Although he amazingly survived the
Battle of New Market Heights unscathed, Sgt. Maj. Christian A. Fleetwood
recorded his impression of the 4th United States Colored Infantry’s experience
on September 29, 1864, in his pocket diary. Brief and to the point, it accurately
summed things up in a short phrase: “got used up.”
It is not surprising that the 4th
USCI sustained significant casualties since they led the charge at New Market
Heights. However, the totals they suffered provide telling testimony to the
bravery displayed by the men of the 4th that day.
A thorough search through the Compiled
Military Service Records (CMSR) for all of the regiment’s soldiers helped total
the heavy price the 4th USCI paid at New Market Heights. The numbers
discovered are: 27 men killed in action, four missing in action but presumed
dead, 23 fatally wounded, and 97 wounded but who survived. Of course, as the
list below starkly shows, many of the wounded who lived had their lives forever
changed by their New Market Heights injuries.
The totals that I found differ somewhat from what Edward G. Longacre shares in his book, A Regiment of Slaves: The 4th United States Colored Infantry, 1863-1866. His figures are 27 killed, 137 wounded, and 14 missing.
Killed
in Action
Pvt. Joseph H. Bantum, Co. G, 18, Talbot
Co., MD; Baltimore, MD
Pvt. Robert A. Bantum, Co. H, 26,
Traptown, MD; Baltimore, MD
Sgt. Cyrus Boley, Co. E, 27, Dorchester
Co., MD; Baltimore, MD
Pvt. Harrison Cooper, Co. H, 33, Traptown,
MD; Baltimore, MD
Pvt. William K. Dockins, Co. I, 22, Cambridge,
MD; Baltimore, MD
Pvt. Henry Dunson, Co. H, 23, Baltimore,
MD; Baltimore, MD
Corp. John H. Dyson, Co. G, 19,
Baltimore, MD; Baltimore, MD
Pvt. Alfred Ennels, Co. C, 25,
Baltimore, MD; Baltimore, MD
1st Sgt. Isaac Harrol, Co. E,
25, Nansemond, VA; Baltimore, MD
Pvt. William H. Holloway, Co. I, 27,
Baltimore, MD; Baltimore, MD
Pvt. Joshua James, Co. C, 22, Harford
Co., MD; Baltimore, MD
Pvt. Hanson C. Key, Co. F, 26, Frederick
Co., MD; Baltimore, MD
Pvt. Charles Marr, Co. H, 18, Baltimore,
MD; Baltimore, MD
Pvt. Benjamin Matthews, Co. F, 21,
Frederick Co., MD; Baltimore, MD
Pvt. Henry Mays, Co. A, 20, Eastern
Shore, MD; Baltimore, MD
Pvt. Thomas Henry Mitchell, Co. E, 23,
Cambridge, MD; Baltimore, MD
Pvt. Thomas Mooney, Co. C, 20,
Baltimore, MD; Baltimore, MD
Corp. John R. Newman, Co. I, 23, Caroline
Co., MD; Baltimore, MD
Corp. Andrew Nichols, Co. K, 25,
Frederick Co., MD; Baltimore, MD
1st Sgt. Augustus A. Norton,
Co. F, 25, Harford Co., MD; Baltimore, MD
Pvt. William Patterson, Co. E., 25,
Baltimore, MD; Baltimore, MD
Pvt. Richard Savoy, Co. A, 21, Queen Anne
Co., MD; Baltimore, MD
Pvt. Eli W. Smith, Co. B, 20, Baltimore,
MD; Baltimore, MD
Sgt. Allen Toop, Co. F, 21, Carroll Co.,
MD; Baltimore, MD
Corp. Henry Travis, Co. C, 27, Henry
Co., VA; Baltimore, MD
Capt. Samuel W. Vannuys, Co. E, 24, Johnson
Co. Indiana; origionally served in 7th Indiana Inf. then appointed 2nd
Lt in 4th USCI
Pvt. John Dorsey Watts, Co. B, 22, Clear
