Thanks again, Kevin. Having been first obsessed with the War of the Rebellion (as a gg-grandfather referred to it—he served in the 189th NY, late in the war and was at Appomattox), as a child, I finally got to Gettysburg in 2001. I didn’t come close to seeing all of it, but I walked out of town and first saw Cemetery Ridge, it was an overwhelmingly emotional experience. I spent the day walking much of the July 2nd field. Had another ancestor on my paternal side wounded during the Pennsylvania Reserves charge. I walked up and down Plum Run a number of times. His name (2nd lieutenant Silas Rockwell) is on the Pennsylvania memorial as is his sister’s (a gg-grandmother of mine) brother in-law. Anyway I want to thank you for broadening the story to include the all important story of the invasion of an army that brought its evil legacy with it. My brief visit to Gettysburg was a memorable one. (I would teach the Address as a rhetorical exercise with great emphasis on its message to farmworker kids in high school.)
This story, like much of your research, convinces me we really do not understand this period as well as we think we do. I am totally amazed that Johnson stayed with the Confederate officer after the evacuation train left them. Was it out of some sense of devotion or obligation? Or was there some personal bond? I find it hard to believe such ties really existed between the enslaved and the enslavers.
I find it hard to believe that the black men with the Army of Northern Virginia did not desert en mass as the Army moved North. I suppose there would have been security and I am sure sure the Confederates would have expended some effort to find those who did make the attempt. But question how many troops Lee could afford to devote to guarding them and chasing runaways. I know there is the argument that what they had was the only life most had ever know. But, many with less access to freedom than the people with ANV did runaway.
Please keep posting these stories they all add to our understanding of a very complicated time in our nation's history. A time I do not think we understand nearly as well as many of contemporaries think we do.
Thank you so much for this! Col Carter's remains eventually were interred in the Cedar Grove Cemetery in Chambersburg. There's been extensive research on him, and the Sons of the Confederacy occasionally show up to put a flag on his grave. My ancestor Jacob C. Snyder wrote a firsthand account of speaking with Carter after he'd been left at a farmhouse along the wounded wagon retreat line, before Carter was moved to the hospital where he died. It was published as part of Jacob Hoke's collection of Chambersburg Civil War memoirs in the 1880s. His account doesn't mention the "body servant," but does describe Carter as a southerner in "the Alexander Stephens mode," which says it all. I was thrilled to learn this overlooked piece of the story. Bravo for finding this brave forgotten soul and telling HIS sad story.
I'd be happy to do that. It may take me a couple days to get it scanned and sent. It's in "The Great Invasion" by Jacob Hoke. There are facsimile copies around--even in some gift shops in Gettysburg. (I have a first edition). I have copies of quite a bit of research that's been done on Carter over the years and none of it mentions Henry Johnson. Let's exchange info. I'm a volunteer historian and genealogist at Franklin County Historical in Chambersburg, by the way.
Just curious. Was Mr Johnson kidnapped from Africa and brought to the US? Or was he born into slavery? Are there any records of how long he had been enslaved? I wonder whether newly arrived people behaved differently from those who lived as slaves their whole lives. I don't even know how to ask the question.
Thank you for making these men's stories better known. They deserve to be remembered as individuals navigating extremely complicated situations during uncertain times.
I'm glad you're finding sources, albeit probably not exactly the ones you'd most like to find. I'll certainly let you know if I come across anything in my various soldier letter collection reads.
Thanks for tracing out & highlighting these lived experiences, amidst & around the absences of the "standard" narratives + archives ...
Thanks again, Kevin. Having been first obsessed with the War of the Rebellion (as a gg-grandfather referred to it—he served in the 189th NY, late in the war and was at Appomattox), as a child, I finally got to Gettysburg in 2001. I didn’t come close to seeing all of it, but I walked out of town and first saw Cemetery Ridge, it was an overwhelmingly emotional experience. I spent the day walking much of the July 2nd field. Had another ancestor on my paternal side wounded during the Pennsylvania Reserves charge. I walked up and down Plum Run a number of times. His name (2nd lieutenant Silas Rockwell) is on the Pennsylvania memorial as is his sister’s (a gg-grandmother of mine) brother in-law. Anyway I want to thank you for broadening the story to include the all important story of the invasion of an army that brought its evil legacy with it. My brief visit to Gettysburg was a memorable one. (I would teach the Address as a rhetorical exercise with great emphasis on its message to farmworker kids in high school.)
This story, like much of your research, convinces me we really do not understand this period as well as we think we do. I am totally amazed that Johnson stayed with the Confederate officer after the evacuation train left them. Was it out of some sense of devotion or obligation? Or was there some personal bond? I find it hard to believe such ties really existed between the enslaved and the enslavers.
I find it hard to believe that the black men with the Army of Northern Virginia did not desert en mass as the Army moved North. I suppose there would have been security and I am sure sure the Confederates would have expended some effort to find those who did make the attempt. But question how many troops Lee could afford to devote to guarding them and chasing runaways. I know there is the argument that what they had was the only life most had ever know. But, many with less access to freedom than the people with ANV did runaway.
Please keep posting these stories they all add to our understanding of a very complicated time in our nation's history. A time I do not think we understand nearly as well as many of contemporaries think we do.
Thank you so much for this! Col Carter's remains eventually were interred in the Cedar Grove Cemetery in Chambersburg. There's been extensive research on him, and the Sons of the Confederacy occasionally show up to put a flag on his grave. My ancestor Jacob C. Snyder wrote a firsthand account of speaking with Carter after he'd been left at a farmhouse along the wounded wagon retreat line, before Carter was moved to the hospital where he died. It was published as part of Jacob Hoke's collection of Chambersburg Civil War memoirs in the 1880s. His account doesn't mention the "body servant," but does describe Carter as a southerner in "the Alexander Stephens mode," which says it all. I was thrilled to learn this overlooked piece of the story. Bravo for finding this brave forgotten soul and telling HIS sad story.
Thank you so much for commenting here. Can you share that account with me? My email is: kevinmlevin95@gmail.com I would really appreciate it.
I'd be happy to do that. It may take me a couple days to get it scanned and sent. It's in "The Great Invasion" by Jacob Hoke. There are facsimile copies around--even in some gift shops in Gettysburg. (I have a first edition). I have copies of quite a bit of research that's been done on Carter over the years and none of it mentions Henry Johnson. Let's exchange info. I'm a volunteer historian and genealogist at Franklin County Historical in Chambersburg, by the way.
Oops. Thanks for the reminder that I have Hoke's book. Just need to look through it for that specific story. All the best, Suellen.
Perfect.
Just curious. Was Mr Johnson kidnapped from Africa and brought to the US? Or was he born into slavery? Are there any records of how long he had been enslaved? I wonder whether newly arrived people behaved differently from those who lived as slaves their whole lives. I don't even know how to ask the question.
Very unlikely that he was kidnapped in Africa.
Thanks again Kevin for filling in the blanks in our education.
You bet, Dave. It really is a fascinating project.
Thank you for making these men's stories better known. They deserve to be remembered as individuals navigating extremely complicated situations during uncertain times.
You are very welcome, Tim. Working hard on how to bring it all together.
I'm glad you're finding sources, albeit probably not exactly the ones you'd most like to find. I'll certainly let you know if I come across anything in my various soldier letter collection reads.
Much appreciated, Tim.