NOVEMBER 26, 1864
The Winter of 1864-65 ultimately becomes one of
the most bitterly cold winters on record. It is made unbearably worse by the
devastation of the South and the destitution of the people. Even in the Union
camps there is suffering.
The
cold season has begun too early this year. Since the middle of November an icy
granular wind has been blowing, rattling the tents and forcing the men to
huddle around fires and stoves for what warmth they can get. The Quartermasters
are trying to fill requisitions for winter-weight clothing, stuff that is still
on the loom in many cases. For the contrabands, sutlers, and other camp
followers, finding shelter --- any shelter at all --- is a matter of life and
death.
Joseph
Miller, an infantryman of the U.S.C.T. swears out the following affidavit
regarding his treatment and the treatment of his family by certain white
soldiers which resulted in the death of his son. Thus far, no record has been
found of the resolution of this tragic matter.
It
is, however, prima facie evidence of
the often vile treatment meted out to black soldiers in the Union Army even
this late in the war:
Camp Nelson Ky November 26, 1864
Personally appered
before me E. B W Restieaux Capt. and Asst. Quartermaster Joseph Miller a man of
color who being duly sworn upon oath says
I was a slave of George Miller of Lincoln County Ky. I have always resided in Kentucky and am now
a Soldier in the service of the United States.
I belong to Company I 124 U.S. C. Inft now Stationed at Camp Nelson Ky.
When I came to Camp for the purpose of enlisting about the
middle of October 1864 my wife and children came with me because my master said
that if I enlisted he would not maintain them and I knew they would be abused
by him when I left.
I had then four children ages respectively ten nine seven
and four years. On my presenting myself
as a recruit I was told by the Lieut. in command to take my family into a tent
within the limits of the Camp.
My wife and family occupied this tent by the express
permission of the aforementioned Officer and never received any notice to leave
until Tuesday November 22" when a mounted guard gave my wife notice that
she and her children must leave Camp before early morning.
This was about six O'clock at night. My little boy about seven years of age had
been very sick and was slowly recovering
My wife had no place to go and so remained until morning.
About eight Oclock Wednesday morning November 23" a
mounted guard came to my tent and ordered my wife and children out of Camp, The
morning was bitter cold. It was freezing
hard.
I was certain that it would kill my sick child to take him
out in the cold. I told the man in
charge of the guard that it would be the death of my boy I told him that my wife and children had no
place to go and I told him that I was a soldier of the United States.
He told me that it did not make any difference. He had orders to take all out of Camp. He told my wife and family that if they did
not get up into the wagon which he had he would shoot the last one of
them.
On being thus threatened my wife and children went into the
wagon My wife carried her sick child in
her arms. When they left the tent the
wind was blowing hard and cold and having had to leave much of our clothing
when we left our master, my wife with her little one was poorly clad. I followed them as far as the lines.
I had no Knowledge where they were taking them.
At night I went in search of my family. I found them at Nicholasville about six miles
from Camp. They were in an old meeting
house belonging to the colored people.
The building was very cold having only one fire. My wife and children could not get near the
fire, because of the number of colored people huddled together by the
soldiers. I found my wife and children
shivering with cold and famished with hunger
They had not recieved a morsel of food during the whole day.
My boy was dead. He
died directly after getting down from the wagon. I Know he was Killed by exposure to the
inclement weather
I had to return to camp that night so I left my family in
the meeting house and walked back. I had
walked there. I travelled in all twelve
miles Next morning I walked to
Nicholasville. I dug a grave myself and
buried my own child.
I left my family in the Meeting house–where they still
remain.
And further this
deponent saith not
his
(Signed) Joseph
Miller
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