Edward Winslow Hinks

Biography

Edward Winslow Hinks, born in 1830, answered the Union’s call as sectional tensions escalated, rising through the ranks to command troops composed of men who had long been denied equal treatment. His leadership of the United States Colored Troops demonstrated his commitment to the cause of freedom and to the soldiers he guided through the harsh trials of war.

After the conflict he remained active in civic circles, advocating for veterans’ welfare and for the integration of freed people into civic life, while also taking time to mentor young officers and lend his counsel to public affairs. He was remembered as a soldier whose courage was matched by a gentle concern for the men under his care.