African American Military Organization During the Civil War, Special Order Assigning Sergeant to Colored Detachment, 1863

US Colored Troops 29th Massachusetts

Manuscripts & Autographs

Hill, William Augustus. Special Order No. 118, 3 December 1863, documenting the assignment of a Union Army sergeant to a “Colored Detachment” during the early formation of African American military units following the Emancipation Proclamation. Issued from the Draft Rendezvous at Long Island in Boston Harbor, the order directs Sergeant Kern of the 29th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry to report immediately to Lieutenant J.M. Deane, indicating the transfer of experienced personnel into newly organized Black units. The document reflects the rapid expansion of United States Colored Troops in 1863, when the Union Army began formally incorporating African American soldiers into its ranks, reshaping military organization and wartime policy. The involvement of the 29th Massachusetts, an established combat regiment, situates the order within broader efforts to support and structure these new formations during a critical phase of the Civil War.

Hill, William Augustus. Special Order No. 118. Draft Rendezvous, Long Island, Boston Harbor, Massachusetts, 3 December 1863. Autograph manuscript order on headquarters letterhead, measuring approximately 9.5 x 7.5 inches, signed by Lt. William Augustus Hill of the 19th Massachusetts. The document assigns Sergeant Kern to a Colored Detachment under the command of Lieutenant J.M. Deane and provides direct evidence of administrative processes involved in staffing and organizing African American units. The order originates from the estate of Lieutenant John Milton Deane, the commanding officer referenced in the document.

Single manuscript document with minor edge wear; overall very good condition. A primary-source record of Union military reorganization and the integration of African American troops during the Civil War.

Item #18923

Price: $550.00