Union officer servant who became a "hero".

major bill

Brev. Brig. Gen'l
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Aug 25, 2012
When black servants appear with Union officers it is often assumed that they are escaped slaves or free blacks hired from the area of active service. Here is the story of a youthful Detroit free black who hired on as Capt. Graves of the 1st Michigan Three Month Volunteer Infantry Regiment. Sadly he lost a leg carrying the flag at the first Battle of Bull Run. I can not verify that the story is true, but because Tiffin was from Detroit it may well be at least partly true.

I wonder how common it was for Union officers to take servants from their home state with them when they went off to War.



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