Embury D. Osband

Embury D. Osband (June 6, 1832 – October 4, 1866) became the commanding officer of the 3rd United States Colored Cavalry Regiment during the American Civil War. Born in New York, he became a teacher and then started a company that provided books to schools. In 1856, he married and moved to Chicago. When the American Civil War broke out, he raised a company of the 4th Illinois Cavalry Regiment and became its captain. In 1863, he was appointed colonel of a new regiment composed of African-American former slaves. He led the regiment and later a cavalry brigade in Grierson's 1864–65 Raid. He received the brevet rank of brigadier general for war service. After the war, he became a farmer in Mississippi but died in 1866.