Several surgeons of Black regiments write to Lincoln complaining about having to serve under a Black officer, Surgeon Alexander Augusta
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Title
Several surgeons of Black regiments write to Lincoln complaining about having to serve under a Black officer, Surgeon Alexander Augusta
Description
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 letter from one of them, Asst. Surgeon Joel Morse of the 7th USCT, implores Senator John Sherman "to right this wrong, which to my mind is grave, unjust, and humiliating."
Date
2/1864
Coverage
Camp Stanton, Bryantown, MD
Text Item Type Metadata
Text
Surgeons of Several Black Regiments to the President; and Assistant Surgeon to a Member of the United States Senator
Camp Stanton near Bryanstown Md. [Feb. 1864]
Excellency,
Abraham Lincoln
President U,S,
Sir, We the undersigned, Medical Officers in the Regiments of Colored Troops, under Command of Brig, Gen, Wm Birney at this camp, have the honor most respectfully to ask your attention to the following statement,
When we made applications for positions in the Colored Service, the understanding was universal that all Commissioned Officers were to be white men, Judge of our surprise and disappointment, when upon joining our respective regiments we found that the Senior Surgeon of the command was a Negro.
We claim to be behind no one, in a desire for the elevation and improvement of the Colored race in this Country, and we are willing to sacrifice much, in so Grand a cause, as our present positions, may testify, But we cannot in any cause, willingly compromise what we consider a proper self respect, Nor do we deem that the interests of either the country or of the colored race, can demand this of us, Such degradation, we believe to be involved, in our voluntarily continuing in the Service, as subordinates to a colored officer, We therefore most respectfully, yet earnestly, request, that this unexpected, unusual, and most unpleasant relationship in which we have been placed, may in some way be terminated, Most Respectfully Your Obt, Servants,
J B. McPherson 19th Regt. USCT
E. M. Pease Surg. 9th. U.S.C.T.
Chas C Topliff asst.- Surgeon 19 Reg U.S.C.T.
M O Carter ass Surgeon 19 Regt
John O'Downdes asst Surg 9th U.S.C.T.
Joel Morse asst. Surg. 7" U.S.C.T.
Henry Grange A.S. 7th Regt U.S.C.T
Jacksonville, Florida, May 14th 1864,
Sir As an Ohio man, and one of your ardent Supporters in years gone by, I take the liberty of addressing you a few lines, asking your counsel and influence in reference to a wrong to which I, with others have been subjected,
I have been connected with the Medical Department of the Service, since the fall of 1861, serving the greater part of the time in the South Western Army, Towards the latter part of last Summer, coming in contact with a circular from the Surgeon General U.S.A. urging the importance, and need of Surgeons & Asst. Surgeons for Colored Troops, I went on to Washington, and with the understanding which was universal at that time, viz. that all commissioned officers, were to be white men,
I went before the Army Board, and was passed as an Asst. Surgeon, and five days after (Sept. 15th 1863) was assigned to the 7th Regt. U.S.C.T. Judge then of my surprise and indignation, when upon joining my Regiment I found my Superior Medical Officer, a Colored Man,
I immediately wrote to the Surgeon General, remonstrating against being placed in such relationship, and asking a transfer to some Regiment where my Superior Officer should be a white man, The communication was referred to the Secretary of War, and the request was, by him
over
(2)
Disapproved, I should have immediately tendered my resignation, but before receiving the reply, an Order came from the War Dept. placing the Surgeon on detached Service; There was much sickness in the regiment, and in accordance with the earnest desire of the Officers of the Regt. I concluded (for the time being at least) to sacrifice my own pleasure and sense of propriety so far, as to remain, and have done so up to the present time, performing not only my own duties as asst. surg. but also of Surgeon in full charge of the regiment; bearing the various responsibilities and for which, no additional compensation, or pay is allowed, During the later part of the winter, in connection with the Surgeons and asst. Surgeons of two other Colored Regiments, I sent forward, a second communication in reference to this subject, but from which I have never received any reply,
Despairing, therefore, of accomplishing anything through the ordinary or proper channel, I have at length concluded to ask a correspondence with you, to ascertain whether any influence can be brought to bear, to right this wrong, which to my mind is grave, unjust, and humiliating; And more particularly so, when our Government had so extensively declared its intentions to be, not to place any of the colored race in the capacity of Commissioned officers.
