The War Department creates the Bureau of Colored Troops to organize the United States Colored Troops in the Union Army.
At a Glance
- Date
- 22 May 1863
- Location
- Washington, D.C.
- Category
- Military
- Source
- General Order No. 143, May 22, 1863 · National Archives
What It Meant Then
It formalized the large-scale enlistment of Black soldiers into the war for emancipation.
What It Means Now
Some 180,000 Black men would serve in the USCT.
Cite this page
- MLA
- “The Bureau of Colored Troops Is Established.” Black-History.com, 30 Sept. 2026, https://black-history.com/on-this-day/the-bureau-of-colored-troops-is-established/.
- APA
- Black-History.com Editors. (2026, September 30). The Bureau of Colored Troops Is Established. Black-History.com. https://black-history.com/on-this-day/the-bureau-of-colored-troops-is-established/
- Chicago
- Black-History.com Editors. “The Bureau of Colored Troops Is Established.” Black-History.com. September 30, 2026. https://black-history.com/on-this-day/the-bureau-of-colored-troops-is-established/.
Editorial Note
By the Black-History.com editors. Last reviewed 30 September 2026. To suggest a primary source or a correction, write to editors@black-history.com or use our corrections form.