Jacob Bayless, Company A

Basic items in this veteran’s application are inconsistent with facts pertaining to the 1st U.S. Colored Cavalry. Perhaps the most glaring discrepancy between the soldier’s 1862 enlistment date and issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation which authorized the participation of African American men in the Union Army. Was this a faulty memory? Did he serve in the 1st U.S. Colored Cavalry or another battle unit? In which regiments did Dobson and Underwood command troops? Did the regiment engage in combat at Saltville?

It’s vital to seek information from other sources such as the National Park Service Soldiers and Sailors Database which has basic information an individual’s service and regimental history. Another source abbreviated as the CMSR could be used to confirm or refute the applican’ts claims. The researcher can access these records on microfilm or Internet Archive or with a fee-based database.

— Compiled military service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served with the United States Colored Troops [microform]: 1st through 5th United States Colored Cavalry, 5th Massachusetts Cavalry (Colored), 6th United States Colored Cavalry (1997). Reel 0001 – 1st United States Colored Cavalry: Ackess, Alexander – Bom, John H. at https://archive.org/details/compiledmili0001akesunit/page/n5 ). There isn’t a match for Jacob Bayliss in this regiment.

Invalid – 970,262 / —–
Widow — 228,889 / —–, Martha J. Bayless

Declaration for Invalid Pension, Jacob Bayless, 18 July 1890
47 years old; residence, Jonesboro, Washington County, Tennessee; post-office address, Jonesboro, Washington, Tennessee
enrolled 14 February 1862 in Co. A, 1st U.S. C. Cav. commanded by Col. Dobson and the Company by Captain Underwood. I was always a Private … served at least 90 days and was furloughed after being wounded at saltworks in Va from hospital at Petersburg, Va. and recovered from wound until after regiment was mustered out, expected to get discharge now unable to earn a support by manual labor by reason of gun shot wound of right leg, on the inner side of the leg halfway between the ankle & knee, and rheumatism and kidney disease, also frostbite feet”
“Also personally appeared A.M. Stuart residing at Jonesboro, Tenn. and R.M. May residing at Jonesboro, Tenn…. their acquaintance with him for 10 years and 10 years, respectively”

General Affidavit, Jacob Bayless, 20 August 1891
51 years old; residence Jonesboro, Washington, Tennessee
“I was wounded in right leg at Saltville on or about Dec 1864 while in action. I got my feet frostbitten about the same time that I incurred the gunshot of right leg. All done while on [illegible] raid.”

Declaration for Widow’s Pension, Martha J. Bayless, 22 February 1896
46 years old; residence, Jonesboro, Washington, Tennessee; post-office address, Jonesboro, Washington, Tennessee
“[the soldier] died November 12, 1895 … she was married under the name of Martha J. Hughs to said Jacob Bayless on the 12 day of Oct A.D. 1871, by H.B. Hancock [?], M.D. at Brown’s [?] Creek, Tenn. … names and dates of birth of all children of the soldier, now living, and under sixteen years of age … Sarah Bayless, born Aug 24th, 1880″
“Also personally appeared Chas. S. Mason, residing at Jonesboro, Tenn., and J.R. Russell, residing at Jonesboro, Tenn. … an acquaintance with her of about three years and about three years, respectively”

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“A Civil War Soldier Revisited”

This sidebar accompanies today’s sketch for Charles Sprout, Company E, 1st US Colored Cavalry.
Thank you, Mr. Wilinski for sharing this information with me — Leslie

“Charles Sprout: A Civil War Soldier Revisited“
“An exploration of the life and death of Charles Sprout, a soldier in the United States Colored Troops (USCT) during and after the Civil War. Using military and pension records held by the National Archives, it shows how the National Archives supports and provides synergy with other federal agencies, such as the National Park Service, in presenting an enslaved person’s unique military history.”

This brief documentary on YouTube gives a lot of detail about Charles Sprout’s life before and after the Civil War. Research was conducted by Jesse Wilinski, Archives Technician, National Archives, Washington, DC who also volunteers at the Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park, Virginia. Also featured in the film is Peter Maugle, Park Ranger/Historian, Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park, Virginia.

Approved Pension File for Private Charles Sprout, Company E, 1st U.S. Colored Troops Cavalry Regiment (SC-814459)

Compiled Military Service Record for Private Charles Sprout
A serviceman’s CMSR includes a physicial description, details about his enlistment, his whereabouts during his service, notes about sums owned to a sutler or the U.S. Army, and legal status at enlistment.

