United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- African Americans

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...

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Letters concerning Robinson's request for a commission in the "colored service" of the U.S. Army during the Civil War.

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The affidavits in this collection confirm the service of African American sailors during the Civil War

Scope and Contents This collection consists of a two-leaf manuscript document created in Petersburg, Virginia, in 1864. It includes a petition, a writ of Habeas Corpus, and a $100 bond filed by Calvin Ford for the return of Elvira, his enslaved servant, who had been convicted of attempting to poison Ford and his family. The petition challenges the legality of Elvira’s conviction on the grounds that the court's verdict was rendered by a mere majority, rather than a unanimous decision, thus rendering the...

Scope and Contents This collection consists of an original pencil sketch measuring 6.5 x 5 inches, depicting two African Americans engaged in conversation. One of the figures holds what appears to be a U.S. flag, while additional subjects are visible in the background. The scene likely captures a moment following the departure of Union troops, with formerly enslaved individuals collecting discarded materials. The sketch was possibly created during or shortly after the Civil War by an artist working in the...

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Letter from an African American U. S. Army chaplain during the Civil War to the father of one of the soldiers at the hospital in Alexandria, Virginia

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This document is a letter from Calvin Rice, a Union soldier from Massachusetts, to a family member, Oscar Rice. Written while stationed on Edisto Island, South Carolina, the letter provides firsthand insights into one of the main colonies of escaped formerly enslaved individuals during the Civil War. The letter offers a perspective on the role of Union soldiers in occupied Southern territories and the experiences of freed people during the war.

Scope and Contents This collection consists of a letter signed by General Ulysses S. Grant, written in the form of a telegram to Major General Edward O. C. Ord. The document is dated March 19, 1865, and sent from City Point, Virginia, during the final weeks of the American Civil War. In the message, Grant discusses the arrival of two to three thousand African American individuals accompanying General Philip H. Sheridan and issues orders regarding their transfer to Fort Monroe in Virigina for further processing...