General information: President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation freed the slaves in Confederate states. Slaves in Missouri were not freed. The War Department approved recruiting African Americans in the United States Colored Troops in August 1862, then recruitment increased following the Emancipation Proclamation. Slaves who fought would be declared free and this would result in freedom for their wives and children also.
In November 1863 Order No. 135 began allowing enlistment of slaves without the consent of the slaveholder. The men were mustered in at Benton Barracks in St. Louis. After March 1864 one of the hospitals at Benton Barracks was designated as a facility "for Colored Troops only." Later that year a medical board found that more than a third of those enlisted had died from diseases. Others died due to poor sanitary conditions and lack of proper food. Few of the soldiers in the Colored Troops survived to see Missouri slaves freed. By the end of the war, one-tenth of Union forces were African-Americans. Eighteen African-American soldiers were awarded the Medal of Honor for their service during the Civil War.(1) More detailed information about the U.S. Colored Troops is available in an earlier blog post: http://southcentralmolhistory.blogspot.com/2015/02/miller-county-missouri-slaves-in-us.html
In November 1863 Order No. 135 began allowing enlistment of slaves without the consent of the slaveholder. The men were mustered in at Benton Barracks in St. Louis. After March 1864 one of the hospitals at Benton Barracks was designated as a facility "for Colored Troops only." Later that year a medical board found that more than a third of those enlisted had died from diseases. Others died due to poor sanitary conditions and lack of proper food. Few of the soldiers in the Colored Troops survived to see Missouri slaves freed. By the end of the war, one-tenth of Union forces were African-Americans. Eighteen African-American soldiers were awarded the Medal of Honor for their service during the Civil War.(1) More detailed information about the U.S. Colored Troops is available in an earlier blog post: http://southcentralmolhistory.blogspot.com/2015/02/miller-county-missouri-slaves-in-us.html
In the 1860 Slave Schedule, Pulaski County reported 56 slaves. One of these slaves was a young female brought to Missouri from Kentucky by my GGgrandparents Daniel and Mary Smith.
At least two slaves from Pulaski County joined the U.S. Colored Troops: Joseph Inman and Allen Carter.
At least two slaves from Pulaski County joined the U.S. Colored Troops: Joseph Inman and Allen Carter.
Joseph Inman, born in Pulaski County, Missouri, gave his age as 18 when he enlisted for three years at Rolla on March 23, 1864. Joseph, along with James Jackson and Clark Johnson, all identified as colored and teamsters from Waynesville, were enumerated in the August 1863 Civil War Draft Registration. In 1863 the need for more recruits resulted in a Civil War Draft Registration for male citizens ages 20 to 35 and unmarried men ages 35-45.
Listed as 6 ft. 2 inches with black hair, black eyes, and black complexion, Joseph
Courtesy of National Archives and Records Administration
Listed as 6 ft. 2 inches with black hair, black eyes, and black complexion, Joseph
was mustered into the 68th Regt. Co. K under Capt. Rogers on April 23, 1864. at Benton Barracks in St. Louis. The 68th Regiment was "ordered to Memphis, Tennessee to defend that city till February 1865. They were ordered to New Orleans and then to Barrancas, Florida. They marched from Pensacola, Florida to Blakely, Alabama for the Siege of Fort Blakely. The 68th Regiment was involved in the assault and capture of Fort Blakely on April 9 and the occupation of Mobile on April 12. They saw duty at Montgomery and at Mobile till June. The Regiment moved to New Orleans thence to Texas for duty on the Rio Grande and at various points in Texas till February 1866."(3) The Regiment was mustered out February 5, 1866, at Camp Parapet, Louisiana. Polly Inman applied for a widow's pension from Arkansas on Oct. 8, 1897.
Joseph's slaveholder was listed as Marvin Inman. Marvel Inman came to Pulaski County before 1840. In the 1860 Slave Census Marvel Inman had eight slaves. One slave listed was a fourteen year old male described as Black.
Allen Carter gave his age as 20 when he enlisted at Rolla on March 28, 1864.
Courtesy of National Archives and Records Administration
One day later five slaves from neighboring Camden County enlisted at Jefferson City. All five of their recruitment pages carry the same notation as Allen Carter's: "delivered on December 16, 1864." Allen's service card listed him as a substitute for John Bass of Boone County, Missouri. The Enrollment Act of 1863 allowed those drafted to avoid military service by paying a commutation tax or hiring a substitute who served for them.
Listed as 5 ft. 4 1/2 inches tall, Allen Carter was mustered in to the 60th Regt. Co. E under Capt. Woody. The 60th Regiment served Post and Garrison duty in Arkansas. He was mustered out October 15, 1865, at DeValls Bluff, Arkansas.
Listed as 5 ft. 4 1/2 inches tall, Allen Carter was mustered in to the 60th Regt. Co. E under Capt. Woody. The 60th Regiment served Post and Garrison duty in Arkansas. He was mustered out October 15, 1865, at DeValls Bluff, Arkansas.
Allen Carter's slaveholder was listed as Jesse Rail/Rayl of Pulaski County, Missouri. A bill of sale states that J. A. Rayl purchased Allen as a ten year old boy for $500 on February 19, 1853.
In the 1860 Slave Census, there were six slaves in Waynesville. Five of them belonged to Jesse Rayl who lived next to the stage stop.(2) One of these slaves was a sixteen year old male described as Black.
Slaveholders could apply for compensation for a slave that served in the United States Colored Troops.
Courtesy National Archives and Records Administration
In the 1860 Slave Census, there were six slaves in Waynesville. Five of them belonged to Jesse Rayl who lived next to the stage stop.(2) One of these slaves was a sixteen year old male described as Black.
Slaveholders could apply for compensation for a slave that served in the United States Colored Troops.
Courtesy of National Archives and Records Administration
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Note: Jesse Rayl came to Pulaski County from Hawkins County, Tennessee. Many Pulaski County residents followed the same path in the decades before the Civil War. Three of Jesse's sons enlisted in the 48th Regiment Company A at Waynesville on July 30, 1864. This event was significant in the murder of Callaway Hodges Manes, the focus of nine May 2015 blog posts.
_________________________________________________________________Note: Jesse Rayl came to Pulaski County from Hawkins County, Tennessee. Many Pulaski County residents followed the same path in the decades before the Civil War. Three of Jesse's sons enlisted in the 48th Regiment Company A at Waynesville on July 30, 1864. This event was significant in the murder of Callaway Hodges Manes, the focus of nine May 2015 blog posts.
Sources:
(1) http://www.buffalosoldier.net/62nd65thRegimentsU.S.ColoredInfantry.htm
(2) http://www.oldstagecoachstop.org/webgeezer/Gazette12/pages%2032-40%20Civil%20War%20Comes%20to%20Pulaski.pdf
(3) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4th_Missouri_Regiment_of_Colored_Infantry
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