By 1808Delaware
As the nation prepares to mark its 250th anniversary, SourcePoint is turning to film, local history, and community conversation to help Delaware County residents connect with the American story in a more personal way.
The first program in its America 250 community movie series will feature Camp Delaware, a documentary focused on the 5th U.S. Colored Infantry Regiment and the Delaware County site where its soldiers trained before heading into active service during the Civil War.
The free screening will take place on Tuesday, May 5 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM in the Radebaugh Room at SourcePoint, 800 Cheshire Road in Delaware.
A Regiment Formed In Delaware
Camp Delaware tells the story of the regiment first raised as the 127th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Colored. Organized and trained at Camp Delaware between August and November 1863, the regiment was later redesignated as the 5th United States Colored Infantry Regiment before being sent to Norfolk, Virginia, for active service.
The documentary follows the soldiers through their formation, mustering, training, and battlefield experiences, while placing special focus on the Delaware camp where they prepared for war. That camp, located east of the Olentangy River, became the principal rendezvous and mustering point for many African American Ohioans entering the Union Army. It was separate from an earlier Camp Delaware on the west side of the river, which had been used in 1862 for white recruits of the 96th and 121st Ohio Volunteer Infantry.
Voices From The Era
The film uses authentic speeches from political figures of the period, personal letters from the troops, and music from the Civil War era to bring the story to life. Together, those elements trace not only the military path of the 5th USCI, but also the larger meaning of its service. These were men preparing to fight for the Union at a time when the war had become inseparable from the struggle for freedom and citizenship.
A particularly symbolic moment came on November 9, 1863, when the regiment received its colors during a formal ceremony at Camp Delaware. Soon afterward, the soldiers left Ohio for active service.
The 5th USCI would go on to fight in Virginia as part of the Richmond-Petersburg Campaign, and later in North Carolina, including actions connected to Fort Fisher, Wilmington, and the Carolinas Campaigns.
A Community Conversation
Following the screening, directors Francine and Mark Butler will be available for questions from the audience.
The event is open to all ages, and attendees are welcome to bring dinner and a beverage. Registration is requested for the free program. More information and registration are available at:
https://mysourcepoint.org/event/community-movie-screening-2/
Photo: SourcePoint
