Rare Photo of Arkansas Black Soldier Located in Civil War Pension File

Image of Aaron Brooks, Corporal, 54th US Colored Infantry

A research trip to the National Archives has uncovered the image of a long forgotten freedom fighter. Aaron Brooks was a soldier in the 54 Arkansas Regiment of United States Colored Troops.

The photo had been mentioned to me, when I spoke in Arkansas in April of this year. A woman who is conducting graduate studies mentioned that she had seen an image in the file. I finally got the opportunity to conduct some research and to request the Civil War pension file of the soldier. The file itself was thin, with not many details about the soldier, nor much about his widow who received a pension after his death.

The image was a small one, that had been affixed to a small piece of paper, and if not looking closely could have been overlooked. And the image, even while affixed to the piece of colored paper, was still small enough to hold between two fingers of my hand.

The photo had been placed, thankfully in some protective transparent paper, to protect it.

Looking at the photo in the small file brought thoughts to mind. Most likely this photo was submitted by the widow, to whom it was clearly never returned. At the same time, the importance of this photo is enormous--this is the first image to my knowledge that has ever been noted of an Arkansas USCT whose name is identified. And, this is possibly, the first Civil War image of an Arkansas Black soldier taken during the time in which he served.

I examined the image closely to note as many details as possible. It was important to zoom in on his face. This face of this young man is the first face that can be named, of an Arkansas Black Union Soldier. Of the many USCTS buried in Ft. Smith National Cemetery, and the USCTs buried Little Rock National Cemetery, this image of Aaron Brooks finally adds a face to the Arkansas Black freedom fighters. 

Corporal Aaron Brooks, 54th US Colored Infantry

Aaron Brooks, the Soldier:

Born in Phillips County Arkansas, he enlisted in the Union Army in Helena, in June 1863. Within a few short months, he was promoted to corporal. The promotion was recorded in April 1864. After that promotion was when the photo above was made as his corporal stripes are reflected on the sleeves of his uniform.

Corporal strips visible on soldier's sleeves

Aaron Brooks was possibly as literate man, as a signature bearing the name of the soldier was found at the bottom of the image. If he was a literate man, that may be one of the reasons he was promoted after several months of service.

Bottom of photo showing hand written name, "Aaron Brooks"

It should be noted that this standing photo of Aaron Brooks is one of the first, if not the only image known to identify a Black soldier from Arkansas taken during the Civil War. Seeing this image of Corporal Brooks standing with his musket on the side, and white gloved hands to his side reveal a sense of dignity that this man, once enslaved, could at last display.

 The service record of the soldier indicates that he was a young man of 22 years.

Aaron Brooks, the Man

After the war he remained in Arkansas and lived as a farmer. He married in the late 1870s and together they farmed in the community of "Young township" in Pulaski County. Young Township no longer exists in Pulaski County. He was enumerated with his wife Dicey in the 1880 census.

1880 Federal Census, Young Township, Pulaski County Arkansas

In 1890 Aaron Brooks filed for an Invalid pension, but shortly afterwards, died, before collecting a payment. His widow Dicey also applied for a pension but it appears that although she did not pass away until 1914, she only received one payment.

Civil War Pension Payment Card
Family Search Image

In spite of the lack of detail about Aaron Brooks, the photo says it all. A man once enslaved was given an opportunity to fight for his freedom. He seized this opportunity and served honorably. He was a loyal soldier, whose name we now know, and whose name we should not forget. Like thousands of others from his native Arkansas soil, he represents them. He sought no accolades, or honors after his service. He lived a quiet life, worked the soil as a farmer, and died. But he shall not be forgotten, for we now have the image of this man, erect, proud and standing with dignity.

How fitting that in the 150th years since the Civil War ended and freedom was obtained for 4 million others once enslaved, we now have the image of this son of Arkansas, to be counted among the 200,000 men of color who served their nation. He was a simple man, but now we can look at his young face and say, thank you, Corporal Brooks. Your people appreciate what you did.

March: A Month of Battles for USCTs

More than 6000 Black Soldiers Participated in "Storming of  Ft. Blakeley" 

Last Major Battle of Civil War   

Source:  Harper's Weekly May 27th, 1865

The month of March was a time in which the soldiers who were part of the US Colored Troops found themselves engaged in a number of battles and skirmishes throughout the nation. The most impressive battle during the month of March was the Battle of Ft. Blakeley in which more than 6000 men of African Descent participated from nine different regiments.

