XXV Corps (All-Black Corps) Tribute Tee — Battle of New Market Heights (Sept 29, 1864)

September 29, 1864. Fourteen Medals of Honor. One Morning.

Before dawn on September 29, 1864, the United States Colored Troops of the XXV Corps moved forward against Confederate fortifications at New Market Heights, Virginia. The ground was open. The enemy was entrenched. The officers had been ordered to the rear — the men would advance without them, led only by their sergeants and their own resolve.

They crossed the open field under withering fire. They took the works. And in a single morning of combat, fourteen Black soldiers earned the Medal of Honor — the most awarded to any unit in a single engagement in the Civil War. It was one of the most extraordinary acts of collective courage in American military history, and it happened at a time when the nation had not yet decided whether these men were citizens.

This tribute tee honors the soldiers of the XXV Corps — the only all-Black corps in U.S. Army history — and the men who charged New Market Heights and proved, once and for all, what Black soldiers were capable of when given the chance to fight.

The XXV Corps — The Only All-Black Corps in U.S. Army History

Formed in December 1864 from the United States Colored Troops serving in the Army of the James, the XXV Corps was the only corps-level formation in American military history composed entirely of Black soldiers. They fought in the final campaigns of the Civil War around Petersburg and Richmond, and were among the first Union troops to enter Richmond when the Confederate capital fell on April 3, 1865. The Battle of New Market Heights, fought just weeks before the corps was formally organized, stands as the defining moment of their legacy — a charge that cost them dearly and proved everything.

Premium All-Over-Print Construction

• 100% polyester — durable, quick-drying, and built for lasting wear
• Two weight options: 4.0 oz/yd² (lightweight) or 6.0 oz/yd² (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 crossed the field without their officers, under fire, and took the works. Fourteen Medals of Honor. One morning. Remember them."