“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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Charles Sprout, Company E

Born enslaved in Spotsylvania County, Virginia the soldier enlisted as a free man. When the war ended, he married in Spotsylvania in 1897. He is buried in Fredericksburg National Cemetery. Additional information about his life is available in this week’s sidebar which includes a brief documentary and other items of interest.

Invalid — 1,050,441 / 814,459

Declaration for Pension, Charles Sprout, 17 August 1891
48 years old; residence, Wilderness Tavern, Spotsylvania County, Virginia; post-office address, Wilderness, Spotsylvania Co., Va.
“Also personally appeared, Mary Gray, residing at Washington, DC and Mary Bailey, residing at Washington, DC … their acquaintance with him for 20 years and 6 years, respectively”

Declaration for the Increase of an Invalid Pension, Charles Sprout, 15 December 1892
residence and post-office address, Wilderness Tavern, Spotsylvania Co., Va.
“Also personally appeared John J. Berry [?], residing at Fredericksburg and A.B. Bowering, residing at Fredericksburg”

Declaration for an Original Invalid Pension, Charles Sprout, 4 August 1896
52 years old; residence and post-office address, Wilderness Tavern, Spotsylvania Co., Va.
“occupation, farmer … when enrolled a slave”
“Also personally appeared L.R. Colbert, residing at Massaponax, Virginia and Isaiah Long, residing at Sunlight, Va.”

Declaration for the Increase of an Invalid Pension, Charles Sprout, 26 July 1897
54 years old; residence, Spotsylvania Co., Va.; post-office address, [“Fredericksburg” is struck through] Dunavant, Spotsylvania Co., Va.
“Also personally appeared John S. Berry [?], residing at Fredericksburg, Virginia, and Charles W. Edington, residing at Fredericksburg, Virginia”

Questionnaire (Form 3-402), Charles Sprout, 23 March 1898
[married] Fannie Kemp Ward; Fannie Kemp Sprout
[when, where, by whom] “June 30th 1897 at her home in Spottsylvania [sic] Co by James Roberson“
[record] Spotsylvania Co., Virginia
[previously married] “was never married before this”
[living children] “none living nor dead”

Questionnaire (Form 3-493), Charles Sprout, 31 August 1898
[residence; post-office address] Spotsylvania County; Dunavant
[residence after discharge] “I think I was discharged in June 1865 at City Point, Va. from there I went to Washington where I went to Washington where I spent about two months, and from there I went to Wilderness Tavern, where I was about eight or nine years and from there I went to Dunavant where I am now”
[nearest post-office to residence] Wilderness Tavern and Dunavant
[occupation since discharge] farming
[known by another name] no
[name in service] Charles Sprout

Questionnaire (Form 3-173), Charles Sprout, 31 August 1898
[married] Fannie Kemp Ward Sprout
[when, where, by whom] “June 30th 1897 by James Roberson, Spotsylvania Co., Va.”
[record] at Spotsylvania courthouse
[previous marriage] no
[living children] no

Declaration for Pension, Charles Sprout, 22 June 1908
69 years old; residence, Dunavant; post-office address, Dunavant, Spotsylvania, Virginia
“occupation was teamster … born October 6th, 1849, at Spotsylvania County, Virginia … residences since leaving service have been as follows: [illegible] 2 months after the war and since in Spotsylvania — Warren County, Virginia … Also personally appeared, John S. Berry [?], residing in Fredericksburg, Virginia and Samuel Coleman, residing in Fredericksburg, Viginia … their acquaintance with him of 13 and 13 years, respectively”

Questionnaire (Form 3-014), Charles Sprout, 13 June 1913
70 years old; residence, Fredericksburg, Virginia; post-office address, Fredericksburg, Virginia
“honorably discharged at Brazos Santiago, Texas, on the 4th day of February, 1866 … his occupation was teamster … he was born about 1843 … Also personally appeared John S. Boon [Brown?], residing in Fredericksburg, Virginia and George A. Scott, residing in Fredericksburg, Virginia … their acquaintance with him of 15 years and 10 years, respectively”

Questionnaire (Form 3-364), Charles Sprout, 16 June 1913
“Age shown by evidence, 70 years old; date of birth, December 12, 1842; claimant does not write
[Note: This document was date-stamped received by Pension Office — Leslie]

Letter (handwritten) from A.D. Cunningham, P.O. Box 72, Fredericksburg, Virginia, to Commissioner of Pensions,
21 February 1926
“This is to let you know that Charles Sprout is dead. He died last Sat. the 13th. He was buried in the national cemetery Tue. the 16th and I his adopted son Arthur D. Cunningham take this means of letting you know.”

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