Arlington Section 27

The oldest section at Arlington contains the remains of nearly 4,000 former slaves; their headstones are marked by the words “citizen” and “civilian.” This section also holds the remains of approximately 1,500 United States Colored Troops (USCT), which the official designation was given to all African American units serving in the U.S. Army during the Civil War. Additionally, this section is the resting place for Private William Henry Christman. Interred on May 13th 1864, Christman was the first military burial on the Arlington grounds.