As winter months melted into spring, the warmer weather provided more opportunity for movement of soldiers, thus bringing about more engagement with the enemy that the colder weeks had provided. As I began to look at my historical calendar, I decided to list the dozens of battles in which Black Union soldiers were engaged during the month of March, as their fight for freedom unfolded.

Several battles and skirmishes involved more than one regiment and the critical "last battle" of the war took place at Ft. Blakeley and thousands of Black men participated in that effort which lasted for several days.

In honor of the US Colored Troops engaged in March battles, they are listed here.

March  1,  1865  St. Stephens SC 55th Massachusetts (Colored)
March  2,  1864 Goodrich's Landing LA 66th US Colored Infantry
March  2,  1864 New Kent Courthouse VA  5th US Colored Infantry
March  4,  1864 Williamsburg VA  6th US Colored Infantry
March  5,  1865 Yazoo City, MS  3rd US Colored Cavalry & 47th US Col. Infantry
March  6,  1865 Natural Bridge FL  2nd US Colored Infantry and 99th US Infantry
March  8,  1865 "Alliance" Steamer, FL 99th US Colored Infantry
March  9,  1864 Suffolk VA, 2nd US Colored Cavalry
March 10, 1865 Marion County FL 3rd US Colored Infantry
March 15, 1865 Yazoo City MS  3rd US Colored Cavalry
March 18, 1865 Amite River LA 77th US Colored Infantry
March 18, 1865 Boyd's Station AL  101st US Colored Infantry
March 20, 1864 Pass Manchas LA 10th US Colored Heavy Artillery
March 20, 1864 Roseville Creek, AR 79th US Colored Infantry (New)
March 24, 1865 Cox's Bridge, NC 30th US Colored Infantry
March 24, 1864 Goodrich's Landing LA 66th US Colored Infantry
March 25, 1864 Ft. Anderson KY 8th US Colored Heavy Artillery
March 25, 1865 Brawley Fork TN  17th US Colored Infanntry
March 25, 1863 Glascow KY 119th US Colored Infantry
March 27, 1865 Spanish Fort AL 68th US Colored Infantry
March 29, 1863 Jacksonville FL 33rd US Colored Infantry
March 31, 1864 Roach's Plantation MS 3rd US Colored Cavalry
March 31, 1865 White Oak Road VA 29th US Colored Infantry
March 31, 1865 Ft. Blakeley AL:
     47th US Colored Infanty
     48th US Colored Infantry
     50th US Colored Infantry
     51st US Colored Infantry
     68th US Colored Infantry
     73rd US Colored Infantry
     76th US Colored Infantry
     82nd US Colored Infantry
     86th US Colored Infantry

May their legacy be remembered!

Will We Come When They Tell Our Story?

There has been much discussion in recent days about the lack of interest in Civil War from the African American community. 

To me, the lack of interest is merely a symptom of a larger problem. Much of it stems from a lack of knowledge, and from minimal efforts to teach, grow and learn from a rich history. But when that rich history is ignored and not taught by the very community itself, the end result can only be a misunderstanding of one's own past and this leads to blatantly low self esteem.   

The Civil War---for many people of color is a story about places. There were the major battles in places like Gettysburg, Shiloh, Antietam, Bull Run. There were other incidents in places such as Pea Ridge,  Jenkins Ferry, Chapin's Farm, Petersburg. Yet these are place names that mean very little to the average person of color. There are fleeting images that might come to mind (if at all)  when these battles are celebrated or commemorated with flags, ammunition and fanfare.

In today's life, few African American children experience vacation trips to visit battlegrounds such as Petersburg, and should they go there on a school field trip, do they see their own faces reflected?

When the local community honors a civil war incident, there are ladies in hooped skirts, men in uniform--blue and gray, lots of flags---usually more Confederate flags---and that---to most people of color is a sign---stay away and protect the children! There is usually some period music being played at these events by a small drum and fife corps, and frankly few black parents take their children to such events. But why?

