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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…
Postmaster at New Town reporting on the burning of Black churches and attacks on Black residents and their property
James Murray (postmaster, New Town MD) to Maj. Gen. Wallace reporting on the burning of the Black M.E. Church in Worchester County. Another Black chuirch burned in Somerset Co. See C-4141 for another letter from Murray. File includes a massive number…
Report that free Black Marylanders were held in jail to compel them to enlist in the Army
Lt. M. Karney (cmdg post at Newton) to Lt. James C. Mullikin reporting on the conditions of the jail in Princess Ann, where several Black prisoners are held, apparently without charges. Some appear to have been enslaved and at least one discharged…
Rev. Adam Wallace reports on the progress of rebuilding Black churches burned by white Marylanders
Rev. Adam Wallace (late Presiding Elder of Methodist Church, Dist of Eastern Shore of MD) to Brig. Gen. John Kenly, reporting that the Black churches in Somerset Co, MD "are in a fair way of being speedily rebuilt." They had been destroyed by fire…
Sarah Parsons retrieves her daughters from her former enslaver with help from the military
Saml B Lawrence to Col. Wm H. Browne (AAPMG for MD & DE) directing him to send the deputy pro mar at Salsbury "to compel Joshua W Phillips, in Barren Creek District Somerset Co, to deliver to Sarah Parsons (colored) all her children now withheld from…
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…
The deputy provost marshal for Kent County reports that local officials used state indenture laws to facilitate the theft of Black children by former enslavers
Bartus Trew (Deputy Prov. Marshal for Kent Co.) to Major Este informing Este that over one hundred free Black children have been bound out by the county Orphan’s Court without the consent of their parents. Trew reports receiving numerous complaints…
Theresa Duffin reports that her former enslaver beat her after she argued with his wife and that they refuse to return her property
Affidavit of Theresa Duffin reporting that she had a run-in with her enslaver's wife in 1863 for which he severely beat her; she complained to the authorities & they promptly lodged her in jail; the enslaver got her out & told her that if she didn't…
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.
Union officer orders local officials in Havre de Grace to permit Frederick Douglass to give a lecture there
Brig. Gen. H.H. Lockwood to Lt. Col. Lawrence (AAAG) opposing intention of town authorities of Havre de Grace to prevent Frederick Douglass from speaking there. Says Douglass's speeches are sensible and would do much good.