Powhatan Beaty was born into slavery on October 8, 1837, in Richmond, Virginia. Beaty’s African-American parents were free, but baby Powhatan was a slave because freedom was not granted to children of freed slaves in the South. Beaty became a freeman when he was twelve years old sometime in 1849 after his family took him to Cincinnati, Ohio. He went to school and gained a good education.
Powhatan Beaty joined the Union Army for a three-year term on June 7th, 1863, when he was twenty-five years old. Soon he was promoted from private to sergeant. The Battle of Chaffin’s Farm and New Market Heights was fought on September 29 to 30, 1864, as part of the Union Siege of Petersburg. Powhatan Beaty was now the first sergeant of Company G. Company G was ordered to attack the center of the Confederate position of New Market Heights. This was a daunting order, it was like a suicide mission. Beaty actions were heroic at Chaffin’s Farm.
On April 6th, 1865, First Sergeant Powhatan Beaty was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Abraham Lincoln for his actions at the Battle of Chaffin’s Farm.
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