Burns March Military Auction
Lot 161:
Description
Civil War CDV photograph of James Monroe Williams as a Brevet Brigadier General. The image bears a Matthew Brady photographer’s backmark. This identification is corroborated by view of Williams published on page 676 of Roger Hunt’s “Brevet Brigadier Generals in Blue” (see listing). The bottom edge has been slightly trimmed. Measures 3 11/16″ x 2 7/16″. Williams holds the distinction of raising and commanding the 1st black – African American regiment, (1st Kansas Colored Infantry) to see combat against Confederate forces during the Civil War, engaging 400 Confederate guerillas at the Skirmish at Indian Mound, Missouri. Williams entered the Union Army service in July 1861, as a Captain in Co. F, 5th Kansas Cavalry. He resigned in 1862 to help raise and organize the 1st Kansas Colored Infantry, a regiment comprised of freedmen and escaped slaves, mostly from Missouri and Arkansas. He led the regiment at the Battle of Cabin Creek where he foiled an attack by Confederate forces comprised of Native American troops of the Cherokee, Muskogee, and Seminole nations under the command of Colonel Stand Watie. This was the first battle during the Civil War in which black soldiers fought side by side with white troops. Two weeks later he was severely wounded while leading the 1st Kansas at the Battle of Honey Springs, also known as the Affair at Elk Creek, a fight in Indian Territory against Confederate forces in what would eventually become the State of Oklahoma. On April 14, 1864, Williams led the Union troops, including the 1st Kansas, at the Battle of Poison Springs also known as the Poison Springs Massacre where Confederate troops, including Choctaw Indians, massacred soldiers of the 1st Kansas Colored Infantry who were wounded or attempting to surrender. The regiment suffered 117 men killed and 65 wounded during this battle. In December 1864, the 1st Kansas Colored Infantry became the 79th United States Colored Troops (79th U,S,C,T,). Williams led the regiment until the end of the war. After the war, Williams stayed in the army and fought in the Indian wars. On July 28, 1866 he was commissioned a captain in the 8th U.S. Cavalry regiment of the regular army. The 8th Cavalry was at first based out of Fort Whipple in the Arizona Territory but later stationed at Fort Seldon and Fort Bayard, both in the New Mexico Territory. Pick up is Sunday, March 29 from 10 am to 4 pm at our gallery in Lancaster, Ohio 43130 or we will provide in-house shipping for this item. We will charge a $5 fee if you want to pick this lot up another day. Once packed up we will send you an invoice for shipping & handling. Shipping questions: [email protected]. Sales tax is collected on this auction. TL0
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