Help on Civil War military records, please!!

Question

I've been working through a bound volume of Harper's Weekly for the year 1863. I've come across a somewhat famous photograph, and attached a name to it now. An escaped slave called Peter (or Gordon), who joined the Union Army. Even with only guessed birth date, and no last name, I decided to make him a profile. This was shortly after the Emancipation Proclamation, and found amidst stories about military engagement @ Vicksburg, Mississippi.

It might be possible to find more about him and add to the profiles. For this, it would be much, much appreciated if someone who's good at military records for the Civil War would pitch ih.

From the same article that introduces us to Gordon, there's also a long letter reprinted from the NY Times that discusses a slaveowner only identified as Widow Gillespie. She would have fit in with Torquemada - no exaggeration! It doesn't specify where her plantation was, but does talk about 2 slave girls kept at her home in New Orleans. So that's where I'll start, on the hunch that she would have listed herself on the Census there. I haven't made a profile for her (yet) - not enough info. Once she's found, the text of the letter can be added (moved?) to her profile.

There's slim clues to go by for Gordon and for the Widow Gillespie, so if anyone can come up with more on either one, it'd be much appreciated!

Comments

I'm working on his owner now. John Lyons:

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Lyons-5402

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And now he's connected! I guess I'll take a go at the overseer who did the whipping next.

Answer 1

Tough one Elizabeth, finding where Jimmy Hoffa is buried might be easier. ;)

The Wikipedia page mentions he served in the Corps d'Afrique, a unit that was formed in Louisiana and was part of the USCT, United States Colored Troops. If you look at Corps d'Afrique on WIkipedia, his photograph is there as well.  Unfortunately they do not have roll of who served on that page.

So taking Linda's advice on Fold3, I searched it and found this: Corps d'Afrique on Fold3.  This search brought up a few rolls of those who served.  You may want to take a look through these to see if you can find him.  Not perfect, but a start.

Comments

I have come across mention of the owners, and also the name of the overseer who administered the beating which laid him up for 2 months. Currently going through 180+ pages of the 1850 Slave Schedule looking for the owners. (Already found them for 1860.) Born in Ireland c. 1820, kind of a surprise for someone with 41 enumerated slaves in 1860.

You maybe aren't wrong about Jimmy Hoffa. :) But I made the profile anyhow. Gordon/Peter was famous in his way, even has a Wiki page. That picture helped gin up support for the Abolutionist cause.

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I agree Elizabeth, his photos were important to the cause and hence American feelings at the time.  His Profile, though just started is as important as Louisa May Alcott's as far as I am concerned.

Good luck and keep plugging away.  As my father used to tell me:

All good things come to they who wait-ith.

As long as they work-ith like hell while they wait-ith.

Dad was a strange man.  ;)

Answer 2

Civil War Records free through April 15

https://go.fold3.com/civilwar?iid=2351

Comments

Thanks. But are you familiar with how to find things in these records? I'm not sure where to start. Or rather: I've tried to find things in here before with no luck. And I'm not having much luck this time either. (Yet?)

Answer 3

We have to remember that propaganda played a very large part in the issue of these images and they also made money for those who used them. The images and sketches were used for no less than 3 different men.

1: Peter. 2: Gordon and 3: Furney Bryant. all existed

Was it Peter in the scoured back image owned by John and Bridget Lyons: Yes

Did he enlist in the Corps d'Afrique: Yes

Did he reach the rank of Sergeant: No. No one has ever published his record. He enlisted as Peter Gordon, Co "F" 1st Regiment Louisiana Engineers, (re designated 95th Infantry) April 10, 1863 at Carrollton New Orleans and Deserted April 15, 1863 at Brashear City (now Morgan City). 

Is there a record: Yes 

The image of Peter sitting clothed in rags was used as a drawing for Furney Bryant.

Was Furney Bryant a Sergeant in the Union Forces: Yes

Did he serve the whole war: Yes

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/106434889

Answer 4

Furney Bryant  (Union)
Enlistment:
- Enlisted as First Sergeant
Mustering information:
- Enlisted into D Company, 35th Infantry (U.S. Colored Troops)
Sources for the above information:
- Index to Compiled Military Service Records

There were 21 men named Peter Gordon in the Civil War database.  These were the ones listed as US Colored Troops.  Sources for the following information:  - Index to Compiled Military Service Records

Peter Gordon  (Union)
Enlistment:
- Enlisted as Second Lieutenant
Mustering information:
- Commissioned into K Company, 16th Infantry (U.S. Colored Troops)

Peter Gordon  (Union)
Enlistment:
- Enlisted as Private 
Mustering information:
- Enlisted into K Company, 52nd Infantry (U.S. Colored Troops)

Peter Gordon  (Union)
Enlistment:
- Enlisted as Private 
Mustering information:
- Enlisted into G Company, 64th Infantry (U.S. Colored Troops)

Peter Gordon  (Union)
Enlistment:
- Enlisted as Private 
Mustering information:
- Enlisted into H Company, 67th Infantry (U.S. Colored Troops)
 

Peter Gordon  (Union)
Enlistment:
- Enlisted as Private 
Mustering information:
- Enlisted into A Company, 70th Infantry (U.S. Colored Troops)

Peter Gordon  (Union)
Enlistment:
- Enlisted as Private 
Mustering information:
- Enlisted into A Company, 71st Infantry (U.S. Colored Troops)
 

Comments

The Corps d'Afrique were only the following regiments:

1st and 2nd Brigade Marching Bands, Corps d'Afrique (later made into Nos. 1 and 2 Bands, USCT).

1st Regiment of Cavalry (1st Corps d'Afrique Cavalry, later made into the 4th US Colored Cavalry).

22 Regiments of Infantry (1st–20th, 22nd, and 26th Corps d'Afrique Infantry, later converted into the 77th–79th, 80th–83rd, 84th–88th, and 89th–93rd US Colored Infantry on April 4, 1864).

5 Regiments of Engineers (1st–5th Corps d'Afrique Engineers, later converted into the 95th–99th US Colored Infantry regiments on April 4, 1864).<----- 

1 Regiment of Heavy Artillery (later converted into the 10th US Colored (Heavy) Artillery on May 21, 1864).

Peter was in the 1st Regiment of Engineers, Co "F"

https://www.wikitree.com/photo/jpg/Profile_Photo_s-364

If you look at the original card for Peter it tells you in Red to see Peter Godan, but you can plainly see its spelt Gordon and also there is a cross next to his first name and his rank.

If you look at the drawing image of Peter in uniform you will see he has Corporal stripes not Sergeant.

https://www.wikitree.com/photo/jpg/Unknown-465826-2

Furney Bryant's first rank was Corporal and then final rank Sergeant. He was seconded on attachment to New York and was with Vincent Coyler. 

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/14664658.2014.939807?scroll=top&needAccess=true&journalCode=fanc20

The exploits of Furney Bryant were written as Peter Gordons.

Answer 5

National Parks Service has a good site at nps.gov, search civil war. Lots of information.