Spring, MD; Baltimore, MD
Fatally
Wounded
Pvt. John Bantum, Co. H, 24, Talbot Co.;
MD; Baltimore, MD; died on 10-4-1864 after amputation of left leg at thigh
Corp. Elhanan Buie, Co. G, 20, Frederick
Co., MD; Baltimore, MD; died on 10-24-1864 from gunshot wound to left ilium
(pelvis hip bone)
Sgt. Levin J. Camper, Co. D, 25,
Dorchester Co., MD; Baltimore, MD; died on 10-27-1864 from amputation of leg
and chronic diarrhea
Pvt. Augustus Cook, H, 23, Carroll Co.,
MD; Baltimore, MD; died on 10-27-1864 from wounds received in action
Sgt. Isaac Cook, Co. C, 24, Baltimore,
MD; Baltimore, MD; died on 10-16-1864 from amputation of left leg
Pvt. John Cook, Co. H, 24, Carroll, Co.,
MD; Baltimore, MD; died on 9-30-1864 on board hospital transport steamer
Matilda
Pvt. Thomas Cornish, Co. K, 19, Eastern
Shore, MD; Baltimore, MD; died on 10-16-1864 from gunshot wound of left
shoulder
Corp. James Dawson, Co. A, 20,
Baltimore, MD; Baltimore, MD; died on 10-1-1864 at Point of Rocks Hospital from
wounds received at New Market Heights
1st Sgt. Nathaniel W. Dorsey,
Co. B, 26, Baltimore, MD; Baltimore, MD; died on 10-29-1864 at Point of Rocks
Hospital from gunshot wound to left leg
Pvt. Henry Dutton, Co. C, 38, Carroll
Co., MD; Baltimore, MD; died on 10-18-1864 from gunshot wound perforating right
lung
Sgt. Alfred B. Hilton, Co. H, 21,
Harford Co., MD; Baltimore, MD; died on 10-21, 1864 from amputation at right
knee joint; Medal of Honor recipient
Pvt. Henry Jackson, Co. E, 21,
Cambridge, MD; Baltimore, MD, died on 10-11-1864 from amputation of left arm
and left thigh
Pvt. John H. Maybury, Co. G, 24,
Frederick, MD; Baltimore, MD; died on 10-3-1864 from gunshot wound through
breast
Corp. Risdon Newman, Co. C, 45, Eastern
Shore, MD; Baltimore, MD; died on board hospital transport steamer Matilda on 9-30-1864 from severe wounds
received at New Market Heights
Corp. Robert Parker, Co. H, 22,
Dorchester Co., MD; Baltimore, MD; died on 10-30-1864 from gunshot wound
fracture of right radius, gunshot wound to flesh of right thigh, gunshot wound
to right knee, and gunshot wound to flesh of back; noted cause of death is pneumonia
Pvt. James Reynolds, Co. F, 18,
Baltimore, MD; Baltimore, MD; died on 4-18-1865 from gunshot wounds received at
New Market Heights
Pvt. William Richfield, Co. B, 25,
Baltimore, MD; Baltimore, MD; died on 10-3-1865 on board hospital steamer Thomas Powell
Corp. Levin Robinson, Co. E, 27,
Cambridge, MD; Baltimore, MD; died on 11-14-1864
Pvt. William Seafers, Co. H, 38,
Dorchester, MD; Baltimore, MD; died on 10-19-1864 from gunshot wound to left
leg
Pvt. Samuel Smith, Co. B, 28, Baltimore,
MD; Baltimore, MD; died on 10-11-1864 from gunshot wound to right thigh
Pvt. William Tripp, Co. G, 28, Talbot
Co., MD; Baltimore, MD; died 10-24-1864 from wounds received at Battle of New
Market Heights
Pvt. Richard Varney, Co. K, 21, Talbot
Co., MD; Baltimore, MD; died 10-6-1864 from wounds to head, right arm, and side
Pvt. Henry Watson, Co. B, 22, Lynchburg,
