Clifford Henderson

The gravestone of Clifford Henderson in the Gettysburg National Cemetery.

NPS Photo.

Quick Facts

Significance:

An African American soldier who served during the Spanish American War.

Place of Death:

Camp Meade

Date of Death:

September 8, 1898

Place of Burial:

Section 20, Row I, Site #19

Cemetery Name:

Gettysburg National Cemetery

Section 20, Row I, Site #19

Private Clifford Henderson is one of three African American soldiers, serving with the 9th Ohio Volunteer Infantry Battalion, who died during the Spanish American War. The all Black battalion was commanded by Major Charles Young, a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and an African American Civil Rights pioneer.

Clifford died of typhoid fever while at Camp Meade in Middletown, PA. On September 8, 1898, his remains were laid to rest in the Gettysburg National Cemetery.

As reported by the Gettysburg Compiler, “On Thursday [September 8] the body Clifford Henderson, colored, a private of Co. A, 9^th Ohio Regiment., was interred in the Ohio plot of the National Cemetery. The remains were accompanied by a squad of [16 members of] his own company, under command of Lieutenant. Ellicott. Rev. D.W. Woods, Jr., conducted the services, and the customary military honors were observed.”

You can find more information about his commanding officer, Charles Young, who not only served as an officer the Army, but also as the first African-American National Park Superintendent at the Nation Park Service website, Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument Ohio.