off an entire German raiding party that was attempting to capture another member of his unit. Despite suffering 21 wounds during the fight he fought off the entire raiding party, earning the nickname Black Death.
7 Fort Rivers. For Ruben Rivers. Rives was a part of a tank unit that was approaching a German position near Vic-sur-Seille in WWII. Seeing a roadblock he dismounted the chain and, avoiding small arms fire, was able to clear the roadblock and his platoon took the town.
One week later Rivers' group was attempting to take Guebling when Rivers' tank hit a mine. His leg had taken a massive piece of shrapnel. He declined medical care (and an almost certain medical discharge), only allowing the wound to be dressed, against the wishes of his CO.
The next day Rivers' health was deteriorating, as his wound had become infected. When the tanks enter Guebling they met heavy German resistance, including an anti-tank gun. While the rest of the tanks retreated, Rivers attacked and disabled the anti-tank gun, disabling it.
This made Rivers' tank an easy and exposed target for the remaining German troops and RIvers' died minutes later. He was recommended for the Medal of Honor following the battle, but was not awarded it until 1997 by Bill Clinton.
8. Fort Tubman, for Harriet Tubman. I don't think I need to explain this one.
9. Fort Charles L. Thomas. His story would take several tweets, so I suggest just reading about it here: myblackhistory.net/Charles_Thomas…
10. Fort Poolaw, for Pascal Poolaw, the most decorated Native American in American military history. He was awarded four Silver Stars, five Bronze Stars and three Purple Hearts.