The discussion about the Civil War frequently has two arenas---one in the classroom and the other in the general public.  The recent comments in the press---those questions are being asked by scholars---who don't speak to the public--in many cases they speak to their colleagues--other historians.  

The other arena is the public arena. And it is from the public arena where one finds many Civil war enthusiasts---re-enactors, living historians, local preservationists. But---most of those faces are not faces of color. At many public events where local celebration occur--there is a lot of fanfare. Guns, cannons, and flags. Especially the one flag that represents terror to many people. It brings back 20th century horror, and terror, and its very origins from the Civil War are enough to just say stay away and let folks have their 19th century party.  

But then in 1989, came the movie Glory, a film which told a story of some brave men from Massachusetts, who became soldiers. But a child from Arkansas, or Mississippi, or Louisiana, or Alabama, the film has no connection to those men. 

In Arkansas as Civil War celebrations emerge, from Pea Ridge to Jenkins Ferry, yet when the story of Jenkins Ferry is told, quite often but it is often told without mention of the Kansas Colored Infantry---later known as the 83 US Colored Infantry that fought at that battle. 

Historical Marker from Jenkins Ferry State Park

Do the children of Louisiana learn about the 39 regiments of US Colored Troops that were organized there? All children should know this--no other state in the union produced so many regiments!!

Historical Illustration of Black Soldiers at  the Battle of Port Hudson, Louisiana

How many children in Mississippi know about the amazing contributions of black Union soldiers in the Vicksbug Campaign? Several thousand black men were involved---but are the children both white and black, that live along the Delta taught this?

Historical Marker Denoting the Seige of Vicksburg

A Rare Battle Monument Honoring Black Soldiers at Vicksburg

The stories go on and on. But for the average person, and the effects of the war are still told from side only. 

There are countless stories told about Union armies raiding small southern towns. One reads about the effects upon the town--good folks who lost property. Yet---some of the property lost consisted of human property. And their ownership of human beings as property has yet to be addressed---and this is what keeps so many who descend from that human property so silent. There has been no mention of the wrongness of it all. But these things did happen and yes, slaves were part of the property of the good folks. Their enslavement was morally wrong and their freedom was never celebrated. It was hushed, not mentioned and buried.

And even less known are the stories of the contrabands the ones who seized their freedom. And truly, the heart of the story of liberation was the story of the thousands who made it to the Union lines---on foot, by wagon, horses, mules and in some cases later taken by train to settlement camps----because they had the courage to free themselves.

But the story told that prevails is a romantic story of Tara and Gone With the Wind. For most people of color, Gone With the Wind is a horrible story--and nothing more than a slave owner's love story. Even decades after World War II ended, Hollywood would never make a movie of a Nazi love story--yet America and so many Americans dream of life in the good ole days and often see themselves as Scarlett, and long for Rhett Butler and love that movie! The people who were victims of Scarlet and her social class are depicted as caricatures, merely presented for laughter. The pains suffered of the people enslaved by Scarlett, are not visible, not shown and their personalities are shallow at best. 

Until the larger story of human beings who resisted, are told, until the stories of those who eventually succeeded are told,  and until they are presented as people with a history worth telling, the lack of interest in this Civil War story will continue.

Library of Congress Image of Contrabands Arriving at Union Lines

How can this be taught well?  Has a curriculum been established to teach this portion of Civil War history? 

Not as yet. Therefore, as the sesquicentennial celebrations continue---and they will continue till 2015---the silence of many will continue.  This silence is rooted in the burying of the story of what happened to so many. 

My question is, will we come when they tell our story?

At least some are beginning to ask the right questions, and I have hope that things might change.

Finding The Civil War Era Stories Around Us

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Someone asked me recently how I was able to find out about much of the local Civil War history that I write about.  This was a valid question, especially since much is not written about nor presented in the standard history curriculum. The question arises---how do you know if you should delve into Civil War History?  

Well my answer is simple---if the war affected the region where you lived---and if your ancestors were impacted---then one should by all means study the events as they occurred on the local level in particular.

So----where are the clues and how can you find out? Well, many clues to our history are all around us----right in the communities where we live.  We only have to open our eyes to learn see them. Every community has a rich history and even if you own community or that of your ancestors is not discussed in a textbook sense, there is still data to be found, anyway. We only have to let our eyes see it! Look at your local community with a new lens.