If Government had frankly avowed its intentions of making such appointments, and men with that understanding, accepted positions under
over
(3)
or with Colored Officers, they of course would have had no right to complain; but here it is far otherwise. Not one officer in the whole regiment, had the least idea he was thus to be associated,
I claim to be behind no one in a desire for the elevation and improvement of the colored race, and am willing to sacrifice much in so grand a cause or noble a work; but I cannot willingly compromise what I consider, a proper self-respect, and if Surgeon Augusta were to return to the regiment today, I should resign immediately; not from any personal feeling against him, but from principle, I have not the slightest objection to Dr. Augusta's holding the position of Surgeon, but it should be an independent one, as for instance, the one he was first appointed to last year at Washington, as a Surgeon of Volunteers, in charge of Contraband Camp, or as Surgeon of some General Hospital for Colored Troops,
There are but very few colored men who are prepared by educational & professional acquirements for positions of this kind, and if it is the desire of Government to give all such positions in the service, still there are plenty of such places as I have indicated where they can be assigned to duty, and thus avoid thrusting them into regiments, upon or over white officers, contrary to the express understanding held out to them when they entered the service.
Or, if desired, if a sufficient number of intelligent
over
(4)
and educated colored men can be found to officer a regiment, complete, from Colonel down to Second Lieutenant, I say well and good, appoint them, and have a colored regiment complete, in officers as well as men, Either make the officers all white or all black, I for one do not care which; but this thing of amalgamation or miscegenation in the appointment of officers I do not believe in. Perhaps when I shall have attained to perfect Manhood, in the full sense of the word, I shall just as cheerfully assent to having my most intimate associate & superior officer a colored man, as a white one; but I am free to confess that I do not expect to attain that state of perfection, in this life,
Again; if a regiment ever needs its full corps of surgeons, it is during the first year of its existence when there is really as much work for three surgeons to do through the acclimating process which every regiment has to go through, as there is afterward for one except in time of a battle or immediately after,
The appointment therefore of a surgeon so unacceptable to a regiment as to render it necessary to place him upon detached service, before the completion of the organization and keep him there, thus leaving the whole charge of the regiment to devolve upon a person who was only adjudged to be qualified for an Asst. Surgeon; is certainly a matter of great injustice to the regiment It is also a matter of injustice to the Asst. Surg, thus called to act, the part,
over
(5)
of Surgeon, because he is called upon to perform double duty, and bear a great responsibility without any additional compensation; while at the same time those double duties deprive him of valuable time he would otherwise have for mental and professional improvement, thus being fitted to demand a re examination for position as full surgeon.
As a matter therefore of justice to all parties I think Surgeon Augusta should be reinstated as Surgeon of Volunteers, and used as at present, in the examination of Colored recruits, or placed in charge of some General Hospital for Colored Troops: and a white man receive the appointment of Surgeon to the 7th Regt. U.S.C. Troops, in his stead.
I am not aware that appointments of this character have been made in any except the Medical Department of this branch of the U.S. Service, It would seem therefore, as though the precedent that white officers would serve with colored ones, was desired to be established, and as the Medical Department being a Staff service possessing less power to resist such aggressions, had been selected, upon which to try the experiment, As for instance, Surgeon Augusta passed the Examining Board, only as an Asst. Surgeon (his own statement to me) but was by the Secretary of War immediately Appointed full Surgeon of Volunteers; Not satisfied with this independent and preferable
over
(6)
position, but wishing (as I conceive) to be placed where he could command white men to obey his orders he goes to the Secretary of War (his own statement again) and asks a transfer from the Volunteer Service, to his present position as Surgeon in this regiment, which is immediately granted, notwithstanding it being in total disregard of the proclimation that all Commissioned Officers were to be White Men, When I soon after, ask a transfer, as a matter of justice to the understanding I had when accepting my appointment, I am politely told that my request has been disapproved, And the united request of the Surgeons and assistants of three Regts. is afterward treated with silence.
If there is any way in which you can assist in correcting this wrong, you shall receive my warmest thanks and congratulations, and also, of every other officer with the Regiment, than whom, no better officers or finer men, are to be found in the whole service, I have their most hearty support and concurrence in this effort. I have the honor to be Most Respectfully Your Obt Servant
Joel Morse Asst. Surg. 7th U.S.C.T.
