The Life and Times of William Webb, An African American Soldier from Connecticut

The Avon Public Library continues its commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the American Civil War with a dramatic one-man performance,  William Webb, an African-American Civil War Soldier from Connecticut,  presented by popular Civil War re-enactor Kevin Johnson.  The program will be presented Monday, April 9, 2012 @ 1:00 pm.  Due to construction at the library, the program will be held at the Avon Senior Center.

Mr. Johnson has presented this program throughout the Hartford Area many times, to rave reviews. He will portray Private Webb, a native of Hartford, who was recruited in 1863 and served in the Twenty-Ninth (Colored) Regiment, Connecticut Volunteer Infantry in several battles in Virginia. Johnson’s presentation of Webb is told from an emotional and exciting first-person perspective that vividly illustrates the struggle of the African-Americans in the Colored Infantry during the Civil War.  He tells of his early life in Hartford, his recruitment and training, and the traumatic final battles of the Civil War. 

The presentation is based on extensive research in the collections of the Connecticut State Library and the Museum of Connecticut History. Mr. Johnson is an employee of the Connecticut State Library’s History and Genealogy Unit.

This program is co-sponsored by the Avon Public Library, Avon Senior Center and Avon Historical Society and part of the series “Avon to Appomattox: Lives and Legacies of the Civil War”. Generously funded by a grant from the Avon Education Foundation. The Avon Senior Center is at 635 West Avon Road in the Sycamore Hills Recreation Area.  Program is free and open to the public, refreshments will be served.  To register or for more information call the Avon Public Library 860-673-9712 or register online at www.avonctlibrary.info