JANUARY 14, 1864:
First
Sergeant Stephen Swails 54th Massachusetts U.S.C.T. writes a letter
to the Army’s Paymaster demanding that he receive---as per the law effective
January 1st---equal pay as due a white First Sergeant ($20 per month as opposed
to the $7 he received). Failing that, Swails asks to be mustered out of the
Army.