VA; Baltimore, MD; died 11-9-1864 from amputation of right thigh
Missing
in Action
Pvt. John Camper, Co. I, 18, Dorchester
Co., MD; Baltimore, MD (presumed killed)
Pvt. Richard Smith, Co. D, 25,
Dorchester, MD; Baltimore, MD (presumed killed)
Corp. Joseph Snavely, Co. I, 19,
Frederick Co., MD; Baltimore, MD (presumed killed)
Pvt. Theodore Williams, Co. I, 19,
Clarktown, MD; Baltimore, MD
Wounded
Survived
Col. Samuel A. Duncan, wounded in right
ankle (commanding brigade)
Company
A
Pvt. John H. Bailey, 23, Eastern Shore,
MD; Baltimore, MD
Pvt. Edward Budd, 38, Baltimore, MD;
Baltimore, MD
Pvt. Benjamin Scott, 18, Baltimore, MD;
Baltimore, MD
Pvt. James Shields, 23, Baltimore Co.,
MD; Baltimore, MD
Sgt. John R. Warren, 26, Baltimore, MD;
Baltimore, MD; disability discharge 4-1-1865 on surgeon’s certificate from
wounds received at New Market Heights
Corp. Alexander Watts, 19, Baltimore,
MD; Baltimore, MD
Pvt. George Williams, 19, Accomack Co.,
MD [VA?]; Baltimore, MD; disability discharge 6-26-1865
Company
B
Pvt. David Bedford, 22, Charles, MD;
Baltimore, MD; disability discharge 9-23-1865 from gunshot wound of left
humerus
Pvt. William F. Bordley, 18, Talbot Co.,
MD; Baltimore, MD
Pvt. Nathaniel Brooks, 17, Cumberland,
MD; Baltimore, MD; disability discharge 6-24-1865 from amputation of left
forearm due to gunshot wound
Pvt. Raleigh Butler, 21, Cumberland, VA;
Baltimore, MD
Corp. Alexander Cassell, 20, Baltimore,
MD; Baltimore, MD
Pvt. William Green, 19, Baltimore, MD;
Baltimore, MD; later died of disease
Pvt. James Johnson, 19, Baltimore, MD;
Baltimore, MD; died 1-18-1865 of disease
Pvt. William H. Morgan, 28, Baltimore,
MD; Baltimore, MD
Pvt. James F. Price, 18, Baltimore, MD;
Baltimore, MD
Pvt. Ephraim Smith, 19, Mt. Airy, MD;
Baltimore, MD; disability discharge 7-19-1865 from amputation of right thigh at
lower third
Corp. James R. Thompson, 19,
Williamsport, MD; Baltimore, MD
Company
C
Corp. George Bond, 24, Baltimore, MD;
Baltimore, MD; disability discharge 5-30-1865 from gunshot wound to right hip
Pvt. Daniel C. Bordley, 22, Baltimore,
MD; Baltimore, MD
Pvt. Eli Fickle, 42, Frederick, MD;
Baltimore, MD; disability discharge 6-23-1865 at Fort Monroe from wounds
received on September 29, 1864
Pvt. Charles Griffin, 39, New Orleans,
LA; Baltimore, MD
Sgt. George Hutchings, 30, Baltimore,
MD; Baltimore, MD
Sgt. William E. Matthews, 27, Baltimore,
MD; Baltimore, MD; disability discharge 6-25-1865 due to complications from New
Market Heights wound
Pvt. William Miles, 35, not listed;
Baltimore, MD; disability discharge 5-3-1865
Pvt. Murray C. D. Palmer, 36, Caroline
Co., MD; Baltimore, MD; disability discharge 6-26-1865
Pvt. John H. Pinckney, 22, Talbot Co.,
MD; Baltimore, MD; disability discharge 3-20-1865 from amputation of right
thigh at upper third
Pvt. John C. Robinson, 25, Frederick,
MD; Baltimore, MD; disability discharge 1-12-1866 from gunshot wound of thorax
at right side
Pvt. Samuel Sharp, 18, Eastern Shore,
MD; Baltimore, MD; disability discharge 4-4-1865
Pvt. Philip Waters, 25, Baltimore, MD;
