III 

111TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 577 

Commemorating the remarkable life of patriotism, conviction, and compassion 

led by Chaplain Henry Vinton Plummer. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JUNE 30, 2010 

Ms. MIKULSKI (for herself and Mr. CARDIN) submitted the following 

resolution; which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Commemorating the remarkable life of patriotism, conviction, 

and compassion led by Chaplain Henry Vinton Plummer. 

Whereas Henry Vinton Plummer was born into slavery on 

July 31, 1844, in Prince George’s County, Maryland and 

escaped from slavery to serve honorably in the U.S. Navy 

during the Civil War; 

Whereas Henry Plummer was assigned in 1864 to the Union 

gunboat U.S.S. Coeur de Lion, which engaged numerous 

Confederate ships trying to run Union blockades in the 

Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries during the Civil War; 

Whereas after being honorably discharged from the Navy in 

1865, Henry Plummer studied to become a minister, and 

felt called to serve again in the United States military; 


jbell on DSKDVH8Z91PROD with BILLS
2 

•SRES 577 ATS 

Whereas in 1866, the 39th Congress passed legislation to establish African-American military units and stipulated 

that a chaplain be assigned to each regiment; 

Whereas in July 1884, Henry Plummer was appointed the 

first African-American chaplain in the United States 

Regular Army with a military rank equivalent of Captain; 

Whereas Chaplain Plummer served for more than 10 years 

with the Ninth Cavalry and was stationed at Army forts 

in Kansas, Wyoming, and Nebraska; 

Whereas during his time in uniform, Chaplain Plummer 

worked to improve education and voter participation and 

reduce the temptation of gambling, drunkenness, and 

prostitution among soldiers under his ministry; 

Whereas Chaplain Plummer fought racism and other injustices of the time while serving his country with the Ninth 

Calvary; 

Whereas Chaplain Plummer’s records in Fort Riley and Fort 

Robinson noted that he performed admirably in his work 

among soldiers and in his efforts on behalf of their spiritual well-being; 

Whereas Chaplain Plummer endured racial bias and animosity throughout his time in uniform, including being denied officer housing and being forced to live among enlisted personnel despite holding the Army officer rank 

equivalent of Captain; 

Whereas in 1894, Chaplain Plummer was court-martialed, 

convicted, and dismissed from the Army under circumstances tainted by racial and personal animus; 

Whereas the Army Board for Correction of Military Records 

concluded that personal grudges and racial bias were 


jbell on DSKDVH8Z91PROD with BILLS
3 

•SRES 577 ATS 

driving factors that led to Chaplain Plummer’s courtmartial; 

Whereas the Army Board for Correction of Military Records 

noted evidence that shows Chaplain Plummer served his 

country well and was a highly respected and admired officer; 

Whereas in 2005, the Army Board for Correction of Military 

Records changed the status of Chaplain Plummer’s military discharge to ‘‘honorable’’; 

Whereas despite the unfair and racially charged atmosphere 

that led to Chaplain Plummer’s conviction and discharge, 

he continued to ask for reinstatement in the military out 

of a desire to serve his country; 

Whereas Chaplain Plummer was a devoted family man, minister, veteran, and community leader committed to the 

principles of liberty and opportunity for which the United 

States stands; and 

Whereas Chaplain Plummer rose from the depths of slavery 

to remarkable heights, and led a life of selfless contributions to his country: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) celebrates the life and patriotism of Chap3 lain Henry Vinton Plummer; 

4 (2) expresses its admiration for Chaplain Plum5 mer for his perseverance and resolve in the face of 

6 racial oppression in the military history of the 

7 United States; and 

8 (3) congratulates Chaplain Plummer’s extended 

9 family for their work to commemorate his life of deVerDate Mar 15 2010 02:06 Jul 01, 2010 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SR577.ATS SR577

jbell on DSKDVH8Z91PROD with BILLS
4 

•SRES 577 ATS 

1 votion to helping others while overcoming tremen2 dous adversity. 

Æ 


jbell on DSKDVH8Z91PROD with BILLS