Jacksonville Fla,
Hon. John Sherman
U. S. Senator.
Washington D.C.
P.S. I presume you will remember me as Dr. Morse of Huron O, but if not, you will remember well my father Rodolphus Morse of Auburn N.Y. also Col. J.W. Sprague. (my wife’s brother) J, M,
[Endorsement] War Department,
June 4th 1864.
Case of Joel Morse,
Asst. Surgeon 7th U. S. Colored Troops.
Asks that a white man may be appointed Surgeon of 7th U.S.C.T. in place of Dr Augusta, colored.
Referred to the Surgeon General with instructions to report where Surgeon Augusta is now on duty.
By order of the Secretary of War
(Senator Sherman) Jas. A Hardie
Col & Inspector Genl
[Endorsement] [Washington, D.C., June 4, 1864]
REPORT.
Respectfully returned to the Hon: Sec: of War. Surgeon A T Augusta, was previous to his appointment a resident of Canada from whence he made the ordinary application for appointment as Surgeon of U.S Vols.
A permit having been sent him it was
found on his arrival that he was a colored man, This matter having been referred to the Hon: Sec: of War, with the recommendation that the permit be cancelled, it was ordered that Surgeon A. T. Augusta be examined for appointment as Surgeon of Colored Troops instead of Surgeon of Vol’s. He was examined for Surgeon (not Ass’t Surgeon) found qualified and commissioned accordingly, was on duty at the Contraband Camp in this city for a considerable time, but imagining that his position was anomalous, he being the only one occupying it, he applied to be assigned as Surgeon of a Regiment of Colored Troops. He was accordingly assigned to the 7" U.S.C.T. as Surgeon, but on the representation of Ass't Surgeon Morse 7th U.S.C.T. and Surgeon Suckley, Act: Med: Dir: at Baltimore and at the request of this office he was removed from his regiment and assigned to the duty of examining colored recruits at Baltimore Md. where he now is.
Jos: K. Barnes
S.G.O.
Surgeon J. B. McPherson to Abraham Lincoln, [Feb. 1864], M-118 1864, Letters Received, ser. 360, Colored Troops Division, RG 94 [B-11]; Asst. Surg. Joel Morse to Hon. John Sherman, filed with service record of A. T. Augusta, 7th USCI, Carded Records, Volunteer Organizations: Civil War, ser. 519, RG 94 [N-47].
Camp Stanton near Bryanstown Md. [Feb. 1864]
Excellency,
Abraham Lincoln
President U,S,
Sir, We the undersigned, Medical Officers in the Regiments of Colored Troops, under Command of Brig, Gen, Wm Birney at this camp, have the honor most respectfully to ask your attention to the following statement,
When we made applications for positions in the Colored Service, the understanding was universal that all Commissioned Officers were to be white men, Judge of our surprise and disappointment, when upon joining our respective regiments we found that the Senior Surgeon of the command was a Negro.
We claim to be behind no one, in a desire for the elevation and improvement of the Colored race in this Country, and we are willing to sacrifice much, in so Grand a cause, as our present positions, may testify, But we cannot in any cause, willingly compromise what we consider a proper self respect, Nor do we deem that the interests of either the country or of the colored race, can demand this of us, Such degradation, we believe to be involved, in our voluntarily continuing in the Service, as subordinates to a colored officer, We therefore most respectfully, yet earnestly, request, that this unexpected, unusual, and most unpleasant relationship in which we have been placed, may in some way be terminated, Most Respectfully Your Obt, Servants,
J B. McPherson 19th Regt. USCT
E. M. Pease Surg. 9th. U.S.C.T.
Chas C Topliff asst.- Surgeon 19 Reg U.S.C.T.
M O Carter ass Surgeon 19 Regt
John O'Downdes asst Surg 9th U.S.C.T.
Joel Morse asst. Surg. 7" U.S.C.T.