Baltimore, MD; disability discharge 4-14-1865
Pvt. Robert Wilson, 20, Baltimore, MD;
Baltimore, MD
Company
D
Pvt. Thomas Bell, 16, Dorchester Co.,
MD; Chillicothe, OH
Pvt. Jacob Cloyd, 19, South Hampton, MD;
Baltimore, MD
Corp. Charles J. Jackson, 25, Dorchester
Co., MD; Baltimore, MD
Pvt. John H. Johnson, 17, Baltimore, MD;
Baltimore, MD
Corp. William Stiles, 21, Dorchester
Co., MD; Baltimore, MD; disability discharge 6-26-1865 from gunshot wound of
right thigh
Pvt. Charles Thompson, 17, Hardy Co.,
(West) VA; Baltimore, MD; discharged 6-26-1865
Company
E
Pvt. Isaiah Camper, 31, New Market, MD;
Baltimore, MD
Pvt. Henry W. Dorsey, 20, New
Williamsport, MD; Baltimore, MD
Pvt. Isiah Fisher, 20, Eastern Shore,
MD; Baltimore, MD
Sgt. Jacob Henry, 25, Cambridge, MD;
Baltimore, MD
2nd Lt. James Murray Hoag,
disability discharge 4-18-1865 from wounds to right shoulder and amputation of
left arm above elbow
Pvt. John D. Jackson, 18, Cambridge, MD;
Baltimore, MD
Pvt. Abram Lincoln, 23, Ann Arundel, MD;
Baltimore, MD; disability discharge 2-8-1866 from gunshot wound to right hand
fracturing and carrying away almost the entire metacarpal bones
Sgt. Garrison Nichols, 25, Dorchester,
MD; Baltimore, MD; loss of left leg from wound at New Market Heights
1st Lt. Thomas H. Price, wounded in left hand
Pvt. John T. Robinson, 23, Cambridge,
MD; Baltimore, MD
Pvt. James Slaughter, 20, Talbot Co.,
MD; Baltimore, MD; disability discharge 1-27-1865 from amputation at lower
third of left thigh
Company
F
Pvt. John Q. Adams, 26, Hartford Co.,
MD; Baltimore, MD; disability discharge 11-10-1865 from amputation of left arm
at shoulder joint
Sgt. Joseph Baker, 24, Carroll Co., MD;
Baltimore, MD; disability discharge 6-26-1865 on account of wounds received on
September 29, 1864
Pvt. Charles Fantis, 28, Princess Anne
Co., VA; Baltimore, MD; discharged 6-26-1865 due to severe wounds received on
September 29, 1864
Pvt. Benjamin Harp, 23, Frederick Co.,
MD; Baltimore, MD
Corp. John F. Johnson, 28, Buckingham
Co., VA; Baltimore, MD
Sgt. Charles Linghams, 28, Baltimore,
MD; Baltimore, MD
Pvt. Thomas Thornton, 28, Fairfield, NC;
Baltimore, MD; disability discharge 5-30-1865 from gunshot wound fracturing
right tibia
Company
G
Pvt. Solomon Camfer, 19, Talbot Co., MD;
Baltimore, MD
Corp. Joshua Chew, 21, Talbot Co., MD;
Baltimore, MD
Corp. William Demby, 19, Queen Anne Co.,
MD; Baltimore, MD; later wounded at Fort Fisher, NC and died 3-3-1865 from
those wounds
Pvt. James W. Dixon, 28, Dorchester Co.,
MD; Baltimore, MD; disability discharge on unknown date
Pvt. Jacob Gibson, 22, Dorchester Co.,
MD; Baltimore, MD
Pvt. John H. James, 20, Dorchester Co.,
MD; Baltimore, MD
Pvt. Jacob Juricks, 22, Frederick, MD;
Baltimore, MD
Pvt. Dennis Linthicum, 24, Dorchester
Co., MD; Baltimore, MD
Pvt. Henry Preston, 19, Harford Co., MD;
Baltimore, MD
Sgt. Alfred B. Roberts, 24, Frederick
Co., MD; Baltimore, MD
Pvt. Henry Stewart, 20, Dorchester Co.,
MD; Baltimore, MD
Pvt. Charles H. Winchester, 21, Baltimore
