Browse Items (17 total)
- Collection: Black Maryland and the Military
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Black Surgeon Alexander Augusta writes to Senator Henry Wilson regarding his low pay as a Black soldier despite holding the rank of major
Dr. Alexander T. Augusta to Sec. of War--Surgeon Alexander T. Augusta was in the army nearly one year until he was transferred to Baltimore, MD. At his new post the paymaster insisted that he was to get $7 month, just as all Black troops do. He wrote…
White officials in Queen Anne's County challenge the recruitment of free people of color as temporary slaves
William T. Chamgbers to Col. William Birney reporting arrest of Col. J.P. Creager for recruiting among free people of color on the grounds that "when a free colored man hires himself for a year, or short period of time, he is a slave for the length…
Maryland Governor Augustus Bradford complains to Lincoln about the liberation of enslaved prisoners from jail in Prince George's County
A.W. Bradford to Lincoln complains that a troop of colored soldiers committed an outrage in Prince Georges County by freeing prisoners from the county jail. Bradford asks Lincoln to have those guilty of this outraged punished and orders issued to…
Black Marylander reveals the location of hidden rebel arms on the property of a future Maryland state senator
Brig. Gen. H.H. Lockwood to Lt. Col. Lawrence (AAG) reporting that in the summer of 1861 he obtained information from a Black Marylander that Mr. [William B.] Stevenson had a quantity of guns stored in his barn. Mr. Stevenson is now the senator-elect…
Two escaped Black Marylanders reveal hidden rebel weapons cache to the army
Lt D. C. Clark to Capt Chas Corbit enclosing two affidavits from formerly enslaved Black Marylanders revealing the location of a hidden cache of rebel weapons as well as the details of their escape to join the Union Army.
Several surgeons of Black regiments write to Lincoln complaining about having to serve under a Black officer, Surgeon Alexander Augusta
J.B. McPherson et. al. to Lincoln protesting the assignment of Surgeon Alexander Augusta. Claim their commitment to "bettering" Black Americans but assert that it is beneath their dignity to serve with him as their superior officer. A subsequent…
White officers discuss how to handle a Black New York soldier who enlisted in a white unit stationed at Fort McHenry
William Lee (capt NY vols) to Adj of NY Vols writing that he received a group of 46 men in which there was a Black man, George Tankard of NY. Lee states that he has put Tankard to work in the kitchen, and he feels that it would be unsafe to drill or…
Case of white women hissing at Black troops in Baltimore
"Lt. Col. John Woolley (prov. Mar.) to Maj. Gen. Lewis Wallace (com. Middle dept) reporting that some ladies were hissing at the passing of colored troops on Exeter Street. They endeavored to make a dog bark at the troops to "show further their…
Kent County officials arrest army recruiting officers for enlisting enslaved men against the wishes of their enslavers
John Frazier (pro mar) to H.W. Hoffman reporting that judges in Kent have ordered the arrest of several citizens, including the Deputy Pro. Mars. for alleged interference with the enlistment of Black soldiers. Frazier states that “This is done to…