Allen Powell

Allen Powell was born in Front Royal in Warren County, Virginia in 1838. Allen was raised in Virginia, but few records detaling the nature of his upbringing have survived. Allen left Viriginia sometime prior to the 1863, as he enlilsted in the 54 Regiment of the Massachusettes United States Colored Troops in Readville, MA on April 29th, 1863. During the war, Allen suffered a shell wound to his left knee and a broken skull. Despite these injuries, Allen survived the war, and was discharged on August 20th, 1865 in Charleston, South Carolina. Post-war Allen moved to Maryland, and then to Chambersburg, PA where he worked as a blacksmith. Powell married and had children, but by the end of his life his only remaining family was his daughter, Sarah. Due to his war injuries, Powell was blinded and had difficulty walking, which forced him to move to Carlisle. Powell died on March 18th,1926 and was buried in Union Colored Cemetery.