Crispus Attucks, a runaway slave, became the first American killed by British soldiers in the Boston Massacre.

Beginning with the earliest Battles of Lexington and Concord, enslaved and free black men fought with the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. By war's end, about 5,000 slaves had been granted freedom through military service.

Salem Poor, a free black man who enlisted in the Massachusetts militia, was the first black soldier to win a battle commendation for valor at the Battle of Bunker Hill.

The First Rhode Island Regiment became the first and only all-black unit to fight in the American Revolution.

Enslaved and free blacks also served in the War of 1812. Black sailors comprised about 20 percent of navy crews. William Brown, a black seaman, was wounded in fighting the French warship L'Insurente and also fought against La Vengeance. He was granted 160 acres of land for his service.

General Andrew Jackson called on free blacks to fight as part of the militia in defense of New Orleans. These black volunteers helped secure the American victory at the Battle of New Orleans.

The First Louisiana Native Guard became the first official black regiment of the Confederacy. In September 1862, the First Native Guard joined the Union army (later renamed the 73rd U.S.C. Infantry).

Without official authorization, General David Hunter organized the First South Carolina Volunteers, the first Union regiment in the South chiefly comprised of ex-slaves.

Robert Smalls commandeered the Confederate steamer Planter and sailed it to Union forces. He went on to become the first and only black Civil War naval captain and later served as a state legislator and U.S. congressman.

President Abraham Lincoln issued the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, officially allowing black soldiers and sailors into Union forces. Shortly thereafter, Governor John A. Andrew of Massachusetts called for volunteers to form two black regiments, the 54th and 55th Massachusetts Infantry.

The First Kansas Volunteers (colored) fought Confederate soldiers at the Battle of Island Mound, Missouri. It is the first engagement by black troops against Confederate forces during the war.

President Abraham Lincoln issued the final Emancipation Proclamation.

The First Kansas Volunteers (colored) were mustered into service.

The Bureau of Colored Troops was established to organize black regiments.

The First and Third Native Guards made unsuccessful charges on the Confederate stronghold at Port Hudson, Louisiana.

Three black regiments and a small band of white troops repulsed an assault by Confederate forces at Milliken's Bend, Louisiana.

The First U.S. Colored Troops in Washington, D.C., was the first black federal regiment enrolled by the Bureau of Colored Troops.

Eight black regiments had an important part in the siege of Port Hudson, which gave the Union control of the Mississippi River.

The 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment led the Union assault on Fort Wagner in South Carolina. Colonel Robert G. Shaw was killed along with nearly half of the attacking forces. In this battle, Sergeant William H. Carney became the first African American to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor.

Robert Black, powder boy on the USS Marblehead, was the first black in the Union navy to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor. Around 30,000 sailors served in the Union navy.

During the battle of Mobile Bay, John Lawson kept the guns operating aboard the USS Hartford despite being badly wounded. He was later awarded the Medal of Honor.

Sergeant-Major Christian A. Fleetwood won the Congressional Medal of Honor for services on September 29, 1864, at the Battle of Chapin's Farm, Virginia.

Confederacy passed a bill authorizing the enlistment of blacks as soldiers.

The 62nd U.S. Colored Troops and two white regiments fought in the war's last battle at Palmito Ranch, Texas. Over the course of the Civil War, 250,000 blacks served in the Union forces, and 37,000 were killed.

Congress created six all-black Regular Army regiments: 9th and 10th Cavalry regiments, and 38th, 39th, 40th, and 41st Infantry regiments.

The 38th and 41st Infantry regiments consolidated into the 24th Infantry; 39th and 40th regiments consolidated into the 25th Infantry.

John H. Conyers became the first black admitted to the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland.

Henry O. Flipper became the first black graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York.

During the Indian Wars, the 9th and 10th Cavalry regiments and the 24th and 25th Infantry regiments were assigned to patrol the Native American population in the Western territories. The Native Americans called these black troops “Buffalo Soldiers” because their hair was thought to resemble buffalo fur.

During the Spanish-American War, Buffalo Soldiers formed the nucleus of the African American military force during the war. They distinguished themselves in combat; five received the Medal of Honor. The 10th Cavalry rode beside future president Theodore Roosevelt and the Rough Riders in the famous battle of San Juan Hill in Cuba.

Gun battle broke out in Brownsville, Texas. White residents blame three companies of the 25th Infantry stationed at nearby Fort Brown. President Theodore Roosevelt dishonorably discharged the companies without a court martial.

U. S. Army established a black Officer Training School near Des Moines, Iowa, which commissioned 639 black officers.

U.S. Army formed the all-black 92nd Infantry Division, comprised largely of draftees. Most of the 404,348 black troops were in the Services of Supply, American Expeditionary Forces.

The 369th Infantry regiment was the first black combat unit overseas. The 369th in 191 consecutive days of frontline action became known as the “Hell Fighters.” The French awarded the entire 369th the Croix de Guerre (War Cross given for valorous service).

U.S. Army activated the all-black 93rd Infantry Division, built up around black National Guard units.

The 10th Cavalry fought in the last campaign of the Indian Wars, the Battle of Bear Valley in Arizona against the Yaqui natives.

Henry Johnson and Needham Roberts of the 369th Infantry regiment became the first Americans to be individually awarded the French Croix de Guerre.

During the Indian Wars, the 9th and 10th Cavalry regiments and the 24th and 25th Infantry regiments were assigned to patrol the Native American population in the Western territories. The Native Americans called these black troops “Buffalo Soldiers” because their hair was thought to resemble buffalo fur.

During the Spanish-American War, Buffalo Soldiers formed the nucleus of the African American military force during the war. They distinguished themselves in combat; five received the Medal of Honor. The 10th Cavalry rode beside future president Theodore Roosevelt and the Rough Riders in the famous battle of San Juan Hill in Cuba.

Gun battle broke out in Brownsville, Texas. White residents blame three companies of the 25th Infantry stationed at nearby Fort Brown. President Theodore Roosevelt dishonorably discharged the companies without a court martial.

U. S. Army established a black Officer Training School near Des Moines, Iowa, which commissioned 639 black officers.

U.S. Army formed the all-black 92nd Infantry Division, comprised largely of draftees. Most of the 404,348 black troops were in the Services of Supply, American Expeditionary Forces.

The 369th Infantry regiment was the first black combat unit overseas. The 369th in 191 consecutive days of frontline action became known as the “Hell Fighters.” The French awarded the entire 369th the Croix de Guerre (War Cross given for valorous service).

U.S. Army activated the all-black 93rd Infantry Division, built up around black National Guard units.

The 10th Cavalry fought in the last campaign of the Indian Wars, the Battle of Bear Valley in Arizona against the Yaqui natives.

Henry Johnson and Needham Roberts of the 369th Infantry regiment became the first Americans to be individually awarded the French Croix de Guerre.