114th U.S.C.T. Clothing Issue Roll
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No requestable containers
Scope and Contents
This collection consists of a single receipt roll documenting the issuance of clothing to non-commissioned officers, musicians, and privates of Company D, 114th Regiment, United States Colored Troops (U.S.C.T.) while stationed in Brownsville, Texas, in October 1865. The document lists twenty-eight soldiers who signed for items such as cap covers, trousers, and bootees, each marking their name with an “X.” The roll is dated October 31, 1865, and offers a poignant glimpse into the logistical and personal realities of African American troops in the immediate aftermath of the Civil War. Notably, one soldier, Elijah Mason, an eight-year-old drummer boy, is identified by name. This document provides valuable documentation of African American military history.
Dates
- Creation: 1865 October 31
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research. Researchers must register and agree to copyright and privacy laws before using this collection. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations. Due to the nature of certain archival formats, including digital and audio-visual materials, access to certain materials may require additional advance notice.
Conditions Governing Use
Researchers are responsible for using the materials in conformance with United States copyright law as well as any donor restrictions accompanying the materials. The user assumes all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any copyright claimants in collection materials. Copyright for official University records is held by The University of Alabama. The library claims only physical ownership of many manuscript collections. Anyone wishing to broadcast or publish this material must assume all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants of literary property rights or copyrights. Please contact Special Collections (archives@ua.edu) with questions regarding specific manuscript collections.
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Researchers are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to identifiable living individuals without the consent of those individuals may have legal implications, for which the University of Alabama assumes no responsibility.
Biographical / Historical
The 114th Regiment of the United States Colored Troops was organized on July 4, 1864, at Camp Nelson, Kentucky, one of the largest recruiting and training centers for African American soldiers in the Union Army. Comprised primarily of formerly enslaved men, the 114th United States Colored Troops (U.S.C.T.) played a vital role in the final campaigns of the Civil War, participating in the siege operations at Petersburg and Richmond, as well as the Appomattox Campaign, where they witnessed General Robert E. Lee's surrender in April 1865. Following the war, the regiment was stationed in Brownsville, Texas, from July 1865 to April 1867. Their duties included patrolling the U.S.-Mexico border, preventing Confederate resurgence, and protecting civilian communities from regional violence.
Approximately 24,000 Black Kentuckians served in the Union Army, second only to Louisiana in U.S.C.T. enlistment. In Brownsville, African American soldiers such as those in the 114th were part of the military presence tasked with maintaining order during a volatile postwar era.
Extent
1 Linear Feet
Language of Materials
English
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The University of Alabama Libraries acquired the 114th U.S.C.T. Clothing Issue Roll from McBride Rare Books in 2021.
Processing Information
Processed by Courtney Tutt, April 2025.
- Title
- Guide to the 114th U.S.C.T. Clothing Issue Roll
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Finding aid created by Courtney Tutt, April 2025.
- Date
- April 2025
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the The University of Alabama Libraries Special Collections Repository