On Wednesday, March 8, 2017 7:57 PM, Earl Cagle <earldavid1947(a)yahoo.com>
wrote:
Dear List,We have corresponded many times on the list about the Civil War, and how it
affected our families.Several years ago while looking at Civil War records i came across
two men.John Cagle, and William Cagle. Unfortunately, i failed to save the information i
found, The record
indicated that they were colored or negro i can't remember.So i thought to myself why
would they have the surname Cagle. My only explanation was they were
once slaves, and took or were given the Cagle surname.Today i decided to go and do some
research. The NARA site for Civil War soldiers and their units forcolored troops were
lacking. With some good luck i came across a site that had thousands of names
of colored troops who served with the Union.This is what i was able to find :
Organized from 2nd Kansas Colored Infantry December 13, 1864. Attached to 2nd Brigade,
District of the Frontier, 7th Corps, Dept. of Arkansas, to January, 1865. Colored Brigade,
7th Corps, Dept. of Arkansas, to February, 1865. 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, 7th Corps,
Dept. of Arkansas, to August, 1865. Dept. of Arkansas to October, 1865.
SERVICE.--Duty at Fort Smith, Ark., until January, 1865. Moved to Little Rock, Ark.,
January 15-February 4, and duty there until August. Moved to Camden, Ark., August 1-10,
and duty there until October 9. Mustered out October 9, 1865. Discharged at Leavenworth,
Kansas, November 27, 1865.
Regiment lost during service 2 Officers and 32 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded
and 211 Enlisted men by disease. Total 245.
83rd U.S. Colored Troops Infantry (New)
Surnames C-E
First Name Last Name Company Rank_In Rank_Out
Abram Caesar G Private Corporal
Edward Caesar G Private Corporal
Julius Caesar A Private
Philip Caesar G Private Private
William Caesar G Private Private
John Cagle I Private Private
William Cagle I Private Private
I didn't include all of the men's names because of the size of the list.What is
unknown is if these men John & William Cagle, survived or were killed in action. More
research is needed as to who they were and where they came from.Of course i am aware of
the lack of early records for African Americans. However, there are records out there i
just don't have much knowledge for research in this area. Those who have done a lot of
Civil War research may have more information on these men.Also an interesting bit of
information was pay. Enlisted white men were paid $14.00 a month with no clothing
allowance deducted.The colored troops were paid $10.00 a month and $3.00 was deducted for
their clothing. There were colored troops in the Confederate side also. These men were
probably not given any choice about joining Confederate units.
Take Care,Earl D. Cagle Sr.