Civil War Tribute Tee — Siege of Petersburg, XXV Corps (USCT) & Mahone's Brigade — Battle of the Crater (July 30, 1864)

They Were Promised Glory. They Were Given a Crater.

On the morning of July 30, 1864, Union forces detonated four tons of black powder beneath Confederate lines at Petersburg, Virginia — blowing a gap 170 feet wide and 30 feet deep into the earth. What followed was one of the most devastating and heartbreaking episodes of the Civil War.

The soldiers of the XXV Corps, United States Colored Troops (USCT) had trained for weeks to lead the assault. They were pulled from the front at the last moment — replaced by white troops who had not trained for the mission. When those troops faltered in the crater, the USCT was finally sent in — into a killing ground, against a rallied Confederate defense led by Mahone's Brigade. They fought with extraordinary courage. They were slaughtered.

This Civil War Tribute Tee honors the Black soldiers of the USCT who fought and died at the Battle of the Crater — men who served a nation that had not yet fully recognized their humanity, in a battle that history has too often overlooked.

The Battle of the Crater — A Story That Must Be Told

The 4th Division, USCT — under Brigadier General Edward Ferrero — was composed of regiments that had drilled specifically for the post-explosion assault. Their removal from the lead position was a decision driven by politics, not tactics. When they were finally committed to the battle, Confederate forces under Brigadier General William Mahone had already reorganized. The USCT soldiers who entered the crater faced not only enemy fire but, in many cases, no quarter — Black soldiers and their white officers were killed after attempting to surrender. It was a war crime. It was also an act of extraordinary valor by men who kept fighting anyway.

Premium All-Over-Print Construction

• 100% polyester — durable, quick-drying, and built for lasting wear
• Two weight options: 4.0 oz/yd² (113 g/m² lightweight) or 6.0 oz/yd² (170 g/m² structured feel)
• Side seams & shoulder tape — structured fit, stretch-resistant through repeated wear
• Ribbed knit collar — holds its shape wash after wash
• Tagless interior — all-day comfort, no irritation
• Assembled in the USA from globally sourced materials

Care Instructions

• Machine wash cold (max 30°C / 90°F), gentle cycle
• Tumble dry on low heat
• Do not bleach, iron, or dry clean

Size Guide

"They fought for a nation still deciding if they were men. History has no excuse for forgetting them."