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Compiled Military Service Records

This is the bottom portion of one of the cards in the Compiled Military Service Record for William Hill, Company H, 1st U.S. Colored Cavalry.

“Beginning in the 1890s, the War Department created the Compiled Military Service Record (CMSR) to document the military service of Volunteer soldiers. Transcribed from original muster and pay rolls, regimental returns, descriptive books, hospital rolls, and other records, the CMSRs were intended to permit more rapid and efficient checking of military and medical records in connection with claims for pensions and other veterans’ benefits.

“The War Department initially created CMSRs for Union veterans of the Civil War and later expanded the records to include state Volunteers from other conflicts. As a result, the National Archives now holds CMSRs for Volunteer soldiers from the Revolutionary War through the Philippine Insurrection.”

For the complete article on the National Archives’ website, click on this waypoint:
Home>Research Our Records>Military Records Research>Army Records at the National Archives>Compiled Military Service Records.

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Dennis Banks, Company K

When this soldier died in service, he was in debt to the U.S. Army (15 cents for ordnance plus $1.64 for camp and garrison equipage) and he owed $14.00 to a sutler.
— Compiled military service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served with the United States Colored Troops [microform]: 1st through 5th United States Colored Cavalry, 5th Massachusetts Cavalry (Colored), 6th United States Colored Cavalry (1997). Reel 0001 – 1st United States Colored Cavalry: Ackess, Alexander – Bom, John H. at https://archive.org/details/compiledmili0001akesunit/page/n5 ). Banks’s Compiled Military Service Record (CMSR) can be viewed at n863-n880. 

Widow — 141,638 / 108,524, Caroline Banks

Caroline Banks, Widow’s Claim for Pension, 26 January 1867
25 years old; post-office address, Norfolk, Virginia
“was married to said Dennis Banks on or about the 24 Dec 1860, near Elizabeth City in the county of Pasquotank, and State of North Carolina by mutual consent ….married by consent of master John Banks to Dennis Banks by consent of his master John Banks … Dennis Banks [died at] Brazos Santiago, in the State of Texas, on or about the 5 day of July, 1865, of cholera … at the time of his death, one child born in wedlock since dead”
“Also personally appeared before me, Dempsey Elliott, and Raphael Wright, residents of Norfolk County, and State of Virginia”

Sworn Statement, Caroline Banks, 29 January 1869
“her maiden name was Caroline Banks. That she was married in the mode common among persons of color in the state of North Carolina at that time, without a license or the service of a minister of the gospel, but by mutual consent and by cohabitation of the parties”
“At the same time, personally appeared Henry Banks and Manuel Banks … that they are well acquainted with Caroline Banks … have known her for twenty years. That they were also well acquainted with her husband Dennis Banks … the said parties and the affiant living near neighbors of each other in the county of Pasquotank, NC all their lives … were present when [the couple] married, in the mode common among persons of color in North Carolina”

Marriage License [copy], Edward Clarke and Mrs. Caroline Banks, 30 December 1871
Norfolk County; Husband, 26 years old and single. Wife, 25 years old and widowed. Both lived in Norfolk County, Virginia. He was born in Norfolk County, Virginia to “Jas. and Lottie Clark.” and worked as an oysterman. She was born in Edenton, North Carolina and her parents weren’t named. They were married by Reuben Jones at Churchland, Norfolk County, Virginia.

Widow’s Claim for Arrears Pension, Caroline Banks, 20 March 1883
39 years old; residence, Portsmouth, Virginia; post-office address, Portsmouth, Norfolk County, Virginia
“she is the widow of Dennis Banks who was a Corporal of Company K commanded by Captain Whitehead of the 1st Regiment of the U.S.C. Cavalry Volunteers, commanded by Colonel Jeffey Geard and who died in U.S. Service at Brazos Santiago Texas … September 1865″
“That she was married to the said Dennis Banks on December 1856 at Perquinky [sp?], NC by consent of their former owners; that her name before her said marriage was Carline Banks … appoints William Ward, 276 1/2 Queen St. of Norfolk, Va., her attorney”
“On the same day personally came Charles Easn a resident of Western Branch township, Va. and Benjamn Jenkins a resident of Western Branch township, Va. … they have been personally acquainted with the soldier and his wife 30 years or more.”
“[signed by] Chas. Eason … Ben Jenkins“

