A Black church elder reports the destruction of his church and the army investigates
Dublin Core
Title
A Black church elder reports the destruction of his church and the army investigates
Description
Brig. Gen. H.H. Lockwood to Capt. O. Matthews reporting that James Ross, and elder of Western Md Circuit, reports that a Black church near Reisterstown was torn down and its members harassed. Includes endorsements from Gen. Lewis Wallace and others ordering an investigation and possible tax assessment levied on disloyalists in neighborhood to pay for rebuilding Black churches.
Date
12/19/1864
Coverage
Reisterstown, Maryland
Text Item Type Metadata
Text
Commander of the Third Separate Brigade to the Headquarters of the Middle Department; Endorsement by the Commander of the Middle Department; Endorsement by the Commander of the Third Separate Brigade; and Endorsement by an Officer in the Third Separate Brigade
Head Quarters
3d Sep. Brig. 8th A.C.
Baltimore Dec: 19th 1864
Capt. Oliver Matthews
A. A. Genl. 8th A.C.
Capt. I have the honor to report that James Ross (colored) Elder of Western Md. [circuit] states that the building used as a church by the [colored] people near Reisterstown was torn down on the 5th [inst] by some ill disposed parties, and himself & and [some]
of the member threatened and abused. Ross requests that some step be taken to protect them.
I would therefore respectfully submit this statement to the Maj. Genl. Comdg. for his action in the premises Very Respectfully Your Obdt Servt
Henry H Lockwood
Brig Genl.
Hd. Qrs. Mid. Dept. 8th A,C,
Baltimore Dec 21st/64
Respectfully referred to Brig. Gen’l. Lockwood, Comdg. 3rd Sep. Brigade, who will investigate this affair, and if the church was burned by disaffected people, or if there is reason to so believe, he will levy an assessment upon the disloyalists, and disaffected of the neighborhood. Gen’l Lockwood will be governed by instructions heretofore issued to Gen’l Lockwood in similar cases. By Command of Maj. Gen'l. Wallace
(Signed) Saml B Lawrence
A. A. G.
Hd. Qrs. 3rd Sep. Brig. 8th A.C.
Baltimore Dec. 28th 1865.
Respectfully referred to Lieut Hazzard, A.D.C. who will proceed to this locality and investigate & report upon the facts in this case, and inquire particularly as to whether the damage was done by disaffected persons. By Command of Brig. Genl. Lockwood.
James E. Mullikin
Lt. & A.A.A.G.
Hd. Qrs. 3rd Sep. Brig. 8th A.C.
Baltimore Jan 2nd 1865
Respectfully returned to Lt. Mullikin, Lt. AAAG. 3rd Sep. Brig. 8th A.C. with full report of investigation.
(Signed) David Hazzard
Lt & A.D.C.
[in the margin] Encloses Lieut Hazzard's report,
Henry H Lockwood to Capt. Oliver Matthews, 19 Dec. 1864, Letters Sent, ser. 4915, 3rd Sep. Brigade, 8th AC, RG 393 Pt. 2 No. 319 [C-4221]; Endorsement by Maj. Gen'l. Wallace, 19 Dec. 1864, endorsement by Brig. Genl. Lockwood, 21 Dec. 1864, and endorsement by David Hazzard, 2 Jan. 1865, pp. 123, 144, vol. 84/156 8AC, Register of Letters Received and Endorsements Sent, ser. 4920, 3rd Sep. Brigade, 8th AC, RG 393 Pt. 2 No. 319 [C-8901].
Head Quarters
3d Sep. Brig. 8th A.C.
Baltimore Dec: 19th 1864
Capt. Oliver Matthews
A. A. Genl. 8th A.C.
Capt. I have the honor to report that James Ross (colored) Elder of Western Md. [circuit] states that the building used as a church by the [colored] people near Reisterstown was torn down on the 5th [inst] by some ill disposed parties, and himself & and [some]
of the member threatened and abused. Ross requests that some step be taken to protect them.
I would therefore respectfully submit this statement to the Maj. Genl. Comdg. for his action in the premises Very Respectfully Your Obdt Servt
Henry H Lockwood
Brig Genl.
Hd. Qrs. Mid. Dept. 8th A,C,
Baltimore Dec 21st/64
Respectfully referred to Brig. Gen’l. Lockwood, Comdg. 3rd Sep. Brigade, who will investigate this affair, and if the church was burned by disaffected people, or if there is reason to so believe, he will levy an assessment upon the disloyalists, and disaffected of the neighborhood. Gen’l Lockwood will be governed by instructions heretofore issued to Gen’l Lockwood in similar cases. By Command of Maj. Gen'l. Wallace
(Signed) Saml B Lawrence
A. A. G.
Hd. Qrs. 3rd Sep. Brig. 8th A.C.
Baltimore Dec. 28th 1865.
Respectfully referred to Lieut Hazzard, A.D.C. who will proceed to this locality and investigate & report upon the facts in this case, and inquire particularly as to whether the damage was done by disaffected persons. By Command of Brig. Genl. Lockwood.
James E. Mullikin
Lt. & A.A.A.G.
Hd. Qrs. 3rd Sep. Brig. 8th A.C.
Baltimore Jan 2nd 1865
Respectfully returned to Lt. Mullikin, Lt. AAAG. 3rd Sep. Brig. 8th A.C. with full report of investigation.
(Signed) David Hazzard
Lt & A.D.C.
[in the margin] Encloses Lieut Hazzard's report,
Henry H Lockwood to Capt. Oliver Matthews, 19 Dec. 1864, Letters Sent, ser. 4915, 3rd Sep. Brigade, 8th AC, RG 393 Pt. 2 No. 319 [C-4221]; Endorsement by Maj. Gen'l. Wallace, 19 Dec. 1864, endorsement by Brig. Genl. Lockwood, 21 Dec. 1864, and endorsement by David Hazzard, 2 Jan. 1865, pp. 123, 144, vol. 84/156 8AC, Register of Letters Received and Endorsements Sent, ser. 4920, 3rd Sep. Brigade, 8th AC, RG 393 Pt. 2 No. 319 [C-8901].
Collection
Citation
“A Black church elder reports the destruction of his church and the army investigates,” 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/50.