George Williams Headstone

George Williams was a corporal during the United States Civil War for Company H of the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. The 54th Massachusetts Inf. was an all black regiment led by white abolitionist officers created in 1863. This was the second all black unit formed during the United States Civil War with the first unit being the 1st Kansas Colored Infantry Regiment. George Williams worked as a barber in Chicago until he was enlisted at the age of 25 on April 21, 1863 and served until August 20, 1865. This regiment was created one year after the emancipation proclamation, it was created later in the war because before this they had considered the U.S. Civil War to be a white man’s war, but in desperation for more Union soldiers they began to recruit African Americans. When African Americans were first recruited they were promised equal pay to the white soldiers, but this was not the case as black soldiers had to pay for their food and clothing, which was not something white soldiers had to pay for. This took away about half of the black soldier's daily pay. 

George Williams' legacy lives on in Galesburg's Hope Cemetery though his headstone, but although this may look like a grave, this is not George Williams’ final resting place. His body rests in Beaufort, South Carolina at Beaufort National Cemetery. It is not known when or how he died, but it can be assumed he died in the Beaufort area. The headstone found in Galesburg’s Hope Cemetery is a memorial to work he did for the Union during the war. Although he is from Chicago, it is most likely placed in Galesburg because it is known for its abolitionist past and it is recognizing Williams for the admirable service he did during the Civil War. Thus this memorial is used in Galesburg to remind its current residents of the abolishionist history of the city.