Showing posts with label 2nd Alabama Colored Infantry. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2nd Alabama Colored Infantry. Show all posts

Monday, September 1, 2008

Thomas Alexander Trent

Sergeant, Company D, 39th Iowa Infantry
1st Lieutenant, Co. A., 110th U.S. Colored Infantry

Son of William M. & Susannah H. G. (Dyer) Trent. He was born in Owens County, Indiana in October 6,1834. At the age of 17 he moved to Iowa.

Many friends were present on at the home of his bride’s parents, Micajah & Hannah M. Parrish, 6 miles northwest of Osceola, Clarke County, Iowa on June 28, 1857 when, in a ceremony performed by Rev. B. C. Johnson of Osceola, he married Mary Elizabeth Parrish. She was born in Indiana on December 12, 1839.

When the Civl War broke out he, at the age of 28, he joined the Union forces and enlisted on August 9, 1862 as 5th Sergeant in Company D of the 39th Iowa Infantry under Capt. L. D. Bennett. C. W. Neal and Aaron Lewis of Osceola were also members of the same regiment. He was mustered in on November 20, 1862 and was discharged November 22, 1863 for promotion as First Lieutenant of Company A, 2nd Alabama Colored Infantry which later became the 110th U.S. Colored Infantry. "he is a brave and meritorious soldier," wrote Capt. L. D. Bennett of the 39th Iowa, "and will make and excellent officer." T. R. Oldham wrote, “This appointment is an excellent one and his many friends at home will rejoice to hear of his promotion. His company is now in the Division Pioneer corps, and is at work repairing the Railroad.” Thomas A. Trent’s name is listed on plaque D-108 on The African American Civil War Memorial in Washington, D.C.

At the close of the war he returned to Osceola and became a member of Post 173, Department of Iowa, Grand Army of the Republic. Mr. Trent remained a member of the G. A. R. to the time of his death. He was also at one time a member of the Blue Lodge of the Masonic order

He died April 16, 1926 at his home on South Main Street in Osceola, after having caught a cold ten days earlier. He had been able to sit up and read his newspaper the day before he passed away. A large number of friends and relatives attended the funeral services conducted at his home by Rev. C. S. Burnette after which he was interred in Osceola’s Maple Hill Cemetery. The ball bearers were: Chas. Edwards, Harry Talbott, Verne Hicks, Will Temple, Loyd Simmons and L. W. London. Those who sang at the funeral, Mrs. Ed. Banta, Miss Tot Scott, Dr. E. W. Paul and William Beard.Mary, his bride of 68 years, deid in 1929 and is buried beside her husband in Maple Hill Cemetery. To their union were born seven children: Emily H.; Jessie F.; Thomas A., Jr., who died about 1920; Charles W., of Custer, SD; Mary E.; James L., of San Jose, CA & William W. Trent, of Denver, CO.

Mary E. Parrish was the sister of Addison A. Parrish of Co. B, 18th Iowa Infantry

Sources: Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System; Clarke County Iowa Cemeteries, Volume 1: Maple Hill, p. 27; Obituary of Thomas Trent, Osceola Tribune, Osceola, Iowa, 22 APR 1936 Clarke County, Iowa Early Marriages 1852-1873, p. 24; 1856 Iowa State Census for Washington Township, Clarke County, Iowa; 1880 Federal Census for Osceola, Clarke County, Iowa; Roster and Record of Iowa Soldiers in the War of the Rebellion, Vol. 5, p. 1032; Gedcom file of Marsha R. Pearson; "Letter from Capt. L. D. Bennett of the 39th," The Union Sentinel, Osceola, Iowa, January 2, 1864; “A Letter From The 39th Regiment”, The Union Sentinel, Osceola, Iowa, 5 DEC 1863

Revised: Originally Posted 29 JAN 2008


Wednesday, July 2, 2008

2nd Alabama Colored Infantry

Organized at Pulaski, Tenn., November 20, 1863. Attached to 2nd Division, 16th Army Corps, Dept. Tennessee, to January, 1864. Garrison at Pulaski, Tenn., Dept. of the Tennessee, to June, 1864.

Designation changed to 110th U.S. Colored Troops June 25, 1864.

SOURCE: Dyer , Frederick H., A Compendium Of The War Of The Rebellion, Part 3, p. 997

110th U.S. Colored Infantry

Organized June 25, 1864, from 2nd Alabama Colored Infantry. Attached to District of North Alabama, Dept. of the Cumberland, to February, 1865. Defences of Nashville & Northwestern Railroad to March, 1865. 3rd Sub-District, District of Middle Tennessee, to September, 1865. Dept. of the Tennessee to February, 1866.