Was your ancestral community a site where any historic battles took place?  If so--- were there any black soldiers at that battle?  Years ago this would have been difficult to answer---but today that is not a difficult task.  So ask the question and see what you find.

This historic marker reflects activities the 1864 campaign against Petersburg. There 22 black units

involved in the events around Petersburg VA, from June 1864 - April 1865

 If there was a battle in the vicinity---that tells you several things.

For there to have been a battle:

1) There had to have been Union soldiers. 

2) If there was a Union regiment in the area, there was a Union encampment---a Union line.

3) If there was a Union line, there is also the possibility of sanctuary---a contraband camp might have been nearby.

4) If there was a large plantation or estate in the area, there might have also have been right after the war, a local field office of the Freedman's Bureau----thus leading to new records and a new source of data including labor contracts with newly freed slaves.

5) If there was a large estate, and a presence of Union soldiers---there was also the possibility of a regiment of US Colored Troops being organized in the same area.

Are there historic antebellum homes? Then there is another opportunity for research.

An historic home--Heyward House, Bluffton SC

In those communities if there were any antebellum homes---then there was a community of people who were enslaved who worked in those homes and also upon the grounds of the estate.  Even if your ancestors had no ties to the estate--someone in the community did have ties, and knowledge of the community's history involves working on the history of those tied to those estates.  

If there are other historic sites---an old mills, historic buildings, churches, and courthouses, there are opportunities for researchers to obtain more data on their own people. Such places were often worked on by enslaved people in the area---so there is more data to explore.

Old churches often reveal information about slaves, in those cases where slave holders allowed slaves to have services.

There are many stories around our ancestral homes, and by placing our ancestors back on the landscape and understanding that their lives unfolded right there----we must begin to look at communities differently as we pass them by.

Thankfully---more historic markers are also appearing on the landscape reflecting in incidents that involved the fight for freedom made by our ancestors who were soldiers and who were enslaved people seeking their freedom. 

We must simply learn to look at those landmarks as we pass them by.

Historical marker in Nashville area.

 

Marker honoring the 1st Regiment Kansas Colored, Rentiesville, Oklahoma

The Marching Song of the 1st Arkansas Colored

Image of 107th USC Infantry

 African American Civil War Musicians

Source: Library of Congress

When one thinks of the Civil War a certain kind of music comes to mind. The music has a certain cadence and rhythmic quality of its own. The fife and drum and buglers are all images and sounds that come to mind and a good number of images of fields Civil War musicians have been found, including those of black musicians as well. It is not known how or whether the song from the flutes or the rhythm of the drums affected the soldiers themselves.  

But the many songs that were set to music, did the soldiers ever sing them?

I was surprised however when I learned that there was a black Union regiment out of Arkansas that had its own song.  Known now as the Marching Song of the 1st Arkansas Regiment, African Descent  the song was written down by Captain Lindsay Miller, who said that the men he commanded, used it to march with while on parade.

Set to the melody of the Battle Hymn of the Republic, the song does indeed have a certain appeal and the locals from the enslaved community have to have moved to hear the soldiers sing it.  That in addition to seeing their own men in uniform had to have injected a mighty note of pride and hope for those who were truly on the edge of freedom. The song was overheard by others outside of the regiment and the encampment and permission was given to publish the song.  The Union Army had engaged in a large  push to recruit black men, and this song was approved by the "Supervisory Committee for Recruiting Colored Regiments"  

The song appears below:

 Here is a brief history of that unit:

1st Regiment Infantry (African Descent)----This unit was organized in Arkansas at large May 1, 1863. Attached to Post of Milliken's Bend, Louisiana, to November 1864. Then to the District of Vicksburg, Mississippi.

SERVICE--Moved to Lake Providence, La., May 8-10, 1863, thence to Goodrich Landing and Post duty there until January, 1864. Skirmish at Mound Plantation June 24, 1863. Lake Providence and Mound Plantation June 28. Action at Goodrich Landing June 29. Duty at Haines Bluff, District of Vicksburg, until May, 1864. Designation of Regiment changed to 46th U.S. Colored Troops May 11, 1864.