Henry Grange A.S. 7th Regt U.S.C.T
Jacksonville, Florida, May 14th 1864,
Sir As an Ohio man, and one of your ardent Supporters in years gone by, I take the liberty of addressing you a few lines, asking your counsel and influence in reference to a wrong to which I, with others have been subjected,
I have been connected with the Medical Department of the Service, since the fall of 1861, serving the greater part of the time in the South Western Army, Towards the latter part of last Summer, coming in contact with a circular from the Surgeon General U.S.A. urging the importance, and need of Surgeons & Asst. Surgeons for Colored Troops, I went on to Washington, and with the understanding which was universal at that time, viz. that all commissioned officers, were to be white men,
I went before the Army Board, and was passed as an Asst. Surgeon, and five days after (Sept. 15th 1863) was assigned to the 7th Regt. U.S.C.T. Judge then of my surprise and indignation, when upon joining my Regiment I found my Superior Medical Officer, a Colored Man,
I immediately wrote to the Surgeon General, remonstrating against being placed in such relationship, and asking a transfer to some Regiment where my Superior Officer should be a white man, The communication was referred to the Secretary of War, and the request was, by him
over
(2)
Disapproved, I should have immediately tendered my resignation, but before receiving the reply, an Order came from the War Dept. placing the Surgeon on detached Service; There was much sickness in the regiment, and in accordance with the earnest desire of the Officers of the Regt. I concluded (for the time being at least) to sacrifice my own pleasure and sense of propriety so far, as to remain, and have done so up to the present time, performing not only my own duties as asst. surg. but also of Surgeon in full charge of the regiment; bearing the various responsibilities and for which, no additional compensation, or pay is allowed, During the later part of the winter, in connection with the Surgeons and asst. Surgeons of two other Colored Regiments, I sent forward, a second communication in reference to this subject, but from which I have never received any reply,
Despairing, therefore, of accomplishing anything through the ordinary or proper channel, I have at length concluded to ask a correspondence with you, to ascertain whether any influence can be brought to bear, to right this wrong, which to my mind is grave, unjust, and humiliating; And more particularly so, when our Government had so extensively declared its intentions to be, not to place any of the colored race in the capacity of Commissioned officers.
If Government had frankly avowed its intentions of making such appointments, and men with that understanding, accepted positions under
over
(3)
or with Colored Officers, they of course would have had no right to complain; but here it is far otherwise. Not one officer in the whole regiment, had the least idea he was thus to be associated,
I claim to be behind no one in a desire for the elevation and improvement of the colored race, and am willing to sacrifice much in so grand a cause or noble a work; but I cannot willingly compromise what I consider, a proper self-respect, and if Surgeon Augusta were to return to the regiment today, I should resign immediately; not from any personal feeling against him, but from principle, I have not the slightest objection to Dr. Augusta's holding the position of Surgeon, but it should be an independent one, as for instance, the one he was first appointed to last year at Washington, as a Surgeon of Volunteers, in charge of Contraband Camp, or as Surgeon of some General Hospital for Colored Troops,
There are but very few colored men who are prepared by educational & professional acquirements for positions of this kind, and if it is the desire of Government to give all such positions in the service, still there are plenty of such places as I have indicated where they can be assigned to duty, and thus avoid thrusting them into regiments, upon or over white officers, contrary to the express understanding held out to them when they entered the service.
Or, if desired, if a sufficient number of intelligent
over
(4)
and educated colored men can be found to officer a regiment, complete, from Colonel down to Second Lieutenant, I say well and good, appoint them, and have a colored regiment complete, in officers as well as men, Either make the officers all white or all black, I for one do not care which; but this thing of amalgamation or miscegenation in the appointment of officers I do not believe in. Perhaps when I shall have attained to perfect Manhood, in the full sense of the word, I shall just as cheerfully assent to having my most intimate associate & superior officer a colored man, as a white one; but I am free to confess that I do not expect to attain that state of perfection, in this life,
Again; if a regiment ever needs its full corps of surgeons, it is during the first year of its existence when there is really as much work for three surgeons to do through the acclimating process which every regiment has to go through, as there is afterward for one except in time of a battle or immediately after,
The appointment therefore of a surgeon so unacceptable to a regiment as to render it necessary to place him upon detached service, before the completion of the organization and keep him there, thus leaving the whole charge of the regiment to devolve upon a person who was only adjudged to be qualified for an Asst. Surgeon; is certainly a matter of great injustice to the regiment It is also a matter of injustice to the Asst. Surg, thus called to act, the part,
over
(5)
of Surgeon, because he is called upon to perform double duty, and bear a great responsibility without any additional compensation; while at the same time those double duties deprive him of valuable time he would otherwise have for mental and professional improvement, thus being fitted to demand a re examination for position as full surgeon.