Note: Spelling variants — “Dennis,” “Denous,” “Denis,” and “Dempsey” — appeared in the Compiled Military Service Record — Leslie

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Samuel Washington, Company K

According to Samuel Washington’s Compiled Military Service Record (CMSR) he was born free in Gloucester, Virginia. Washington worked as a farmer before enlisting at Yorktown. He entered as a Private and mustered out as a Sergeant. 
— Compiled military service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served with the United States Colored Troops [microform]: 1st through 5th United States Colored Cavalry, 5th Massachusetts Cavalry (Colored), 6th United States Colored Cavalry (1997). Reel 0014 – 1st United States Colored Cavalry: Tines, Archer – Wheldon, Charles M. (online at  https://archive.org/details/compiledmili0014akesunit/  ).

Invalid — 447,976 / 670,226

Sworn Statement, Donald Hudgins and Jackson Toliver, 17 February 1883
“[They have known the claimant] from boyhood and worked with him in farming etc long before the Rebellion of 1861 …”

General Affidavit, William B. Gransby, 18 February 1883
38 years old; residence, Williamsburg, James City Co., Va.
“… and while in Texas I knew he was in the hospital.”

General Affidavit, Dr. William H. Shield, 2 November 1889
“[He knew the claimant], he attended him professionally for fracture of the frontal bone over the left sinus caused as he reported by gunshot would received in battle….”

Deposition, Moses Carter, 26 May 1890
51 years old; occupation, farmer; post-office address, Yorktown, York County, Virginia
“I have known the claimant since in 1862. We worked together, he in Co K 1st USCC and I in Co B 2d USCC. Our Regts. were together during all of our service and I saw saw clmt almost daily and was frequently on duty with him. I remember distinctly of visiting him in his quarters at Newport News, Va.  some time in the summer of 1864. I heard that he had been wounded while on an expedition to Smithfield, Va. …”

Deposition, Phelan Washington, 26 May 1890
56 years old; occupation, farmer; post-office address, c/o Lee Hall, Warwick Co., Va.
“I became acquainted with the claimant … in Feby 1864 at the date of my enlistment … and I have known him well ever since. We are not related.”

Deposition, William Gransby, 26 May 1890
46 years old; occupation, driver at Eastern Lunatic Asylum; post-office address, Williamsburg, James City Co., Va.
“I served as Q[uarter] M[aster] Sergeant of Co. K … During the summer of 1864 we were bunkmates and I well remember of his going from our camp at Newport News in July or August 1864 with a detail of me under command of Captain Whiteman to Springfield, Va.”
Note: Eastern Lunatic Asylum now known as Eastern State Hospital, Williamsburg, Virginia was founded in 1773. A psychiatric hospital for African Americans, Central Lunatic Asylum for Colored Insane now known as Central State Hospital, Petersburg, Virginia was founded in 1869 — Leslie

Deposition, Samuel B. Humphries, 2 June 1890
49 years old; occupation, driver, residence and post-office address, 46 Moseley St., Norfolk, Norfolk Co., Va.
“I served during the late war … but I do not recall the claimant as having belonged to said co. No, sir, I do not remember him but I do remember the expedition to Smithfield, Va. of which he makes mention …”

Deposition, Stephen Riddick, 2 June 1890
about fifty-five years old; occupation, laborer; address and post-office address, Berkley, Norfolk Co., Va.
“I served during the late war … and I remember Samuel Washington the claimant but my recollection of him is not clear.”

Questionnaire (Form 3-402), Samuel Washington, 4 June 1898
[married] yes
[when, where, by whom] Dec 1864
[record?] none
[previously married] no
[living children] two; Sambo and Willie, five years old and four years old, not by my first wife

General Affidavit, Samuel Humphries, 13 January 1890
“I am unable furnish the affidavit of my Regimental Surgeon Dr. Wm. H. Gray because he is dead.
“I am also unable to furnish further medical evidence besides that of Dr. Wm. H. Shield because he is the only one who has treated me since discharge for my wound of head.”

General Affidavit, Samuel Humphries, 18 February 1899
[residence] Tampico, York Co., Va.
[residence since discharge] “I have lived in this neighborhood since Feby 4th 1866
[nearest post-office address] Yorktown since Tampico was opened
[occupation] oysterman and farmer
[known by any other name] no
[previous service] none

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