George Vickers' property, Owned William Hales
George Vickers' property, former owner of William Hales
William Hales' Case Study
George Vickers' Case Study

Holliday Street, Birney Barracks
Birney Barracks was an established enlistment locality for Colored men beginning in 1863. Colonel William Birney used numerous tactics to recruit soldiers, both slave and free.
One tactic used by Birney was liberating slaves from jails, which led to the demise of slave jails. Many of the jalied slaves were there to be sold or could not be sold. The owners paid a fee for their keep.

Charles County
William Hales, Company F, 7th Regiment, based at Camp Stanton at Benedict Maryland

Camp Stanton - Benedict, Maryland
Camp Stanton, base of USCT Training 1863-64. The 7th regiment received instruction while at Camp Benedict. Every enlisted man was to perform guard duty and skirmish practice was necessary.
The regiment performed many menial chores, such as building stockades, bunks, officers quarters, kitchens, hospitals, and lastly places for their living.
They cut trees, dug ditches, and formed roads. They also acted as cooks, laundress, and valets for officers.
http://www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/aapaxstanton.html

Cedar Creek, Jacksonville, Florida
In May of 1864, the regiment participated played a part in a skirmish between the enemy here.
The Union Army wanted to reach Cedar Creek before the enemy because it was the only overland route to Jacksonville.

White Point, South Carolina
The 7th regiment was involved in a campaign here on July 3, 1864.

Johns Island, South Carolina
The 7th regiment was involved in a campaign here on July 9, 1864.

Wilderness to Petersburg
This map highlights significant battles including, Wilderness, Spotsylvania, and the Siege of Petersburg.
Source: http://thomaslegion.net/battleofthewilderness.html

Fort Gilmer, Virginia
7th Regiment, Battle at Fort Gilmer, September 29, 1864

Battle of Deep Bottom, or Darbytown
The Battle of Deep Bottom took place in 1864 and was part of the Siege of Petersburg.
Hales endured a gunshot wound to his right thigh which occurred at Deep Bottom, Virginia in 1864.

Petersburg, Virginia
Siege of Petersburg, 7th Regiment participated in this battle from June 1864 - April 1865

Appomattox Court House, Virginia
The 7th Regiment fought here on April 9, 1865, which ended the war.

Indianola, Texas

Indianola, Texas
The 7th USCT Regiment acted as a garrison here for 18 months.
Diseases, particularly Cholera, were a common occurence while the regiment spent time in Texas. An epidemic had swept through that area during that time period.
While in Texas, Hales's company was sent to Lavaca where they patrolled prisoners, administered the oath of allegiance and acted as magistrate in cases of dispute where Civil authorities were not present.
The regiment continued to perform garrison duty until October 14, 1866, which ended their three year terms.

881 Tyson Street, Baltimore - William Hales' residence after the war
William Hales resided at this address for 40 years before passing away on February 11, 1913.

William Hales, Path from Slavery to Freedom