SERVICE.--Garrison duty at Pulaski, Tenn., and guard duty on railroad in North Alabama till February, 1865. Forest's attack on Athens, Ala., September 23-24, 1864. Larkinsville, Ala., January 8, 1865 (Detachment of Co. "E"). Guard Nashville & Northwestern Railroad till June, 1865. At Gallatin, Tenn., and at various points in the Dept. of Tennessee till February, 1866. Mustered out February 6, 1866.

SOURCE: Dyer , Frederick H., A Compendium Of The War Of The Rebellion, Part 3, p. 1739

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Letter from Capt. L. D. Bennett of the 39th

Head Quarters Co. D. 39th Iowa
Parson’s Mill Dec. 18th 1863

Friend Caverly:-

While looking over your paper of the 5th, I noticed a letter from T. R. Oldham, in which he states that Sergt. T. A. Trent had been mustered in the service as 1st Lieut. Of a Colored Company in the 2nd Ala. A.D. I can now state with much pleasure and satisfaction that our friend “Tom” was also mustered in a few days ago as Capt. of Co. E of the same Regiment.

No better selection could have been made that that of T. R. Oldham for that position. He is worthy and well qualified, and merits the place he now holds. As. Sergt. Major of the 39th Iowa, he was ever ready and willing to do his duty, and he had the respect and good will of every officer and man in the Regiment.

As regards Lieut. Trent, he is a brave and meritorious soldier, and will make and excellent officer.

My Company is detached, and we are now guarding and running a mill for the benefit of the troops of our brigade. We have built a fine Stockade with comfortable quarters attached to it, and are now living at our care and in peace, except with poultry and hogs, and as they are not reckoned in with the Commissary supplies, it seems impossible for me to reconcile my boys to let them remain in their presence.

Whether we will remain here this winter or not, I am, at present, unable to say. Gen. Dodge is ambitious and desires to be in front, and I was told yesterday that he had gone to visit Gen. Grant at Nashville with that object in view. Should we be ordered forward, we can have no excuse to complain, for I must say that our lot has rather been one of ease than otherwise, compared to that of the majority of the Iowa Regiments.

Our men are ever ready and willing, and will cheerfully go to any point when the order is given.

The boys of Co. D are in excellent health and spirits: the sanitary condition of the Co. has never been better.

Sergt. Pike is now at Louisville Ky. in the Hospital. He is afflicted with rheumatism.

I will remark, before closing this letter to those persons of Clark Co. who wish to volunteer in some of the old Regiments under the last call, that Co. D lacks some twenty men of having its maximum number, and that we will be glad to receive any who will join us. It will be to the advantage of those who desire to enlist in this way. We are one among the last Regiments that was raised and consequently will remain much longer in the service from this time, and hence, any one joining us will have the satisfaction of knowing that they will not be placed among strange[r]s in a few months by the mustering out of their friends in the old regiments.

And again, should we remain here all winter, there will be a fine opportunity of milling, besides becoming accustomed to camp life before being mustered into more active service.

Your friend;
Capt. L. D. Bennett

- Published in The Union Sentinel, Osceola, Iowa, January 2, 1864

Saturday, February 23, 2008

A Letter from the 39th Regiment.

Head Quarters 39th Iowa Infantry.
Camp Redfield, Tenn. Nov. 20th’, 1863

Friend Caverly:-

I have just had the pleasure of perusing the Sentinel, of the 7th inst., which now lies on the desk before me. I am happy to learn that you have determined to continue the publication of the paper another year, and I hope the citizens of Clark [sic] County will appreciate your effort, and give the paper the support which its merit so richly deserves. They are abundantly able, and I feel confident are willing to do so.

In your address to your patrons you rather insinuate that some of your correspondents in the army have failed to fulfil [sic] their promise. If you had any reference whatever to me, I can only plead guilty to the charge. I hope, in the future, I shall give you no cause for complaint. I shall endeavor to keep you posted in reference to all matter, worthy of note, that comes under my observation.

