Grave #6152: William Branch

Introduction

Text-to-speech Audio

William Branch, Private, Co. E, 31st USCT Infantry (United States Colored Troops). Enlisted and mustered in April 8, 1864 in Long Island, NY. Died on May 11, 1865 of Typhoid Fever at a hospital while acting as a teamster detached from his regiment. Early in the Civil War, Black men were unable to enlist as soldiers, but by the end of the war there were 166 Black regiments in United States service, comprising 300,000 men. These regiments were distinguished from ordinary Union units by the title United States Colored Troops.

Images

Muster Roll Abstract for William Branch

Compiled Service Record

Handwriting, Font, Parallel, Paper product

Company Descriptive Book -- Compiled Service Record, page 2

Muster and Descriptive Roll -- Compiled Service Record, page 3

Company Muster-in Roll -- Compiled Service Record, page 4

Company Muster Roll, April 30, 1864 -- Compiled Service Record, page 5

Handwriting, Font, Material property, Parallel

Company Muster Roll for May/June 1864 -- Compiled Service Record, page 6

Company Muster Roll, August 31, 1864 -- Compiled Service Record, page 7

Handwriting, Font, Rectangle, Monochrome

Company Muster Roll for September/October 1864 -- Compiled Service Record, page 8

Font, Handwriting, Material property, Parallel

Company Muster Roll for August 31 + December 31, 1864 -- Compiled Service Record, page 9

Company Muster Roll for January/February 1865 -- Compiled Service Record, page 10

Company Muster Roll for March/April 1865 -- Compiled Service Record, page 11

Company Muster Roll for May/June 1865 -- Compiled Service Record, page 12

Company Muster-out Roll -- Compiled Service Record, page 13

Compiled Service Record, page 14

Font, Material property, Parallel, Handwriting

Compiled Service Record, page 15

Declaration of Recruit (back of enlistment) -- Compiled Service Record, page 16

Volunteer Enlistment -- Compiled Service Record, page 17

Compiled Service Record, page 18

Second set of enlistment papers -- Compiled Service Record, page 19

Second set of enlistment papers -- Compiled Service Record, page 20

Casualty Sheet -- Compiled Service Record, page 21

Casualty Sheet -- Compiled Service Record, page 22

Record from Surgeon General's Office -- Compiled Service Record, page 23

Compiled Service Record, page 24

Compiled Service Record, page 25

Returns -- Compiled Service Record

Backstory and Context

Text-to-speech Audio

While many former slaves enlisted to fight for the Union against their former owners, the North also had a large freed population that joined the cause. Some regiments were composed of largely free, northern Black men. Private William Branch was most likely a free-man before the Civil War. Possibly born in Washington D.C. in the early 1840s, the twenty-three year old enlisted in company E, of the 31st USCT on April 8, 1864 at Jamaica, Long Island, New York. He was present with his unit from April 1864 to January 1865 when he was detached as an Army teamster. He died a few months later on May 11, 1865 from Typhoid Fever in a 25th Army Corps hospital.

Sources

Pfanz, Donald C. "Where Valor Proudly Sleeps: A History of Fredericksburg National Cemetery, 1866-1933." National Park Service, 2007. (Available at Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania NMP)

Cemetery Roster & Book File, Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania NMP

Image Sources(Click to expand)

Photograph by Kathleen Thompson

New York, Civil War Muster Roll Abstracts, 1861-1900. New York State Archives. Accessed through Fold3, May 20, 2021.

Carded Records Showing Military Service of Soldiers Who Fought in Volunteer Organizations During the American Civil War, compiled 1890 - 1912, documenting the period 1861 - 1866. NARA Record Group 94, ID 300398, Roll 0002. Accessed through Fold3, May 20, 2021.

Additional Information

Where Valor Proudly Sleeps: A History of Fredericksburg National Cemetery, 1866-1933, by Donald C Pfanz