Nicholas Said 55th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry (Col'd)

lelliott19

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The other day, the CWT Trivia question asked players to identify this man, Nicholas Said. He was born Mohammed Ali ben Said in 1836. He was born in Africa, became the servant of a Russian prince and traveled around Europe and Asia where he learned many languages including Russian, French, German and Italian. He later came to the US where he taught school in Detroit MI. On June 8, 1863, twenty-nine year old Nicholas Said enlisted as a Private in Company I, 55th Regiment Massachusetts Infantry (Col'd) at Readville, Mass. for three years. His place of birth is listed as Detroit MI and his occupation is listed as "servant." He was mustered in on June 22, 1863 and quickly promoted to Sergeant, but returned to the ranks, at his own request.
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In October 1863, Said is listed as "on duty at Long Island in charge of squad." He was discharged September 15, 1864 on account of physical disability. That order must have been remanded, because, in October 1864, he was "forwarded from depot at Gallops Island, Boston Harbor, Mass" as a recruit. He was sent to the 55th Massachusetts, where he was assigned as a clerk in the Adjutant's office, Regimental Headquarters. Then, in November 1864 - March 1865, Said was detailed for daily duty in the Regimental Hospital at Hilton Head, SC. He was furloughed for 30 days June 7, 1865 at Charleston, SC and returned to duty in the Hospital July 1865. Said was mustered out August 29, 1865 at Charleston, SC. But it's not his war record that is of particular interest.
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According to most sources, after the war, Nicholas Said traveled the eastern seaboard of the United States, living and teaching in South Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama. A number of sources speculate that he wrote his memoirs while he was living in St. Stephens, Alabama. The first draft of those memoirs appeared in Atlantic Monthly in 1867 and the complete autobiography was published in 1873. Exactly where he spent the final years of his life and how he died is uncertain - but many sources speculate that he died in 1882 in St. Stephens, Alabama at the age of forty-six. Luckily, Nicholas Said is a relatively uncommon name and fairly easy to locate. Still, it seems no one has located the following records, which allow us to follow Said - at least partially - from the late 1860's into the 1870's.

SOUTH CAROLINA July 1867 - Nicholas Said was appointed Register, assigned to duty by the Post Commander, for the registration precinct - 2nd Military District, District of Berkeley, Parish of St. Andrews (Berkeley County, SC - near Charleston.)
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The Daily Phoenix. (Columbia, SC), July 26, 1867, page 3.

SOUTH CAROLINA October 1869 - Nicholas Said was named as a petit juror, drawn from the country, for the Court of General Sessions for the State of South Carolina.
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The Charleston Daily News.(Charleston, SC), October 15, 1869, page 3.

GEORGIA March 1870 - By early 1870, we find Said in Thomasville, Georgia.
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Memphis Daily Appeal. (Memphis, TN), March 13, 1870, page 2.

GEORGIA April 1870 - In April 1870, Said was commencing a tour of lectures. Being in Georgia, he understandably doesn't mention his service in the Union Army.
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<More to come. Stay tuned.>
Sources:
Mohamed Ali "Nicholas" Said (1836-1882) https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/said-mohammed-ali-nicholas-1836-1882/
The Daily Phoenix. (Columbia, SC), July 26, 1867, page 3.
The Charleston Daily News.(Charleston, SC), October 15, 1869, page 3.
Memphis Daily Appeal. (Memphis, TN), March 13, 1870, page 2.
Southern Banner. (Athens, Ga.), April 01, 1870, page 1.
 
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Wouldn't you have loved to met him? Born on one continent, traveled to several others, multi-lingual, several careers- his bio looks like several bios glued together, doesn't it?

Sometimes there'll be an entire page in a newspaper where some patient person transcribed lectures. We loved lectures! I've never made it through one, they become incredibly tedious. Bet George Said's wasn't. Now to go find one. Thanks @lelliot, had not heard of him.
 
GEORGIA July - December 1870
By late 1870, Nicholas Said was delivering his lectures in cities and towns in Georgia. This article reports his lecture at the Court House in Monroe County, Georgia which took place on December 24, 1870. The information provided in this article confirms that he moved from Charleston SC to Thomasville, GA, where he taught in a freedmen's school; tried the lecture circuit for a short time; and engaged in teaching again from July 1870 until at least December 1870 at Culloden, Monroe County, Georgia.
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GEORGIA March 1871
In early 1871, Nicholas Said is still traveling from town to town in Georgia, presenting his lecture. In March 1871, we find him in Perry and Hawkinsville, GA. The comments seem to indicate that the Perry and Hawkinsville newspapers had some kind of feud going on between them.
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GEORGIA April 1871
In April 1871, we find brief mention of Said delivering his lecture at Blakely GA. Here, we see the first negative review in a Georgia newspaper. There is mention of the autobiography possibly being published.
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