Welcome back to the African Roots Podcast and today Shelley and I are Digging the Roots! Our focus today is CIVIL WAR! Shelley has been digging up African American Civil War soldiers from Michigan! Kinchon Artis, 102 US Colored Infantry
A Soldier from Michigan

Service Record of Kinchon Artis

Another soldier that Shelley Murphy mentioned was George Cowen, who was from Michigan and joined the 54th Massachusetts Colored Regiment. He was one of several men from Michigan who joined that regiment.

George Cowan of 54th Massachusetts Colored

David Cousins 102nd US Colored Infantry

Source of all service record images: Fold3.com

Another soldier from Michigan
Henry Steward, from Adrian Michigan
54th Massachusetts Colored
Courtesy, Seeking Michigan 

I enjoy getting pension files of US Colored Troops, from either the soldier of the widow’s pensions. These records are so rich genealogically. A soldier had to prove that he served. Those files are amazing–they left their words in those files. And the widow had to prove that she was truly married. For women once enslaved, proving their marriage was such a challenge. They would bring in witnesses to testify that they were truly husband and wife.

The officers were usually white, but the non-commissioned officers–the corporals and sergants were usually men of color. They were usually men who were literate and could fill out some daily forms. Shelley suggests studying the officers who may have left their own memoir and notes left behind notes about the regiments where they commanded.

Fold3 is a great place to get Civil War Service record from the Civil War. The National Park Service has a wonderful Civil War database for all of the soldiers, who fought in north and south. Ancestry is also a resource to use to find information and enlistment records of Civil War soldiers. (see image below). Shelley found an enlistment record of  Joseph Davis from Ohio, and has been looking to see if he actually served and if so, what unit that may have been.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Washington, D.C.; Consolidated Lists of Civil War Draft Registration Records (Provost Marshal General’s Bureau; Consolidated Enrollment Lists, 1863-1865); Record Group: 110, Records of the Provost Marshal General’s Bureau (Civil War); Collection Name: Consolidated Enrollment Lists, 1863-1865 (Civil War Union Draft Records); NAI: 4213514; Archive Volume Number: 1 of 3

I have also a blog devoted to the USCTs that can be found at USCT Chronicle.

 And my favorite story is that of my Uncle Sephus Bass, which I wrote about on my blog. (See Finding Uncle Sephus.)

Shelley asks—“How was a slave able to enlist?” Well keep in mind that when the overseers, and masters were gone to the Confederate Army–there was no one to restrain them, when Union soldiers came through. Almost 200,000 men of color in the US Colored Infantry.

I was quite surprised when I found a woman who served with the 11th US Colored Infantry–Malinda Sanders served as a matron with the 11th US Colored Infantry and traveled with them. Her service record was found with the soldiers though she worked as a nurse and matron. This is most unusual, but such a treat to see!

Any parting words for our listeners?

Shelley: Don’t give up, keep looking, and remember to also study the officers to see if they left notes or publications about their service with these men.
Angela: I agree with Shelley, as there were thousands of men who served and thousands of stories to go and find. They are wonderfully rich and part of our history!

Thanks for tuning in and joining us as we have been “Digging the Roots!”