Source: Compendium of the War of the Rebellion, by Frederick Dyer

Finding the lyrics to this song was quite a treat and it is one of those tidbits from the war, that should be passed on.

If the lyrics are said aloud, one can almost hear them sing..........

 ....... We are going out of slavery; we're bound for freedom's light;

         We mean to show Jeff Davis how the Africans can fight...

As we go marching on...........

My First USCT: Moses Johnson 83 US Colored Infantry

Those who are close friends know that I have several ancestors who served in the Union Army as part of the US Colored Troops, during the Civil War. In fact, I have documented 9 ancestors who were US Colored Troops.

My knowledge of USCT history came when I began researching my own family and I met a woman from Maryland who was an authority on the black Union Army regiments from the state.  I admired her and was inspired to find my own Civil War ancestors, and, if possible tell some of their stories.  

Well that was not so easy. Now I had heard for many years that someone on my mother's side had served in the Civil War and was said to have been a flag bearer in one of the regiments---but the name of that soldier was not known. This was someone whom my mother said she had heard her grandmother talk about, but she never heard the name of that soldier, and without a name, there was not much to go on.

Well, back in 1991, I had been visiting the National Archives for some time, and on one trip home to Arkansas over the Christmas holidays, after a wonderful Christmas dinner, the talk turned to local topics, and my mother interjected how she was so excited about the local history that I had been researching. My sister-in-law, Rebekah, had a cousin who was there with his fiance that day--Cousin Doug Johnson, from nearby Oklahoma.

Now  Rebekah's cousin Doug was a generally quiet mild mannered man of few words.  As my mom was chatting with the cousin clan, she mentioned how I was interested in local history and was trying to research the Civil War, and I noticed that Doug, the quiet mild mannered young man became suddenly talkative!

He mentioned that he was kind of interested in that subject and that he always wanted to know if one of his ancestors---a gr. grandfather had been a Civil War soldier, or Buffalo Soldier.  Apparently, there was a military stone on his grave in nearby Shady Grove, Oklahoma.  The stone had some kind of markings on it----83rd USC Inf.  

Whoa!! Now I knew a little bit about the 83rd US Colored Infantry! 

Being a fan of Afr. American western frontier history, I was familiar with the 1st and 2nd Kansas Colored Infantries.  One regiment--the 1st Kansas Colored was familiar to me, for their efforts in saving Ft. Gibson.  The fort was saved from confederate hands by the actions of 1st Kansas Colored Infantry. 

Well----both the 1st and 2nd Kansas Colored were later re-designated as the 79th and 83rd US Colored Infantries. In addition----most of their soldiers that initially mustered in, were soldiers who were once slaves in the Cherokee and Creek Nations. And here was a descendant of one of those regiments. I was thrilled!

Now I do have to pause and mention that I do have an ancestor whose name I now know, who also served in the 83rd US Colored Infantry---but at that time,  in the winter of 1991, I did not know of him, nor did I know his name. 

So here I was that Christmas 1991, Cousin Doug, was telling me he had an ancestor from a black Civil War regiment. And this soldier was from the local area!  I knew of no one at that time in 1991 in Arkansas or Oklahoma, who was researching black Civil War soldiers. In fact I doubt if there were 10 people living in the community at that time who knew that there were black men from the area who had joined the Union Army and who had served honorably.

But at last----here was someone who told me about his ancestor who was a Union soldier.  I asked him to look at the stone again and if so I would also look at his history for him. I really wanted to know this, because this soldier would be the first Civil War soldier with a connection to my family and region that I would have.

Like many cases, the descendants of Moses Johnson knew little of him after all he did live over 100 years ago, and his involvement as a soldier in the 83rd was long forgotten. 

Well, it was now my job to find out about him. I agreed to obtain any records on him that I could. (Living in Maryland and going to the National Archives was something that I always did.) 

Moses Johnson lived in the south eastern part of the Cherokee Nation, in a community known as Shady Grove, in an area once known as Benge, Indian Territory. The town itself is now known as Muldrow, Oklahoma. I studied the area west of Ft. Smith Arkansas, going towards Ft. Gibson. This was all part of the Cherokee Nation the very area where Moses (sometimes called Mose) Johnson lived as a slave.

