Opportunity Is At Hand: Oneida County, New York, Colored Soldiers in the Civil War, The

Military Images, Sep/Oct 2004 by Neville, David

The Opportunity Is At Hand: Oneida County, New York, Colored Soldiers in the Civil War. by Donald Wisnoski. 132 pages, 30 illustrations. Schroeder Publications, 131 Tanglewood Drive, Lynchburg, VA 24502, 2003. $12.95 soft cover.

This volume is an excellent contribution to the growing literature of African-American soldiers participation in the Civil War. Instead of focusing on the larger story, author Donald Wisnoski delves into the lives of 63 black soldiers and sailors from Oneida County, New York. In a series of biographical sketches that consist of information about the soldier or sailors war-time service as well as pre and post Civil War lives, Wisnoski succeeds in bringing to the reader an interesting and compelling story.

The African-American servicemen from Oneida County, New York were members of many diverse units ranging from the well known 54th Massachusetts Infantry to rather obscure units like the 14th Rhode Island Colored Heavy Artillery. Most served in United States Colored Troop regiments, while a few climbed aboard navy vessels like the gunboat Hornet.

Well illustrated and with several appendices, including one which lists known burial locations of Oneida County colored soldiers, the book is well worth its modest cover price and should appeal to a wide range of Civil War readers.

-David Neville