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Execution of a colored soldier
circa 1861-1865
Image of corpse hanging from gallows. Inscription on verso: "Execution of Johnson, a colored soldier." Numeric notation on verso: "99."
GLC05111.01.0921
"Arrival of first negroes in the lines."
Image of fifteen blacks arriving in a covered wagon at a Union Army Camp. Only one of the men in the group is uniformed, and a second soldier is evident, albeit blurred, on a horse to the rear of the wagon. Inscription on verso: "Arrival of first...
GLC05111.01.0925
Union soldiers dismantling Confederate fort posed on cannon
The image shows Union soldiers sitting on and standing near two cannon, one soldier in the center possibly African-American, with fortification earthworks in the background. Inscription on verso: "Dismantling the Rebel Forts, Petersburg, Va."
GLC05111.01.1011
Mounting guard in Fort Wagner
The image shows a mounting guard inside Fort Wagner, South Carolina. Black soldiers appear to be occupying the fort, with various other figures standing on a ridge in the distance. Numeric notations on recto: "3491" and "41." Inscription on verso: "...
GLC05111.01.1032
Bombproof quarters for black soldiers
Gardner, Alexander, 1821-1882
(Same as #1037.) The image shows a group of black soldiers sitting on a hill and three others standing below them near bombproof quarters. Numeric notation on recto: "804." Inscriptions on verso: "Gardner" and "Bombproof Quarters Fed." Numeric...
GLC05111.01.1033
Black soldiers filling canteens
The image shows a group of black soldiers with some on horses, others reclining on the ground and a group in line in front of a Sibley tent. Numeric notation on image: "33." Inscription on verso: "Filling their canteens." Numeric notations on verso...
GLC05111.01.1034
Camp scene with black soldiers.
The image shows a camp scene in the woods with a black soldier writing near his A-frame tent, other soldiers are reclining and a group stands with their guns in the distance. Inscription on verso: "Ordway Gardner Coll." Numeric notations on verso:...
GLC05111.01.1035
Cedar Mountain battlefield, Bull Run
August 1862
The image shows a group of black soldiers reclining and standing amongst the trees on the edge of a battlefield. Numeric notation on image: "504." Inscriptions on verso: "Cedar Mountain Battlefield West View Aug. 62" and "Gardner." Numeric notations...
GLC05111.01.1036
Bombproof quarters for black soldiers, Petersburg
1864
(Same as #1033.) The image shows a group of black soldiers sitting on a hill and three others standing below near bombproof quarters. Numeric notations on recto: "804" and "152." Inscription on verso: "Making coffee on the lines before Petersburg, Va...
GLC05111.01.1037
The image shows bombproof quarters with various black soldiers sitting, and others standing in the distance with their guns. Inscription on verso: "Gardner" and "Bombproof Quarters. Federal." Numeric notations on verso: "XI-III" and "805."
GLC05111.01.1039
Black soldiers manning a cannon
The image shows a group of 5 black soldiers manning a cannon along a river. Inscription on verso: "Gardner." Numeric notations on verso: "XII" and "51."
GLC05111.01.1042
African-American soldiers digging graves
The image shows a large group of African-American soldiers digging graves. One corpse lies on the ground, and an officer oversees the activity on horseback. Numeric notation on image: "724." Inscription on verso: "Gardner." Numeric notations on...
GLC05111.01.1102
to Sarah [Gibson] Humphreys
3 August 1864
Gibson, Tobias, fl. 1861-1865
He writes that "The blacks are getting worse every day & at the end of this year I think they will be intolerable on account of bad work and the condition of the crops. I told them they must work on Saturday evening last - but they would not do it...
GLC04501.097
to John M. Cuyler
7 July 1862
Van Buren, Daniel T., 1826-1890
Suggesting that contrabands, formerly enslaved people who had escaped to the Union army, be tasked with collecting corpses. "It is suggested that Contrabands be Employed to bring down & put in the waggons the dead bodies which, Emit these foul...
GLC04511
[Clothing receipt roll for Company F, 26th Regiment, United States Colored Troops]
circa 1864
Sanders, Jacob, fl. 1864
Sergeant Jacob Sanders signs as a witness. Includes the names of soldiers in Company F, led by Captain George England. Each soldier signs with an "x" between the first and last name. Table printed on verso outlines the Secretary of War's recommended...
GLC04520
To his wife
30 May 1862
Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918
Farm work (neighbors helped put-in crops), more rumors of Richmond's capture, drills, call for 100,000 men: "I think that the best way to end the concern [of enough men] would be to enlist and arm the contrabands for all the darkeys I have talked...
GLC04558.025
17 April 1863
Skirmishing, Federal expedition to dislodge snipers, being reinforced, expecting an attack. "We have taken some negro rebel prisoners. One was caught in a tree fireing at our scurmishers, there was a white reb also with him but they killed the...
GLC04558.083
31 July 1864
Written in pencil with portions of pages 1-4 traced in a darker pencil. The explosion and charge on fort along the rebel line by Burnside's 9th Corps was at first rumored to be a great success although GWT noticed Grant "appeared a little troubled."...
GLC04558.151
9 September 1864
Continued Sept. 10th. Cross written. Describes arrival at the Fort and Garrison duty. Fort is manned by "the 89th New York [GWT's regiment], one company of darkey cavalry, one company of heavy artillery, and a signal station." Relieved to hear...
GLC04558.160
30 October 1864
Relieved at Chapins Farm by a company of black soldiers; fought fierce battle near the old Fair Oaks battlefield. Written from Atkins Landing, in Moncks Corner, South Carolina.
GLC04558.169
To George Tillotson
5 April [1862]
Tillotson, Louisa, fl. 1861-1898
Family news. Brother Nelson may have been captured in Tennessee. Nelson, a teamster, believed Negroes would be recruited to drive them teams so white men could fight.
GLC04558.185
A Southern Soldier's Experiences in a Northern Prison
November 1893
Flinn, John William, fl. 1863-1893
Originally written for the students of a "lady cousin" who was concerned her pupils were being misinformed about the "kind treatment of Southern Soldiers in Northern prisons." Flinn later presented the address at "S. C. College Nov. 1893." He...
GLC04573.13
[Scene of the 'Negro Charge' on the Reb Works]
1863 ca.
McPherson, & Oliver, fl. 1864
Carte de visite. Penciled caption on verso, with additional pencil inscriptions "307" and "7793." View of a fortification on the edge of a valley. White mount with tan border. McPherson & Oliver imprint on verso.
GLC04596.01
to mother
1863/4/14
Walbridge, Charles E., 1842-?
Continue on 4/15 & 4/16 written from Folly Island. An account of the capture of Folly Island, the bombardment of Charleston, and the failure of union troops to take the city. Also, Walbridge sees an armed, black confederate soldier. It has been...
GLC04662.032
1863/7/14
Briefly describes the charge on Fort Wagner which he mistakenly says was led by the 7th Connecticut. The 100th Regiment dug trenches and erected a battery which captured a rebel battery. [Walbridge gives a correct and compelling description of the...
GLC04662.040
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