Roshus Shorts, Company H

The spelling of this man’s unusual first name depended on the listener’s interpretation. In a complete departure, some people knew him as “Charles.” He died at the National Soldiers’ Home, Hampton, Virginia and was buried nearby in the Hampton National Cemetery.

 

Invalid — 805,039 / 902,293

General Affidavit, Henry Johnson & Joseph Bradley, 14 September 1892
55 years old and 53 years old, respectively, residents of Hampton and National Soldiers’ Home, respectively … “both intimately acquainted with the claimant … Henry Johnson having enlisted at the same time and in the same Company and regiment … Joseph Bradley enlisted at the same time but was assigned to Co B 2nd Rgt USC Cavalry … That to our personal knowledge he enlisted under the name of Russius Short, under which name he had been previously known, that under the same name he served until date of discharge, and that we have known him under the aforesaid name of Russius Short from that time until the present.”

 

General Affidavit, Randol Carter & Joseph Bradley, 22 October 1892
48 years old, and 53 years old, respectively; both residents of National Soldiers’ Home … they knew the claimant by the name of Russius Shorts since the year 1863

 

General Affidavit, Thornton Walker, 23 January 1894
31 years old, Phoebus, Elizabeth Co., Va. … acquainted with him [Shorts] for a period of seven years …

 

General Affidavit, James Taylor & Thornton Walker, 29 April 1895
35 years old and 28 years old, respectively; both residents of  Phoebus, Elizabeth City, Co., Va. … “[W]e are intimately acquainted with Russius Shorts the claimant aforesaid for a period of sixteen years and eight years, respectively, but do not know how he spells his Christian name Rusias, Russius, Rusius, or Rusiaia, but states in our presence that he spells it Roshus Shorts … we were employed in the National Soldiers’ Home Cemetery, Hampton, Va. in the month of August 1892 … [Shorts] was discharged as a laborer on or about the 10th day of August 1892 on account of a palsy.”

 

Deposition, Rashus Shorts,  25 August 1902
73 years old; gardening; residence, Phoebus, Elizabeth City Co., Va. … was born in Charles City Co., Va and was a slave: was owned by John Tyler.  My father was Wm Shorts.  They call me around here Charles Shorts still my correct name is Rashus Shorts.  My mother was Louisa Shorts.  I had seven brothers.  John (dead) & Washington Shorts of Wash DC, are my brothers.  I do not know what became of my other brothers as they were sold away.  People simply call me Charles because it is an easier name than Rashus to pronounce … I have a discharge which I leave with Notary Larrabee for safe keeping …

“was only married once and my wife died right here nearby five years ago.  Her name was Lucy.

“I have one child under 16 viz Janey and she will be 12 on the 11th of Jan. coming.

“I have lived right around here ever since I left the army.

 

Declaration for Pension, Rashus Shorts, 14 Feb 1907
[Lived in] Phoebus Va. since the war

 

Southern Branch National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, 28 October 1913
“died at Phoebus, Va. on the 22 day of October 1913 … cause of death acute cardiac dilatation … widower … daughter Rosey Brown”