By the fall of 1864, Fort Henderson was primarily manned by United States Colored Troops from the 106th, 110th, and 111th regiments. The 110th made up the bulk of the garrison and was commanded by its colonel, Wallace Campbell. Many men in the regiment were former slaves from Athens or Limestone County, including Company I's Julius Redus and his brother Samuel, along with blacksmith John Jackson. George Allen served in Company H, with Moses Peete, a father of seven children. Doctor Peete, who received his name because of a visit to the local doctor as an infant, enlisted in December 1863, as did John Roberts. These men fought not only to restore the Union, but for their own freedom.