"One Cause, One Country - 45th Regt. U.S. Colored Troops," between 1863 and 1865

This is a photograph of the United States Colored Troops, 45th Regiment’s flag. On it is an African-American soldier with an American flag in hand standing beside a bust statue of George Washington.

Courtesy of Library of Congress, Bowser, David B., "One cause, one country - 45th Regt. U.S. Colored Troops," between 1863 and 1865

Description

This is an image of the United States Colored Troops, 45th Regiment's flag. On it is an African-American soldier with an American flag in hand standing beside a bust statue of George Washington. More African-American soldiers fight in the background behind him.

Source-Dependent Questions

What was the "One Cause" the 45th Regiment was fighting for?
Based on the details of their flag, what might the men of the 45th Regiment have felt their relationship was to the United States? What did they feel their responsibility was to it?
Given their regimental slogan - One Cause, One Country - what might the 45th have had envisioned for their country after the Civil War?

Citation Information

Bowser, David B., "One cause, one country - 45th Regt. U.S. Colored Troops," between 1863 and 1865. Courtesy of Library of Congress