Immediately to the east of this part of the Cherokee Nation was Ft. Smith, Arkansas.  As the war intensified, for many slaves, the word had reached the community----Union soldiers were close by and if you could make it either to Ft. Gibson, or to Ft. Smith---you had a shot at freedom!!!    

Many men took this risk---knowing it would mean their lives---traveling with no passes, with no permission from the slave owner to leave their estate.  What courage it must have taken to leave, especially when one had to travel at night, or risk being seen. Moses Johnson was one of those who dared to take that risk----and he made it!!!

Community where Moses Johnson Lived

 This map shows  the southeastern part of the Cherokee nation, including Ft. Gibson 

to the West and Ft. Smith in the southeastern portion of the map. Since the 83rd was in that region,

Moses John would end up enlisting in that regiment.

Source: New York: H.H. Hardesty and Company, 1883; from The Historical and Geographical Encyclopedia

Moses Johnson lived with his family west of Ft. Smith Arkansas and his task, to be able to escape to enlist, meant leaving basically rural farm land that he had worked his entire life, avoid confederate soldiers, and to reach the Union line. His son Lewis, I would learn, would also join him.  Their task was to cross the Arkansas River, and the state boundary, entering Arkansas on the banks of Ft. Smith. Ft. Smith was where the Federal Military post was situated. Once there, they would find freedom!

 With the network of communication among slaves, the word quickly spread, and many slaves from Indian Territory also heard the word.  Many Cherokee and Choctaw slaves who were with masters while in Ft. Smith on business, heard from other slaves what had happened and they took that news with them back into the Territory, and back to the slave quarters. 

On the Arkansas side, some refugee slaves also fled when the young men left. In other cases, some simply left alone, at night, being wary of dogs being put on their trail.

Some runaway slaves left in groups and others alone.

 As major recruitment of strong men unfolded, a train  took both soldiers and some refugee slaves northward into Kansas, where the men were mustered into service there.  And Moses Johnson others from the Cherokee Nation, and western Arkansas, were among them. Moses Johnson would see the skirmishes and engage in the battle of Jenkins Ferry. 

Thankfully he did not die in battle, also not only survived the many military engagements of the war. In later years, his widow Julia and his daughter would file for and receive a Civil War pension, based on his service.

Moses Johnson Pension Index Card

From that pension file, I would learn not only of Mr. Johnson's military service, but I would learn of others from the Cherokee slave community, that also enlisted.  Surprisingly, I also learned that Moses Johnson had  a son Lewis Johnson who also served in the same regiment.  

What a thrill to become so close to a USCT with a tie to my family--through my brother's marriage. 

Exploring the life of the Johnsons had stimulated my appetite to learn more about the former slaves, and also about the men who seized their freedom when opportunity came, joined the Union Army and fight. This would open the doors further in learning about USCTs from the Arkansas/Oklahoma communities, and how eager and how quickly so may were to engage in their fight for freedom!

The success in obtaining this information about Moses Johnson and his life, would eventually lead me to becoming a regular researcher at the National Archives, and exploring the lives of former Indian Territory slaves, before and after the Civil War. 

It turned out that Moses Johnson was also a Cherokee Freedman, and I found his Dawes Enrollment card. as well as that of his son, Lewis Johnson, so even more data came from researching this man's life and learning about a man who was an active participant in several major military campaigns in the Arkansas/Oklahoma communities.  

Enrollment Card of Moses Johnson Cherokee Freedman

He had seen it all from engagements in Missouri, when the regiment was still the 2nd Kansas Colored Infantry. He had been in skirmishes in Missouri, northern Arkansas, and later at Jenkins Ferry in Arkansas, and Honey Springs in the Creek Nation, Indian Territory.

How wonderful that I had found a USCT with a connection---though distant to me! Of course I would later discover some more closely connected to my direct lines, and those stories shall also be told.

I am happy though to have found my first USCT at least one connected to people who were connected to me.  

Since that time in 1991, I have been fortunate to find some more directly connected to me, on both my father's side as well as my mothers side.and so many more have come my way!

Learning the story of this one man, and learning about the lives of others who knew him, has opened many doors to 19th century research, especially in Western Arkansas, and Indian Territory history.