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Commander of a Black refugee camp in Washington, D.C., refuses to assign Black Surgeon Alexander Augusta to duty
James J. Ferree refuses to assign Black Surgeon Alexander Augusta to duty at camp in Washington D.C. as required in Special Order 109.
Black Surgeon Alexander Augusta passes the Army medical exam against the wishes of white board members
Series of letters regarding Alexander Augusta's desire to serve as a Surgeon in what would become the 7th USCI. Augusta initially writes Lincoln and Stanton requesting an appointment from Toronto and eventually travels to D.C. to sit for the…
Kitty Bowland claims her son was illegally arrested and forced into the Army
Statement of Mrs. Kitty Bowland that her son was arrested and then impressed into the army by the local justice of the peace.
White officers discuss how to handle a Black New York soldier who enlisted in a white unit stationed at Fort McHenry
William Lee (capt NY vols) to Adj of NY Vols writing that he received a group of 46 men in which there was a Black man, George Tankard of NY. Lee states that he has put Tankard to work in the kitchen, and he feels that it would be unsafe to drill or…
Several surgeons of Black regiments write to Lincoln complaining about having to serve under a Black officer, Surgeon Alexander Augusta
J.B. McPherson et. al. to Lincoln protesting the assignment of Surgeon Alexander Augusta. Claim their commitment to "bettering" Black Americans but assert that it is beneath their dignity to serve with him as their superior officer. A subsequent…
A Black recruiter explains that enslaved Marylanders want to join the Union Army, but only if they are paid and treated equitably
G.A. Hackett to Col. Lawrence (AAG) relating his experiences in recruiting Black soldiers (slave and free) in and around the area of Middle River, Baltimore County. Following up on Gen. Wallace’s advice that recruiting expeditions should take place…
Black drummer boy Reason Brown petitions for furlough to visit his family in Maryland
Reason Brown to the Sec. of War Brown is a 14 yr old drummer boy. He has been in the army for 14 months, has applied 3 times for a furlough and cannot get one. He wants to visit family in MD-officers tell him he is too young to want to visit his…
Black Surgeon Alexander Augusta writes to Senator Henry Wilson regarding his low pay as a Black soldier despite holding the rank of major
Dr. Alexander T. Augusta to Sec. of War--Surgeon Alexander T. Augusta was in the army nearly one year until he was transferred to Baltimore, MD. At his new post the paymaster insisted that he was to get $7 month, just as all Black troops do. He wrote…
