Archive Of 24th U.S. (Black) Infantry Documents- Signatures

Description

This collection consists of 21 documents and any additional pieces attached to the vouchers, etc., all related to the officers of the 24th U.S. Infantry, probably stationed at Fort Brown and Ringgold Barracks, Texas. Most of the documents do not name the place were these officers were at the time, but we do know that most of the regiment was located at these posts.  The records of some of these officers, places them here. The 24th was recreated during the army’s re-organization of 1869, formed by the merging of the 38th and 41st (both black regiments). Some of the other posts that were garrisoned by the 24th at this time were Forts, McKavitt, Clark, Richardson, and Griffin.  These were the earliest posts assigned to the 24th in the beginning, but I believe that most of this documents originated at the above first mentioned post.

• This is the list of the officers included in the collection: Captains; J.W.CLOUS, H.C.CORBIN, F.M.CRANDAL, LEWIS JOHNSON, JAMES N.MORGAN, ANDREW SHERIDAN.   1st Lieutenants; H.F.LEGGETT, T.E. MERRITT, ROBERT NEELY, JOHN B. NIXON, M.W. SAXTON, J.M.THOMPSON.  2nd Lieutenants; E..S. BEACOM, W.H.W. JAMES, C.H.LESTER, FRANK H.MILLS, J.R. PIERCE, N.C.WESSELLS, HENRY WYGANT.
• Most of these officers had excellent records in the Civil War, some having been in the US Colored Troops.  Hard service in the southwest was probably enough for some of these officers, as there were out of the army by the mid to late 1870’s, or serving with other regiments.  Several of these men had died by the turn of the century. 5 of this group achieved the rank of brigadier general, either during the Civil War, or later in their careers.
• C. Corbin, served with the 24th on the southern plains from 1867-1877, then was assigned as military aide to President R.B. Hayes (a fellow Ohioan) and stayed on in the same capacity to President James A. Garfield, was with him until he died after the president was shot.  He would hold 3 dept. commands thereafter, promoted to brig. gen. and Adjutant General in 1900, Major Gen AG.
• John H. Clous, (H.C. Corbin’s brother-in-law), born in Germany, coming to American at the age of 19. Enlisted in the 9th Inf. as a private, late Qrtmtr Sgt; 2nd Lt. 6th Inf 1862, regimental adjutant and quartermaster, 1st Lt. 1865, captain 38th Inf (black), Major Judge Advocate Corps, 1886; brig gen. of vols, 1898, and brig gen. Judge Advocate USA, 1901.  Brevet for gallantry at the Battle of Gettysburg, 1863.
• Lewis Johnson, Capt. 10th Ind. Inf.; participated in all the battles and campaigns of the Army of the Cumberland; Col. 44th USCT, saw action near Dalton, Ga., and in Tenn.  1st Lt. 41st (black) Inf; brev. brig gen. March 1865 for meritorious and faithful service during the war. With the 24th until retirement 1896 as Major.
• Frederick M. Crandal, USMA Class 1848; 1st Lt. 33 Ill inf 1861; col. 48th USCT 1863; brev brig gen.vol Mar 1865; 1st Lt. 38th, capt 41st inf 1867; major 3rd Inf 1888; brev commissions for Arkansas Post, Ark, and the capture of Fort Blakely, Ala; retired 1895.
• John Milton Thompson, private, 7th New Hampshire Inf 1861, 2nd Lt, 1st South Carolina Vol (black troops, in 1864 changed to 33rd USCT), 1st Lt, and captain, by Nov 1863; 2nd  Lt, 38th Inf 1866; transferred of Fort Brown in 1872-77; in 1880 participated in Division Marksmanship contest, as was the first soldier to wear a Marksmanship medal; commanded and oversaw other divisional shooting contest in the southwest (Fort Wingate, NM)1889 the Dept of California; took part in the capture of Philippine general Aguinaldo. Promoted to brig gen in 1905.
• Two of the documents are for the post chaplain, J.W. Schultz, and a contract army surgeon, H.M. Stille.
• I wanted to leave this group together, as anybody trying to put a collection together of officers and men serving in black regiments during the Indian Wars period would not have an easy time of it.  This makes a great start.
• Condition is very good or better overall, some minor tears to folds, some soiling and some staining to a few piece.