From Enslavement to Soldier, Entrepreneur, and Civil Rights Icon

Noah Pinkney was born enslaved in Frederick County, Maryland in the 1840s. Like many who longed for freedom, he seized his moment during the Civil War. In 1863, Noah made his way to Pennsylvania, where he first helped dig entrenchments during the Confederate invasion — then enlisted in the 127th United States Colored Troops, serving as a corporal in Company G. His unit stood witness at Appomattox in 1865, present for the surrender of Robert E. Lee and the Confederacy.

But Noah’s story didn’t end with the war.

He became a community builder, a civil rights activist, and a familiar face across Carlisle and Harrisburg. He led as a commander in the Grand Army of the Republic, organized precinct politics for the Republican Party, and was a Mason and church leader. Long before the Civil Rights Movement of the 20th century, Noah Pinkney was already fighting for dignity and justice in his community.

And then, there was his pretzels.

For nearly four decades, Noah and his wife Carrie became beloved figures at Dickinson College, where students cherished his hot pretzels, sandwiches, and homemade treats. He was the 19th century equivalent of a food truck restaurateur — a vendor, entrepreneur, and community icon whose warmth and generosity made him unforgettable.

When he passed away in 1923 at the age of 77, the Carlisle Sentinel called him “a man of splendid character.” He was laid to rest in Harrisburg’s Lincoln Cemetery (a partner site of SOAL), alongside many other Black veterans and community leaders whose stories are still being reclaimed today.

The Urgent Data Rescue Deployment is Action4Heritage’s rapid-response program where trained guerrilla archivists travel to at-risk archives — such as the National Archives, historic cemeteries, small museums, or community heritage clubs — to digitize and preserve fragile documents before they are lost, altered, or destroyed. These records often include pension applications, letters, affidavits, marriage proofs, church records, and testimonies from Black families, soldiers, widows, and community leaders.

Why We Do It

Black, Brown, and marginalized histories are under threat — narrowed in classrooms, softened in exhibits, and erased from public memory. Primary sources like USCT pension files are often the only surviving evidence of family networks, marriages, freedom journeys, and community life. Preserving these records ensures that descendants, scholars, and communities have access to authentic, verifiable history that cannot be rewritten or erased.