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- Jan 16, 2015
Thus far I have identified 70 slaves who accompanied their Confederate masters on the Gettysburg campaign. Slave accounts being exceptionally rare, our perspective is limited to the slave owners, or others in the Confederate army. As such, we are hard pressed to comprehend the feelings and motivations of these black slaves from existing sources. However, we can still understand their roles and duties, even if they had little or no say about actively participating in a cause that sought to keep them in bondage. Here, I am only listing slaves who were known to be on the actual battle ground, and thus within range of artillery and even infantry fire.
Pete, slave to Sergeant Major Coupland R. Page, who served on the staff of Gen. William N. Pendleton. After the fighting was fairly over on July 1, Pete visited the railroad cut and removed full haversacks from four dead Federals. Perhaps in the vicinity of the McPherson farm, Pete kindled a large fire and prepared a fine meal for Page and other members of his mess at the close of the day, which included real coffee. When Page rode up, Pete took charge of his horse and fed him. (Coupland R. Page, "Reminiscences of the Battle of Gettysburg," Special Collections, Washington and Lee University, Lexington, Virginia)
John Price, cook for a mess consisting of members of Company B, 4th Texas; slave to 2nd Lieutenant John T. Price (Price, the former sheriff of Travis County, was often absent due to sickness and may have missed the Gettysburg campaign.) Cooks typically prepared meals well behind the lines. At first light of dawn on July 3, "Uncle" John came to the regiment, then posted at the western foot of Big Round Top, and delivered rations directly to Company B. John had many opportunities to desert to the Federals, but remained with the southern army. He died at the Travis County poor farm around 1910. (Rags and Hope, The Recollections of Val C. Giles, Four Years with Hood's Brigade, Fourth Texas Infantry, 1861-1865, comp. by Mary Lasswell, New York: Coward-McCann Inc., 1861, p. 183; Unveiling and Dedication of Monument to Hood's Texas Brigade, by F. B. Chilton, 1911, p. 292)
Unidentified slaves belonging to Colonels in Brig. Gen. William T. Wofford's brigade. When the brigade took up its position in the woods on Warfield ridge on the afternoon of July 2, the colonels of the respective regiments dismounted and turned their horses over to their slaves to take to the rear. Just as the slaves were mounting, two or three enemy artillery rounds came screeching past, prompting them to ride off at a furious pace. (Private E. H. Sutton, Grand Pa's War Stories, Company K, 24th Georgia)
Unidentified slave to Major George B. Gerald, 18th Mississippi. On July 2, the officers dismounted before going into battle, the reason being that an order had been issued that no officer below the rank of brigadier or acting brigadier general should ride into battle, owing to the difficulty in replacing horses that were killed. Gerald gave his horse and watch along with other belongings to his slave for safekeeping. (G. B. Gerald, The Battle of Gettysburg, Waco Daily Times-Herald, July 3, 1913)
Charlie, slave to Col. Edward P. Alexander, First Corps Artillery. After the fighting was over on July 2, Charlie came looking for Alexander, bringing him a fresh horse along with something to eat. A good many other slaves were likewise roaming about, hunting for their masters. (E. P. Alexander, Fighting for the Confederacy)
Bill, slave to Brig. Gen. Junius Daniel. On July 1, when Bill came back from the front to gather some provisions for his master, he was asked by a Confederate staff officer if he was afraid of the Federal artillery. Bill responded, "No, sir; Mars June's down there, and if he can stand it I reckon I can." (Wharton Jackson Green, Recollections and Reflections)
Unidentified, slave to a colonel (possibly of the 45th North Carolina). On July 1, the slave was instructed by his master to remain with the wounded Lt. Col. John Callis of the 7th Wisconsin, and give him water. On July 3, this slave, together with a Confederate soldier who was assigned as a guard, dragged Callis over the railroad bed and to a house. Then both the slave and soldier took refuge in the cellar, with the intention of deserting. (John Callis, Bachelder Papers 1:144)
Peter, slave owned by Charles L. Pettigrew who was serving the latter's brother, Brig. Gen. James J. Pettigrew. While scavenging around the battlefield on July 1, Peter found a Federal havelock and presented it to the General. After Pettigrew was mortally wounded, Peter stayed by his side and returned to North Carolina with his body. (The North Carolina Museum of History in Raleigh displays the havelock.)
