The Royal Engineers continued to employ the Coloured Corps on the Niagara Peninsula for the remainder of the War of 1812. The Corps' zeal in these works impressed British engineers, one reporting in February 1815 that "no people could be better calculated to build temporary barracks than these Free Men of Colour, as they are in general expert axemen."
I have been writing about the 135th United States Colored Troops in my Saw the Elephant: Civil War blog and they were classified as pioneers and were quite good at building bridges and corduroying roads.
The company was disbanded on 24 March 1815, following the end of the war.
In claiming rewards for their service, many faced adversity and discrimination. Sergeant William Thompson was informed he "must go and look for his pay himself." Richard Pierpoint, then in his 70s, was denied his request for passage home to Africa in lieu of a land grant.
--Brock-Perry
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