Black Surgeon Alexander Augusta reports on his ejection from a segregated streetcar in Washington D.C.
Dublin Core
Title
Black Surgeon Alexander Augusta reports on his ejection from a segregated streetcar in Washington D.C.
Description
Surgeon Alexander Augusta describes his ejection from a streetcar for being Black. "I attempted to enter the car, and he pulled me out and ejected me from the platform. The consequence was I had to walk the whole distance through rain and mud, and was considerably detained past the hour for my attendance at Court."
Date
2/8/1864
Coverage
Washington, D.C.
Text Item Type Metadata
Text
Black Surgeon to the Assistant Secretary of War
Washington, D.C., February 8th 1864.
Hon. C. A. Dana,
Assistant Secretary of War.
Sir, I have the honor to report that your request of this date to forward to the Department an account of the outrage committed upon me by the Conductor of Car No. 32, of the City Railway Co., last week, has been received, and the following are the facts connected therewith:—
I had been summoned to attend a Court Martial as a witness in the case of Private Geo: Taylor, who was charged with causing the death of a colored man last August, the said colored man having died in the hospital of which I was at the time in Charge. I started from my lodgings at the corner of 14th and I Streets, on the morning of Feb. 1st for the purpose of proceeding to the hospital in order to obtain some notes relative to the case. As my time was short, and it was raining very hard at the time, I hailed the car which was passing just as I came out of the door, and it was stopped for me; but as I was in the act of entering, the conductor informed me that I would have to ride on the front with the driver. I told him I would not, and asked him why I could not ride inside. He stated that it was against the rules for colored persons to ride inside. I attempted to enter the car, and he pulled me out and ejected me from the platform. The consequence was I had to walk the whole distance through rain and mud, and was considerably detained past the hour for my attendance at Court. On my arrival, I reported the case to the Court,
and the President, Col. J. H. Willetts informed me that I must make my statement in writing. On the next morning I handed in my written statement, and was informed on the adjournment of the Court, that action had been taken in the matter, by forwarding my statement to the Adjutant General.
There are persons living in the neighbourhood who saw the transaction and who can corroborate my assertions.
Trusting that something may speedily be done to remedy such evils as those we are now forced to submit to. I have the honor to be. Your Obedt Servant,
A T Augusta
Surgeon 7th Regt U.S.C.T.
Surgeon A. T. Augusta to Hon. C. A. Dana, 8 Feb. 1864, Records Concerning Medical Personnel, ser. 561, Medical Records, Record & Pension Office, RG 94 [KK-1].
Washington, D.C., February 8th 1864.
Hon. C. A. Dana,
Assistant Secretary of War.
Sir, I have the honor to report that your request of this date to forward to the Department an account of the outrage committed upon me by the Conductor of Car No. 32, of the City Railway Co., last week, has been received, and the following are the facts connected therewith:—
I had been summoned to attend a Court Martial as a witness in the case of Private Geo: Taylor, who was charged with causing the death of a colored man last August, the said colored man having died in the hospital of which I was at the time in Charge. I started from my lodgings at the corner of 14th and I Streets, on the morning of Feb. 1st for the purpose of proceeding to the hospital in order to obtain some notes relative to the case. As my time was short, and it was raining very hard at the time, I hailed the car which was passing just as I came out of the door, and it was stopped for me; but as I was in the act of entering, the conductor informed me that I would have to ride on the front with the driver. I told him I would not, and asked him why I could not ride inside. He stated that it was against the rules for colored persons to ride inside. I attempted to enter the car, and he pulled me out and ejected me from the platform. The consequence was I had to walk the whole distance through rain and mud, and was considerably detained past the hour for my attendance at Court. On my arrival, I reported the case to the Court,
and the President, Col. J. H. Willetts informed me that I must make my statement in writing. On the next morning I handed in my written statement, and was informed on the adjournment of the Court, that action had been taken in the matter, by forwarding my statement to the Adjutant General.
There are persons living in the neighbourhood who saw the transaction and who can corroborate my assertions.
Trusting that something may speedily be done to remedy such evils as those we are now forced to submit to. I have the honor to be. Your Obedt Servant,
A T Augusta
Surgeon 7th Regt U.S.C.T.
Surgeon A. T. Augusta to Hon. C. A. Dana, 8 Feb. 1864, Records Concerning Medical Personnel, ser. 561, Medical Records, Record & Pension Office, RG 94 [KK-1].
Collection
Citation
“Black Surgeon Alexander Augusta reports on his ejection from a segregated streetcar in Washington D.C.,” 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/47.