Unidentified. It was not during the battle, but on the retreat when Private John R. King of the 25th Virginia observed a slave ride up on his master's horse to procure water from a roadside pump that was being used by a large number of soldiers. As a senior officer's servant, a slave enjoyed certain privileges that were unavailable to the common soldier, which engendered resentment. So the soldiers took pleasure in seeing the slave suddenly ride off at breakneck speed when an enemy artillery fragment neatly sliced off the pump stick. (John R. King, My Experience in the Confederate Army and in Northern Prisons, United Daughters of the Confederacy, Roanoke, 1916)
Pete, slave to Sergeant Major Coupland R. Page, who served on the staff of Gen. William N. Pendleton. After the fighting was fairly over on July 1, Pete visited the railroad cut and removed full haversacks from four dead Federals. Perhaps in the vicinity of the McPherson farm, Pete kindled a large fire and prepared a fine meal for Page and other members of his mess at the close of the day, which included real coffee. When Page rode up, Pete took charge of his horse and fed him. (Coupland R. Page, "Reminiscences of the Battle of Gettysburg," Special Collections, Washington and Lee University, Lexington, Virginia)
John Price, cook for a mess consisting of members of Company B, 4th Texas; slave to 2nd Lieutenant John T. Price (Price, the former sheriff of Travis County, was often absent due to sickness and may have missed the Gettysburg campaign.) Cooks typically prepared meals well behind the lines. At first light of dawn on July 3, "Uncle" John came to the regiment, then posted at the western foot of Big Round Top, and delivered rations directly to Company B. John had many opportunities to desert to the Federals, but remained with the southern army. He died at the Travis County poor farm around 1910. (Rags and Hope, The Recollections of Val C. Giles, Four Years with Hood's Brigade, Fourth Texas Infantry, 1861-1865, comp. by Mary Lasswell, New York: Coward-McCann Inc., 1861, p. 183; Unveiling and Dedication of Monument to Hood's Texas Brigade, by F. B. Chilton, 1911, p. 292)
Unidentified slaves belonging to Colonels in Brig. Gen. William T. Wofford's brigade. When the brigade took up its position in the woods on Warfield ridge on the afternoon of July 2, the colonels of the respective regiments dismounted and turned their horses over to their slaves to take to the rear. Just as the slaves were mounting, two or three enemy artillery rounds came screeching past, prompting them to ride off at a furious pace. (Private E. H. Sutton, Grand Pa's War Stories, Company K, 24th Georgia)
Unidentified slave to Major George B. Gerald, 18th Mississippi. On July 2, the officers dismounted before going into battle, the reason being that an order had been issued that no officer below the rank of brigadier or acting brigadier general should ride into battle, owing to the difficulty in replacing horses that were killed. Gerald gave his horse and watch along with other belongings to his slave for safekeeping. (G. B. Gerald, The Battle of Gettysburg, Waco Daily Times-Herald, July 3, 1913)
Charlie, slave to Col. Edward P. Alexander, First Corps Artillery. After the fighting was over on July 2, Charlie came looking for Alexander, bringing him a fresh horse along with something to eat. A good many other slaves were likewise roaming about, hunting for their masters. (E. P. Alexander, Fighting for the Confederacy)
Bill, slave to Brig. Gen. Junius Daniel. On July 1, when Bill came back from the front to gather some provisions for his master, he was asked by a Confederate staff officer if he was afraid of the Federal artillery. Bill responded, "No, sir; Mars June's down there, and if he can stand it I reckon I can." (Wharton Jackson Green, Recollections and Reflections)
Unidentified, slave to a colonel (possibly of the 45th North Carolina). On July 1, the slave was instructed by his master to remain with the wounded Lt. Col. John Callis of the 7th Wisconsin, and give him water. On July 3, this slave, together with a Confederate soldier who was assigned as a guard, dragged Callis over the railroad bed and to a house. Then both the slave and soldier took refuge in the cellar, with the intention of deserting. (John Callis, Bachelder Papers 1:144)
Peter, slave owned by Charles L. Pettigrew who was serving the latter's brother, Brig. Gen. James J. Pettigrew. While scavenging around the battlefield on July 1, Peter found a Federal havelock and presented it to the General. After Pettigrew was mortally wounded, Peter stayed by his side and returned to North Carolina with his body. (The North Carolina Museum of History in Raleigh displays the havelock.)
Unidentified. It was not during the battle, but on the retreat when Private John R. King of the 25th Virginia observed a slave ride up on his master's horse to procure water from a roadside pump that was being used by a large number of soldiers. As a senior officer's servant, a slave enjoyed certain privileges that were unavailable to the common soldier, which engendered resentment. So the soldiers took pleasure in seeing the slave suddenly ride off at breakneck speed when an enemy artillery fragment neatly sliced off the pump stick. (John R. King, My Experience in the Confederate Army and in Northern Prisons, United Daughters of the Confederacy, Roanoke, 1916)
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