Co., MD; Baltimore, MD
Company
H
Sgt. William Grafton Buie, 25, Frederick
Co., MD; Baltimore, MD
Corp. Joseph Haynes, 22, Harford Co.,
MD; Baltimore, MD; disability discharge 1-20-1865 from gunshot wound of right
thigh
Pvt. Joshua Johnson, 27, Frederick, MD;
Baltimore, MD
Pvt. William Jones, 22, Carroll Co., MD;
Baltimore, MD; disability discharge 5-5-1865 from gunshot wounds to both arms
Pvt. Perry H. Kirby, 27, Queen Anne Co.,
MD; Baltimore, MD
Pvt. Nathan Smith, 26, Frederick Co.,
MD; Baltimore, MD
Pvt. Daniel White, 27, Frederick Co.,
MD; Baltimore, MD; disability discharge 6-24-1865 from gunshot wound to right
humerus
Company
I
Pvt. Israel Banks, 21, Dorchester Co.,
MD; Baltimore, MD
Pvt. Lewis Cook, 32, Caroline Co., MD;
Baltimore, MD
2nd Lt. W. Watson Gillingham,
resigned due to surgeon’s disability from gunshot wound of right hip and right
arm
Pvt. Jacob Green, 22, Baltimore, MD;
Baltimore, MD
Corp. John Robert Jones, 22, Port
Tobacco, MD; Baltimore, MD; disability discharge 10-15-1865 from amputation at
left forearm
Pvt. George Seymour, 18, Dorchester, MD;
Baltimore, MD; gunshot wound of left hip (slight)
Pvt. Richard Smith, 23, Dorchester, MD;
Baltimore, MD
1st Lt. Daniel W. Spicer, 20,
disability discharge 5-15-1865 from gunshot wound to right thigh
Pvt. William H. Wheatley, 41, Cambridge,
MD; Baltimore, MD
Company
K
Pvt. Henry Antony, 19, Queen Anne Co.,
MD; Baltimore, MD; disability discharge 7-27-1865 from severe gunshot
perforating wound of left hand resulting in amputation of index finger
Pvt. Samuel Bentley, 23, Clear Springs,
MD; Baltimore, MD
Pvt. John Bowie, 18, Frederick, MD;
Baltimore, MD
Sgt. Grafton Crosley, 27, New Market,
MD; Baltimore, MD; disability discharge 4-4-1865 from gunshot wound to right
shoulder
Pvt. Jacob Gibson, 21, Talbot Co., MD;
Baltimore, MD; disability discharge 6-26-1865 from gunshot wound received on
September 29, 1864
Pvt. Alexander Gross, 20, Prince George,
MD; Baltimore, MD
Pvt. John Gustave, 22, Eastern Shore,
MD; Baltimore, MD; died 10-9-1864 of typhoid fever
Pvt. John N. Harris, 18, Frederick Co.,
MD; Baltimore, MD; disability discharge 8-17-1865 from disease brought on from
gunshot wound to right arm received in action
Corp. Phillip Hooper, 24, New York, NY;
Baltimore, MD
Sgt. Henry Johnson, 22, Athens, OH;
Baltimore, MD
Pvt. Basil Pam, 35, Frederick Co., MD;
Baltimore, MD; disability discharge 6-26-1865
Pvt. Matthew Roberts, 22, Eastern Shore,
MD; Baltimore, MD; disability discharge 2-26-1866
Pvt. John Thompson, 18, Baltimore, MD;
Baltimore, MD
This list was not produced in attempt to
sensationalize the pain these men suffered, but rather to acknowledge the
sacrifices they were willing to endure to ensure the death of slavery, show themselves
men and worthy of citizenship and thus the guarantees of the Constitution, and
maintain the Union of the states. In addition, hopefully this enumeration helps
descendants make connections with their soldier ancestors. Courageously done,
men of the 4th!