Your readers, doubtless, are posted in reference to the recent movements of the army of the Tennessee. During the latter part of October the 16th army Corps’ under General Sherman; passed through Corinth on its way to join the army of the Cumberland. The left wing of the 16th army Corps commenced moving forward about the 1st inst. The command of this division of the army was entrusted to Brig. Gen. Dodge, one of the live Generals whom Iowa soldiers are proud to honor. The 39th Iowa broke camp at Corinth on the 2d inst., and went by rail to Iuka, Miss., 20 miles east of Corinth, on the Memphis & Charleston Rail-road. Here we remained until the morning of the 7th, when we marched to Eastport Alabama, a distance of eight miles, at which place we arrived about noon. Eastport is situated on the Tennessee river, about twenty-five miles below Tuscumbia. It has been a place of but very little importance, and was probaly [sic] located at that point on account of its being an excellnt [sic] landing. The town is now desolate. I do not think there is a family living in the place. A great number of the buildings have been burned, and those that are left standing all have their doors and windows battered in. The place is a fit abode for “bats and owls”.

On the afternoon of the 7th we commenced crossing the river, and although four or five steamboats were constantly plying between the two banks, the crossing was not affected the morning of the 8th. Those who have never witnessed the movements of an army, have but little idea of the time and labor required for even a Division of troops to cross a river by means of transports.

Early the next morning (the 8th) we again commenced moving forward, but owing to the great length of our supply trains it was nearly noon before the whole column got fairly in motion. Our line of march was up the Tennessee river, bearing however a little to the north, and gradually leaving the river to our right. The river bottom here is not over one-fourth of a mile wide, and the bluffs, extending back, are very high and rugged. The farms, through this portion of Alabama, are generally very small and in a poor state of cultivation, and the inhabitants belong to, what is termed in the south the “poorer class.” There are exceptions, however. In some of the valleys along the numerous creeks and streams that empty into the Tennessee, are some very fine plantations, owned by men of wealth and affluence. The soil is very fertile and produces heavy crops of corn of which there is an abundance in the country, and, in fact, of almost any crop that is grown in the northern States. A large number of the inhabitants in this part of the state have been for the Union from the commencement of the war, and a great many of them have enlisted in the Union army.

As we crossed the line, and advanced into Tennessee, there was a marked improvement in the appearance and condition of the country. The country was generally less hilly and better adapted for farming purposes. Large plantations and fine houses no longer attracted special attention, and the evidence of wealth and luxury were abundant on every hand. But to enter into a detailed description of the country, and give anything like a history of our march, would necessarily make this letter too long. Suffice it to say that after five days hard marching we reached Pulaski, the county seat of Giles county, Tenn., located on the railroad running from Nashville to Decatur, and about 80 or so miles south of the former place. The town probably contains about two thousand inhabitants, is finely located, and has been, I should think, quite a flourishing and prosperous place. No business, however, is carried on there now, and the store-rooms have all long since, been closed. Several business houses were burnt by Gen’l Mitchell’s forces when they passed through this part of the State about a year and a half ago. Many of the citizens are wealthy planters and own large plantations in the country.

They are nearly all, as a matter of course, rebels, and have sons and sons-in-law in the rebel army.

The county is reputed the wealthiest in the state.

The next morning after reaching Pulaski our Brigade was sent north for the purpose of guarding the Corps. Our camp is on Richland creek, about eight miles north of Pulaski. The other regiments of our Brigade are still north of us. We have a fine location, excellent water, and the surrounding country is wealthy, making “foraging” quite a profitable business. We fare well, in the way of rations – have plenty of flour, cornmeal, fresh beef and mutton, and Irish and sweet potatoes, and, by the way a chicken, or a turky [sic] is not a rare dish with us. –

Co. “D” is about two miles west of us, running a mill. The boys, I believe, are all well. Companies “A” and “G” are two miles beyond, running another mill. Companies “B”, “F” and “K” are guarding railroad bridges, leaving us but four companies in camp.

Orderly Serg’t. Pike was unable to march on account of a sore foot and was left at Eastport, to be sent down the river. Sergt. Trent was yesterday mustered as 1st Lieut., Co. “A” 2d Regt. Ala. Vols. A. D. This appointment is an excellent one and his many friends at home will rejoice to hear of his promotion. His company is now in the Division Pioneer corps, and is at work repairing the Railroad. But I am admonished, by the quantity of paper I have already scribbled over, that this letter is getting too lengthy. I shall, therefore, close leaving other matters for some future communications.

T. R. Oldham.

- Published in The Union Sentinel, Osceola, Iowa, December 5, 1863

See Other Blog Entries:
Letter from T. R. Oldham - January 20, 1863