Another true hero in the battle for freedom is Milton Holland. For his bravery at the battle of Chapin's Farm in Virginia he was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor on April 6, 1865.
Milton took over command of the 5th United States Colored Infantry troops after all of the officers had been killed. Even though wounded he led his troops to victory
Milton Holland was an 18 year old when he registered to serve. He was born in Austin Texas around 1845. He states in this record that he was freed before 1861. Milton was formerly owned by Spearman Holland of the Holland Plantation. Milton enlisted in Athens Ohio on June 22nd 1863
****Milton is also one of three sons born to Bird Holland a confederate soldier and the half brother to Spearman.)****
Here he was listed as a First Sgt and served in that capacity for eleven months. His commanders were so impressed with his ability he was promoted.
On August 31st Holland was promoted to Sgt Major and in September 1864 was transferred out of Company C
Milton Holland was listed on the Muster-Out Roll in Carolina City North Carolina on September 20th 1865.
This is faint but it basically reads according to my eyes: Written on August 2 1865 Holland is requesting a hearing on the injustice of the case implying that he had been absent from roll call. Holland stated that he has commanded the entire time for the last last five months.
Adjutant General Report listing rundown of promotion and then demotion. Holland was promoted in the field but since the army did not recognize African Americans as officers Holland was stripped of his promotion.
After moving from Washington DC where Milton worked for the government he and his wife Virginia took residence in Maryland as evidence of this 1910 census.(click to enlarge)
Holland later in life. Milton left this earth on May 15th 1910 in Silver Springs Maryland and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
Thank God for Men like these who fought for our freedom. Now our task is to get the word out about these men so that our children and children's children will know of the sacrifices that our ancestors made. I know that as a kid growing up, we were not privy to this information in school.
