Browse Items (44 total)
Sort by:
White trustees of a Black church refuse to allow them to employ a Black pastor
Several documents beginning with deposition of David Lucket, complaining that white trustees of church at Oxon Hill, MD prevent Black parishioners from employing a Black minister. Require a white one. The underlying reason for this requirement by…
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…
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…
White Baltimore resident Sarah Alnutt petitions the military for help returning a Black child taken from her residence by family members
White Baltimore resident Sarah Alnutt to Gen. Lew Wallace asking for help returning Black child Dolly Parran, who was apparently taken from her residence by distant relations. Includes a letter from the Baltimore police, who investigated the…
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.
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.
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…
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…
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…
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…