When in these times of unrest and injustice it is hard to give thanks, what brings me comfort is the knowledge that we have family veterans and others still serving this flawed nation. These are the True Patriots for they fight to retain a Hope of Freedom not yet attained! Such were men like, Gylie Herring who ran away to join the Union army in 1863 at the beginning of the Civil War.
 |
| Picture credit: USCT MS, LA Vicksburg National Military Park |
The historical context that brought Gylie into the war ending legalized black enslavement, started when the U.S, congress sanctioned the enlistment of black soldiers in 1862. Free men of color were the initial recruit target, but after the Emancipation Proclamation, an onslaught of blacks joined. Among them were many runaway slaves, like Gylie Herring.
In 1863, black regiments were formed and the Bureau of Colored Troops was created. Troops were organized for combat as infantry, artillery, and calvary units. They became known as the United Sates Colored Troops (USCT) with 175 regiments and over 178,000 free and former slaves serving. Needless to say, as in other conflicts, these troops made a tremendous impact on the war's outcome. This is one reason we should be proud to be a military family!
Gylie's service participation was valiant but incredibly short-lived, i.e., a little over 30 days. He enlisted (one record says September/October 1862) and was mustered into service September 23, 1863. He was admitted to the regiment hospital in Natchez, Mississippi October 20th where he died October 31, 1863. Gylie's brief but honorable service was recognized by the United States military who awarded full pension benefits to his widow, Mary Jane Herring upon his death. His cause of death was listed as measles and/or bilious fever, an infectious disease. Both were common among soldiers as was sepsis due to poor medical treatment and unsanitary conditions in war time hospitals.
We've all heard the Civil War horror stories. Over crowding of the injured; amputation of limbs without anesthesia, and improper cleansing of instruments used on multiple patients. wound care as we know it today was non-existent and hundreds were coming in from the battlefields. Although we can't be sure where Gylie contracted this disease, he no doubt suffered along with others before his demise. All for the price of our freedom.
 |
| Civil War Hospitals-Picture Credit PBS |
Pension benefits awarded to Mary Jane and her three children fathered by Gylie (she had three older ones from a previous marriage) consisted of $8.00 a month and $2.00 a month per child under the age of 16 years old (1876-1887). Mary Jane was then unceremoniously cut off! In a copy of the pension file received from a distant cousin, she was cut off due to adulterous cohabitation. She gave birth to a child, Prentiss with her second husband but they never lived together or remarried. So the charges were unsubstantiated even though she and others gave numerous depositions to that fact.
This colorful story of Gylie Herring may not be the only Civil War veteran we have in our family, I've yet to document with reliable resources that Henry Harris, my paternal great grandfather also served. Still even without this particular historical validation we can celebrate the men and women we do know about. Some who are shown below. Please note that two young men, Anthony Davis, the great grandson of Alfred Harris, Sr. and Quentin Betts, my own grandson finished Basic Training and AIT this summer and have been added to the list.
Gylie Herring & Henry Harrison (Civil War); Orange Richardson, Jr. (WWI); Jodie (Jerry) Oliver, (WWII); Rayford Hudson (WWII); Samuel Harris, Jacob Harris, & Marcellus Cortez (Korean War); Ernest Bowles, Sr.; George W.C. Harris; Alfred Harris, Sr. & Gary Betts, Sr. (Vietnam); Bo Kees; Elijah Peterson, II; Elijah Peterson, III & Alfred Harris, Jr. (Desert Storm, Iraq, and Afghanistan); Woodrow Smith, Jr; Maria Peterson Henderson; Kevin Jefferson, Chris Williams; Amanda Williams; Nancy Crider; Andrea Leonard; Leo Griffin; Quentin Betts; Anthony Davis.
 |
| PFC Quentin Betts |
 |
| PVT Anthony Davis (Middle) |
**My apologies for names missed or errors made. Please send corrections for future reference
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE!!!
Your Family Griot,
