Note: Some rosters show him as Bradley Edwin Belcher. A 16 year old free black living in Philadelphia, PA. He was born in the Edgefield area of SC. Probably the son of Robert E. Belcher and an unknown slave. Robert apparently freed Edwin and his brothers in his will which was executed in the late 1850’s. They went to PA where Edwin received an education, but with the coming of the war he enlisted in 66th PA Inf., co D after late May 1861 and transferred to the 73rd PA Inf Aug. 1861. The 66th was a regiment that never became organized because of "vextacious delays ensued before the men could be mustered in and many of them joined other commands. The regiment was disbanded in March 1862. HDS has a history but does not have a roster for the 66th, Broadfoot and the Muster Roll (box 554, extraction 7 and record 2386) shows him for the unit

Joseph T. Glatthar, author of Forged In Battle: The Civil War Alliance of Black Soldiers and White Officers states: One prominent black politician in Georgia, Edwin Belcher, actually served as an officer in a white regiment. He was born in South Carolina and, because he was very light in color, educated at an all white school in Pennsylvania. when whites in Georgia learned of his ancestry in 1867, he responded,

"My blood has dyed the soil of the Sunny South as deep as any other soldiers." He then concluded with a touch of sarcasm, "My service during the war was just as acceptable as any other man’s and they was appreciated." Belcher, no doubt told the truth. He had been a prisoner of war and suffered serious wounds, one of which was in the skull and caused epileptic-like seizures that plagued him for the rest of his life. He was in Georgia Legislature from Wilkes county in 1878 - 1789.

His name is inscribed on the plaque of a monument honoring the "African American Pioneers" at the Georgia state Capitol at Atlanta. This monument was erected in 1976 by the Black Caucus of Georgia General Assembly. The title on the plaque is "Expelled Because Of Their Color." Bradley E. Belcher is one of the 33 names listed of legislators that were elected in 1868, but were promptly expelled and never allowed to serve. It was two years before the Supreme Court ruled that Blacks could hold political office. The 1868 election in Georgia was bloody and violent with some 500 Georgians being killed. Roster, Pension record and book refer to him as Edwin. Monument lists Bradley Edwin.

He is not listed as Black in the NPS lists of Colored troops. An entry on the Belcher Genealogy Forum from "Jamie" states: Belcher brothers b. 1840+ in Abbeville, SC, with names Edwin, Algernon, Eugene, Lucious, William. Educated in PA. Edwin/Algernon served in Union from PA during the Civil War. Edwin/Algernon/Eugene settled in GA. Lucious/William settled in D. C. ?? Need info on the SC time and relatives. May be related to a Robert E. Belcher of Abbeville/Edgefield, SC.

This entry fits with what I know about Edwin, but adds some new and interesting data.. Algernon does not show in any of the Union regiment from PA or other states that I have seen. He had a brother named Sumner P. Belcher who worked in Washington, D. C. (only brother mentioned in the pension file). The descendant tree for Robert E. Belcher does not mention any of these people (not surprising since they were the offspring of a White plantation owner and his slave mistress). In a further correspondence with Jamie, Algenon served in the Union Navy with Admiral Farragut in the battles of New Orleans and Mobile. I have not researched Navy records. See Robert Belcher of Edgefield family tree and paper on Edwin Belcher for further information.

Listed on Broadfoot as a Captain and on muster roll as Private to Corporal (box 554, extraction 7 and record 2387). Muster roll also shows an Edward Belcher in the same company, but he is not on Broadfoot roster. NFR.

His name is inscribed on the plaque of a monument honoring the "African American Pioneers" at the Georgia state Capitol at Atlanta. This monument was erected in 1976 by the Black Caucus of Georgia General Assembly. The title on the plaque is "Expelled Because Of Their Color." Bradley E. Belcher is one of the 33 names listed of legislators that were elected in 1868, but were promptly expelled and never allowed to serve. It was two years before the Supreme Court ruled that Blacks could hold political office. The 1868 election in Georgia was bloody and violent with some 500 Georgians being killed. Roster, Pension record and book refer to him as Edwin. Monument lists Bradley Edwin Belcher.