TAMPA, Fla. — More than 200,000 men fought for America’s Independence. One Tampa man says his relative was among them.
Chris Cunningham owns True Value America, a hardware store in Tampa. Cunningham said his great, great, great, great, great grandfather, Henry Dorton, fought in the American Revolution. Records show Private Dorton, a free man, was drafted three times beginning in 1777. He is one of many African American soldiers who served in the Continental Army.
Cunningham said he is proud of that.
“Very rarely do you hear except Crispus Attucks about the contributions of Africans and Blacks, but I think we were a very important part of history,” Cunningham said. “I think it’s important to talk about it.”
In one handwritten account, Private Dorton talked about the struggle of burying fellow soldiers.
“In the narrows of Grave Creek… we were attackted [attacked] by about seventy Indians… Captain Foreman and twenty of his men were killed… twenty tho [though] were saved,” Dorton wrote.
Records show Private Henry Dorton, a free man, was drafted three times beginning in 1777.
Ersula Odom owns The Black History Shop in Tampa. She said this holiday, it’s important to share stories of other soldiers from the American Revolution, who are seldom talked about. One of those soldiers is Salem Poor, who was recognized for his heroism during the Battle of Bunker Hill.
“When you can see yourself in someone else and know that what they did was something to be proud of, that spills over on you, Odom said. “And it positions you to do something in your life with pride.”
Nearly 28,000 Black soldiers fought for either the American or the British during the war.
“I think about all the sacrifice,” Cunningham said. “I think about the contributions of all races. Now it’s my turn to do my part and be part of the next 50 years.”