Recruitment of Local Soldiers of Color-Civil War

In reviewing soldiers’ Civil War records, the researchers soon discovered that many from this county enlisted in other places. That came as no surprise, but what was a surprise was that every single one of the local soldiers of color were credited as enlisting in Indianapolis. This seemed a bit strange, so John King was tasked with determining how this occurred and who recruited the soldiers of color from Lawrence County, Illinois. After extensive research, he concluded that William Miller, Rev. Dr. Willis Revels and Garland H. White all played important parts in the recruitment of “colored troops” for the 28th USCI as ordered by Governor Morton, December 3, 1863.

Dr. John P. Reynolds of Vincennes recruited for the 54th Massachusetts Colored Infantry. Dr Reynolds married Cordelia Gowen/Goens in Lawrence County Illinois in 1845. His brother, George Reynolds, of Sandusky, Ohio and Detroit, Michigan, was very active in the Underground Railroad and was a delegate to the 1858 Convention at the Shadd’s in Chatham, Canada West, where the infamous John Brown Raid on Harper’s Ferry was planned. Whether or not Dr. John P. Reynolds tried earlier to recruit Lawrence County soldiers for the 54th Mass. Colored Infantry remains unknown.

However, William Miller of Vincennes recruited several soldiers of color from Lawrence County, Illinois, for the 28th U.S. Colored Troops in late December 1863. The proof is contained in the following affidavit, dated 18 February 1890, contained in the Pension File of Pvt Levi Goins, Co B, 28th USCI. William Miller was then 64 years old. This affidavit reads (with spelling and phonetic corrections):

I, the said William Miller, did on or about the 26th of December 1863 recruit the said Levey Goens into the United States Service at Vincennes Ind. and that I was personally acquainted with the said Goins and that he had two good eyes, as far as I know. He was striped when examined and was received. He was examined by the United States Sergeant [Surgeon?] Dr Revels at Indianapolis Indiana and if his eyes had been disfigured, I would have known it.

 This affidavit was in support of a pension request on behalf of Levi Goins, who had suffered an eye injury during the war, but it was argued by the pension doctors that the injury had occurred before the war or possibly after the war, but not during the war.

As for the recruitment effort, John King discovered this letter from Wm Miller to “Friend George”.

 [12-15-1863] Vincennes Ind. Dec 15th, 1863, Friend George, I wish as you have ample opportunity and stand well among the Authorities, you would do me a little favor if you please. I wish you would see the Governor and inquire of him if he can & will authorize me to raise one Company or two of negroes, as I am certain I can get them if I was authorized to raise them. By attending to this little matter for me in person you will confer a favor on me. Let me hear from you at your earliest convenience. Yours very Respectfully, William Miller.

John believes that “Friend George” was probably George W. Gorman, Headqtrs, First District, Indiana, Vincennes. See The Weekly Vincennes Western Sun, Vol 8, No 20, Saturday Morning, Dec. 12, 1863, page 1, column 5, for general Orders from George Forman asking the recruiters to report immediately.

Forms were then sent to Wm Miller as a recruiting officer.

Executive Department of Indiana, Bureau of Finance, Indianapolis, Dec. 28, 1863. Col. Fishback Comdt. [Commandant] Colored Battalion Sir: I send you blanks for premiums due Wm [William] Miller and John Lewis recruiting officers, Colo. [Colored] Bat. [Battalion.] Please see that they are neatly made up after the men are mustered in and properly signed. Millers a/cs [accounts?] are filled up as far as I could without having the names and number of the men. Enclosed find printed instructions which please conform to, strictly. Yr [Yours] Very Truly W.H.H. Terrell Fincl. [Financial] Sec'y [Secretary

Another man who may have been even more responsible for the Recruitment of soldiers for the 28th USCI, formed in Indiana was Rev Willis R Revels of the Bethel A. M. E. Church of Indianapolis. He was very active in the Underground Railroad movement in Indiana. He actively encouraged enlistment as shown by this document:

Dr. Revels, Silas Shucraft [Shoecraft]                             Colored troops

Colored Men! To Arms. Your country calls you. The Governor of Indiana embraces the earliest opportunity of calling the loyal colored men of this State into the field, to aid in putting down the rebellion that has destroyed the peace of our once happy country Colored Men! here are two governments. To wit, the government of the United States and the would be Southern Confederacy; the former proposes to be a free government, the latter has for its basis slavery and oppression. Which of these shall stand? Let your moral sensibility and patriotism respond. Prior to the call of our excellent Governor, hundreds of our citizens of color have enlisted in other states,Caption: Rev. Willis Revels

and this document:  

. . . to serve the call of the general government. Now we have an opportunity to enlist in our own state, shall we be derelict to the call? Hereditary Bondsmen! know you not that he who would be free himself must first strike the blow? Shall so great an event as is soon to usher upon us, viz the overthrow of American Slavery, and the elevation of our race to the dignity of men, and the sustaining of the General Government; shall these things be and shall not we have some hand in bringing it about? Let your patriotism respond in the affirmative. Bounty One hundred dollars, thirteen dollars per month pay, and in addition to the above, the families of enlisted men will receive an equal proportion of the sanitary funds, provided for the families of soldiers. The war is rapidly drawing to a close. Let him who would cover himself with glory first enlist.

Dr. W.R. Revels //Silas Shucroft [Shoecraft]

 As a medical doctor, Dr. Willis R. Revels was hired to perform the duties of Regimental Surgeon for the 28th USCI, while the regiment was being formed and trained in Indianapolis. The recruits were examined by the Rev. Dr. Revels in Indianapolis. He also doctored sick soldiers in training.

Reuben Pettiford (1832-1903) of Allison Township, Lawrence County, Illinois, served as a Private, Co B, 28th USCI. His pension file at the National Archives in Washington D.C. contains an affidavit dated 16 Apr 1883. He stated under oath

. . . that he was treated while in the service of the United States in the year A.D. 1864, while his regiment was in camp at Indianapolis by a private physician, not belonging to the army, by the name of Willis Revels, who lived at that time in Indianapolis Indiana, that said affiant knew that said Willis Revels was employed by the United States as their Regimental surgeon and treated said affiant at the regimental hospital at Indianapolis Ind. Said affiant was next treated at home where he was sent from Indianapolis to die . . .

Whether or not William Miller of Vincennes recruited all the soldiers for the 28th USCI in the Vincennes area at the behest of the Rev. Dr. Willis Revels remains unknown. Garland H. White was stationed in Terre Haute to aid the recruitment of soldiers of color; the work of Garland H. White is often credited with the successful recruitment of most of the soldiers of the 28th USCI. Whether or not Garland H. White had any impact on recruitment efforts in Lawrence County is unknown.

William Miller received $15 for each soldier of color that he recruited and delivered to Indianapolis. If Miller did not receive help from Willis Revels and Garland H. White, then he may have used only his political connections to recruit men of color, many of whom he surely already knew. That he could offer recruits a bounty from Indianapolis, as well as a federal bounty, certainly helped his efforts, as well as earned him personally, a significant amount of money in bonuses.

That each recruit of color from Lawrence County accepted the bounty from Indianapolis, meant that his residence was credited to Indianapolis, not to Vincennes or Lawrenceville. The impact of crediting a soldier to Indianapolis instead of Vincennes or Lawrenceville, meant one less man was drafted from Indianapolis and one more was drafted from either Vincennes or Lawrenceville. This occurred when any local man, regardless of color, received a bounty from another state.

Editor's Note: We hope you have watched and shared the video <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/lawrencelore" target="_blank"> An Eagle on His Button</a> It has just been nominated for an Illinois State Historical Award. (WE already bragged about it winning the prestigious Indiana State Historical Society Outstanding Project award.....)

You can learn more about Lawrence County’s men of color during the Civil War by watching our awarding video “An Eagle on his Button”.