Evening Lecture: First Footsteps of Freedom

The Bartow History Museum will host historian Brad Quinlin on February 26, 2026, from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. for First Footsteps of Freedom, a compelling program examining the lives of formerly enslaved men who became U.S. soldiers during the Civil War. In 1864, these newly freed men served as stretcher bearers during the Atlanta Campaign, moving under fire across the battlefields of Resaca, Kennesaw Mountain, Vinings Station, and Atlanta, where they risked their lives to save wounded Union soldiers in a critical yet often overlooked role. Quinlin will share the stories of William Tucker, Matthew Moore, George Wilson, Cleve Berq, and others, tracing their journeys from slavery to freedom to military service, drawing on personal accounts and extensive historical documentation to highlight their courage, resilience, and humanity during and after the war. Grounded in more than 30 years of research and over 500,000 documents from the National Archives in Washington, D.C., Quinlin’s work brings depth and clarity to this important chapter of Civil War history.

Admission is free for museum members and $9 for non-members.