As a matter therefore of justice to all parties I think Surgeon Augusta should be reinstated as Surgeon of Volunteers, and used as at present, in the examination of Colored recruits, or placed in charge of some General Hospital for Colored Troops: and a white man receive the appointment of Surgeon to the 7th Regt. U.S.C. Troops, in his stead.
I am not aware that appointments of this character have been made in any except the Medical Department of this branch of the U.S. Service, It would seem therefore, as though the precedent that white officers would serve with colored ones, was desired to be established, and as the Medical Department being a Staff service possessing less power to resist such aggressions, had been selected, upon which to try the experiment, As for instance, Surgeon Augusta passed the Examining Board, only as an Asst. Surgeon (his own statement to me) but was by the Secretary of War immediately Appointed full Surgeon of Volunteers; Not satisfied with this independent and preferable
over
(6)
position, but wishing (as I conceive) to be placed where he could command white men to obey his orders he goes to the Secretary of War (his own statement again) and asks a transfer from the Volunteer Service, to his present position as Surgeon in this regiment, which is immediately granted, notwithstanding it being in total disregard of the proclimation that all Commissioned Officers were to be White Men, When I soon after, ask a transfer, as a matter of justice to the understanding I had when accepting my appointment, I am politely told that my request has been disapproved, And the united request of the Surgeons and assistants of three Regts. is afterward treated with silence.
If there is any way in which you can assist in correcting this wrong, you shall receive my warmest thanks and congratulations, and also, of every other officer with the Regiment, than whom, no better officers or finer men, are to be found in the whole service, I have their most hearty support and concurrence in this effort. I have the honor to be Most Respectfully Your Obt Servant
Joel Morse Asst. Surg. 7th U.S.C.T.
Jacksonville Fla,
Hon. John Sherman
U. S. Senator.
Washington D.C.
P.S. I presume you will remember me as Dr. Morse of Huron O, but if not, you will remember well my father Rodolphus Morse of Auburn N.Y. also Col. J.W. Sprague. (my wife’s brother) J, M,
[Endorsement] War Department,
June 4th 1864.
Case of Joel Morse,
Asst. Surgeon 7th U. S. Colored Troops.
Asks that a white man may be appointed Surgeon of 7th U.S.C.T. in place of Dr Augusta, colored.
Referred to the Surgeon General with instructions to report where Surgeon Augusta is now on duty.
By order of the Secretary of War
(Senator Sherman) Jas. A Hardie
Col & Inspector Genl
[Endorsement] [Washington, D.C., June 4, 1864]
REPORT.
Respectfully returned to the Hon: Sec: of War. Surgeon A T Augusta, was previous to his appointment a resident of Canada from whence he made the ordinary application for appointment as Surgeon of U.S Vols.
A permit having been sent him it was
found on his arrival that he was a colored man, This matter having been referred to the Hon: Sec: of War, with the recommendation that the permit be cancelled, it was ordered that Surgeon A. T. Augusta be examined for appointment as Surgeon of Colored Troops instead of Surgeon of Vol’s. He was examined for Surgeon (not Ass’t Surgeon) found qualified and commissioned accordingly, was on duty at the Contraband Camp in this city for a considerable time, but imagining that his position was anomalous, he being the only one occupying it, he applied to be assigned as Surgeon of a Regiment of Colored Troops. He was accordingly assigned to the 7" U.S.C.T. as Surgeon, but on the representation of Ass't Surgeon Morse 7th U.S.C.T. and Surgeon Suckley, Act: Med: Dir: at Baltimore and at the request of this office he was removed from his regiment and assigned to the duty of examining colored recruits at Baltimore Md. where he now is.
Jos: K. Barnes
S.G.O.
Surgeon J. B. McPherson to Abraham Lincoln, [Feb. 1864], M-118 1864, Letters Received, ser. 360, Colored Troops Division, RG 94 [B-11]; Asst. Surg. Joel Morse to Hon. John Sherman, filed with service record of A. T. Augusta, 7th USCI, Carded Records, Volunteer Organizations: Civil War, ser. 519, RG 94 [N-47].
Collection
Citation
“Several surgeons of Black regiments write to Lincoln complaining about having to serve under a Black officer, Surgeon Alexander Augusta,” Black Maryland in the Civil War—A Microedition of the Freedmen and Southern Society Project, accessed June 8, 2026, https://fssp.artinterp2.org/items/show/31.