Kicha's photos

Not all African American camp servants remained so. A perfect example is Kentuckian Andrew Jackson Smith. Smith was born in Lyon County the son of an enslaved mother and white owner father. When Smith learned that his owner-father had enlisted in the Confederate army and intended to take him along as a servant, Smith ran away. He along with another slave absconded to the nearest Union camp, which happened to be in Smithland, Kentucky and offered his services to Major John Warner of the 41st Illinois regiment. When the 41st received their marching orders, Smith went along. Smith witnessed the battles of Fort Donelson in February 1862 and Shiloh two months later. At Shiloh Smith was in the heat of the action bringing horses to Warner as one and then another was shot out from under the major. During the battle Smith was hit in the temple with a spent bullet which coursed under the skin to the middle of his forehead. The bullet was removed and Smith was not severely hurt. In the fall of 1862 Smith went to Illinois with Warner on leave where he learned about President Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation and the opportunity to join the Union army as a fighting soldier. He first tried to enlist in the famous 54th Massachusetts, which had been recruited largely from free American Americans across the north. But, the 54th filled before he was able to enlist, so he signed up with the 55th Massachusetts, the sister unit of the 54th and the same unit in which Frederick Douglass' sons served. Smith traveled to Reidville, Massachusetts and joined up. Recruited later than the 54th, the 55th trained while the 54th earned their glory at Battery Wagner, South Carolina. The 55th participated in the operations at Olustee, Florida in February 1864, but were not engaged. In July, 1864 they participated in the fight at Fort Lamar, on James Island, South Carolina. Although they did not capture the fort they did seize two Confederate cannons in a related action. At the Battle of Honey Hill, South Carolina on November 30, 1864, the 55th fought desperately. During the action the color bearer was hit by an exploding artillery shell and Smith caught the flag and carried it through the battle although he received a wound himself. For his gallantry Smith was promoted to color sergeant. The commander of the 55th was wounded early in the Honey Hill fight and subsequently did not include Smith's heroism in the battle in his official report. But fortunately that was not the end of Smith's story. Smith mustered out of the army in August 1865 and initially stayed in Illinois, but he soon purchased land and moved to Eddyville, Kentucky. The regimental surgeon of the 55th, Burt Wilder, attempted to nominate Smith for the Medal of Honor, but due to inaccuracies and the omission of Smith's efforts in the battle's official report, his efforts were turned down in 1916. Smith passed away in 1932 and was buried in the cemetery at Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church in Grand Rivers, Livingston County, Kentucky. Thankfully, and finally in 2001, Smith was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously, which was received by his descendants. Source: Tim Talbott's Blog randomthoughtsonhistoryblog

Cabinet Card portrait of John W. Greene who served in Company A of the 9th Ohio Volunteers. The 9th Ohio Volunteers was the only all black regiment from Ohio to fight in the Spanish American War. Another significant point is that the battalian also served under the command of African American officers. [ Photographer, Harper & Co., of Washington DC ]

Al Hall was born in Jellico, Kentucky, in 1894, and moved to Seattle in 1899. In 1913 he graduated from Broadway High School, where he was the first African American to play on their football team. After fighting in World War I, he returned to Seattle and worked for the Buffalo Hosiery Company. Later he was a clerk in the King County Assessor's Office. He died in 1964. [ Seattle Historical Society ]

The boy who died a hero, along with thousands of others. Just a private soldier was Kenneth Lewis, of the District of Columbia, but a clean, fine young man of only eighteen years ---- a volunteer in the First Separate Battalion. His Captain wrote to the bereaved mother, Mrs. Hettie B. Lewis: "I desire to express my sympathy to you in your hour of sacrifice. Kenneth Lewis was particularly near and dear to me, for he was my orderly in Camp Stuart, and on our voyage to France. I chose him as one of the twelve best men in my detachment of forty-six. He lived up to my expectations in every way and conducted himself as a good, clean man and a soldier. Though sorely wounded, he displayed true American grit to me and to his nurses in the hospital. In recognition of his devotion, courage and sacrifice, the French Army granted him the Médaille Militaire, a high honor. Not only as his Commanding Officer, but as his friend, permit me to extend my condolences in your sorrow and to assure you that he gave up his life like a man, for honor and his country." With America's entry into the World War, advice came from Negro leadership to forget grievances and close ranks for the sake of democracy. In Washington this was enthusiastically heeded. The First Separate Battalion, the Negro National Guard unit, which had previously served on the Mexican border, was called upon to guard Washington. This battalion was the first in the District to be mustered out to war strength. Its commanding officer, Major James Walker, was the first District officer to die in the line of duty. When the 327 Regiment was formed, the First Separate Battalion was included. Overseas this regiment was brigaded with the "Red Hand" Division of the French Army. Of nearly 600 Washington Negroes in the outfit, more than 200 were wounded and 33 killed. One of the first to fall fatally wounded was Private Kenneth Lewis, a mere youngster, just out of the high school cadets corps. The Crisis, vol. 17-18, 1918; A Son's Return: Selected Essays of Sterling A. Brown by Sterling Allen Brown

Found photograph of an unknown black soldier.

An adorable little cutie (name unknown) with a very stylish coat. Archives and Research Library of the Charles H. Wright Museum, of African American History

Here photographed in 1909, William "Bill" Hurley, of Charlottesville, Virginia was a liveryman, coachman, and stable owner; he worked for J. Samuel McCue, the Charlottesville's mayor, who, in 1904, was tried for the murder of his wife. Hurley testified against the mayor, who was convicted and sentenced to death. Mayor McCue was hanged in the courtyard of the Charlottesville City Jail, February of 1905. It was whispered later that the Mayor's mistress had killed his wife and that the Mayor had taken the murder rap for her. Source: Holsinger Studio, Charlottesville, Virginia, Virginia Historical Society .

Beautiful portrait of an unknown African American young woman. Photographed at Mahon & Taylor photographic studio in Nashville, Tennessee. Special Collections/ University Archives Department, Virginia State University

Beautiful portrait of an unidentified young woman photographed by J.W. Hurn in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Source: Daniel Cowin Collection

This portrait comes from The Loewentheil Collection of African American Photographs a collection of photographs that date from the 1860s to the 1960s, an era when African Americans were emerging from the horrors of slavery and beginning to claim some of the freedoms white Americans have. Stephan and Beth Loewentheil, who donated the archive, are collectors of rare books and photography. They own two branches of the 19th Century Rare Book and Photograph Shop – one in Baltimore and one in New York.

Beautiful portrait of an unknown African American young woman, circa 1860 to 1870. Liljenquist Family Collection of Civil War Photographs (Library of Congress) .

Lovely portrait of an African American woman identified as Josie Wagoner. Calvert Brothers Studio, Nashville, Tennessee; Tennessee State Library and Archives

Portrait of an unidentified young woman in a high necked dress with a decorated beaded bodice. Photographed by African American photographer, J.P (James Presley) Ball & Sons.

Portrait of a well dressed African American young woman identified as Marie Watson. Taken circa 1902 by Joseph J Pennell in Junction City, Kansas. Source: Pennell Photography Collection/Kansas Collection, Kenneth Spencer Research Library, University of Kansas

Carte-de-visite of an unknown African American woman wearing a coat and bonnet. Courtesy of Rosamond Brown Vaule (Class of 1959) , Davis Museum and Cultural Center, Wellesley College

Portrait of a very stylish unknown young woman .... T. B. Willis Photograph Collection. North Texas Libraries

Portrait of a very stylish unknown young woman .... T. B. Willis Photograph Collection. North Texas Libraries

Photograph of an African American woman, identified as "Gale" from the Charles Young Collection.