Lot 2138 email save

Officer of the U.S. Colored Infantry, 1865

Sign In to see what this sold for

Black History

---

"Military History" of an Officer of the U.S. Colored Infantry

November 25, 1865, Civil War "Military History" for a Lieutenant of the U.S. Colored Infantry, "Priestly Young," Formerly of Co. D, 15th Mass. Volunteers, Treasury Dept., Washington, D.C., Choice Very Fine.
Autograph Document Signed, "Priestly Young," in brown ink on lined paper, 10" x 8", four integral pages. Being the war record of 1st Lieutenant Priestly Young, who describes what would become Co. D of the 15th Mass. Volunteers, fighting at Ball's Bluff, where he "swam the Potomac" to avoid capture, his engagements with Banks at Winchester, in the Peninsula campaign, the siege of Yorktown, and his role as an officer of the 2nd NC Vols., later the 36th U.S. Colored Troops. In part:

"To the Soldiers and Sailors, National Union League. Gentlemen:
In accordance with a rendition of your committee on Statistics - I have the honor to submit hereby my 'Military History'...
...we were known as Company D of [the 15th Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteers], which went into encampment June 28th, 1861. And was mustered into the service of the United States July 12th 1861 at Worcester, Massachusetts. Our first March was from Washington, D.C. to Pikesville, Md., on the upper Potomac, where we were encamped for six months, as part of the 'army of observation' under Brigadier General Charles P. Stone. On the 21st of October 1861, I was in the Battle of Ball's Bluff, which ended disastrously to our army, and I swam the Potomac to save myself from the awful fate of a Rebel Prison...
On the 28th of February, 1863, I was detailed by General Halleck for clerical duty in the War Department at Washington. On the 1st of March, 1864, I accepted a commission as 2nd Lieutenant in the 2nd North Carolina Volunteers. Which was afterwards changed to the 36th Regiment of United States Colored Troops. In the 26th of April, 1864, I was commissioned a 1st Lieutenant and joined General Butler's Petersburg campaign. In the 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division of the 25th Army Corps, where I remained on duty until the 5th of August. When I was disabled with a disease of the heart, and sent to Fortress Monroe... and pronounced unfit for service. I thereupon offered my Resignation and it was accepted by the Secretary of War, and I was honorably discharged - 22nd Oct. 1864..."

Light wear to paper, slight fading to manuscript, but very clear and legible handwriting; a few small edge splits along folds. Outstanding, firsthand military history of a very fortunate soldier who survived early Civil War engagements and became an officer of the U.S. Colored Infantry.

Priestly Young (1819-1893) is listed on the "Roster and Genealogies of the 15th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry: 1861-1864" Website: www.nextech.de/ma15mvi/ma15mvi-p/e218.htm, which also has a link to his March 1893 obituary in the Worcester Telegram. Young led a fateful life, working as a railroad contractor in Worcester, MA, opening a toy and novelty store, and narrowly escaping death in a railroad disaster in 1854; he enlisted at age 42 to serve in the Union Army, contracted typhoid fever, received a commission to lead a regiment of African American troops, and retired to civilian life, where he worked in real estate for the last 25 years of his life.

Early American will accept payment by check or credit card.

View Early American next auction.

Similar lots up for auction