A staff member at National Archives in DC told me that she understands that aliases were often given by the military to slaves or former slaves enlisted in the US Colored Troops to protect them from being located and "reclaimed" by their masters. Recently researching Sgt. Benjamin Davenport of Kentucky Co F 109th USCInf., I found he served as Benjamin Wilson, the name on his service record, yet had no problem receiving a pension in 1890. In looking for the service record, I found a number of listings for Benjamin Wilsons in the USCT and another Benjamin Davenport in the USCT with an alias, Oliver Long, who also had no trouble with his pension claim.
This is not much to go on I admit. Has anyone heard of a military policy of this sort, official or unofficial, or a list of sanctioned aliases for this purpose? Have historians written of this practice?
Thanks for any comment.
This is not much to go on I admit. Has anyone heard of a military policy of this sort, official or unofficial, or a list of sanctioned aliases for this purpose? Have historians written of this practice?
Thanks for any comment.
Bringing the