Frederick in Frederick County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Slave to Soldier
Photographed By Craig Swain, July 9, 2014
1. Slave to Soldier Marker
To the right is a facimile illustration - "At Monocacy Junction, January 6, 1864, Grafton Burgee signed over his property - William "Samuel" Adams - for $300 (receipt below), enabling Adams to join the Union army and ultimately gain his freedom. Private Adams was assigned to Company D, 19th Regiment, United States Colored Troops for three years."
The background of the marker is a photograph captioned, "Although not recruited at Monocacy Junction, these members of the Provost Guard of the 107th Colored Infantry at Fort Corcoran near Washington, D.C. fought bravely as did the five Maryland U.S. Colored Regiments inducted here."
Inscription.
Slave to Soldier. . , On October 1, 1863, nine months after President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation, Secretary of War Edwin Stanton advised Lincoln that it was a "military necessity in the State of Maryland... for enlisting all persons capable of bearing arms... without regard to color ...." A "colored troops" recruiting station was soon established at Monocacy Junction. Local slave owners received up to $300 for the enlistment of their slaves. Lincoln allowed slaves - who had their owner's consent or who had escaped from owners disloyal to the Union - to enlist in the army. In return the slaves were "forever thereafter... free.", Once let the black man get upon his person the brass letter, U.S., let him get an eagle on his button and musket on his shoulder and bullets in his pocket, there is no power on earth that can deny that he has earned the right to citizenship. , Frederick Douglass, former slave, American abolitionist, author, orator, and statesman
On October 1, 1863, nine months after President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation, Secretary of War Edwin Stanton advised Lincoln that it was a "military necessity in the State of Maryland... for enlisting all persons capable of bearing arms... without regard to color ...." A "colored troops" recruiting station was soon established at Monocacy Junction. Local slave owners received up to $300 for the enlistment of their slaves. Lincoln allowed slaves - who had their owner's consent or who had escaped from owners disloyal to the Union - to enlist in the army. In return the slaves were "forever thereafter... free."
Once let the black man get upon his person the brass letter, U.S., let him get an eagle on his button and musket on his shoulder and bullets in his pocket, there is no power on earth that can deny that he has earned the right to citizenship. Frederick Douglass, former slave, American abolitionist, author, orator, and statesman
Erected by Monocacy National Battlefield - National Park Service - U.S. Department of the Interior.
39° 22.302′ N, 77° 23.477′ W. Marker is in Frederick, Maryland, in Frederick County. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Frederick MD 21703, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Also see . . . Monocacy National Battlefield. National Park Service website entry (Submitted on May 13, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, November 2, 2014
2. Slave to Soldier Marker
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, November 2, 2014
3. 107th Colored Infantry at Fort Corcoran
Although not recruited at Monocacy Junction, these members of the Provost Guard of the 107th Colored Infantry at Fort Corcoran near Washington, D.C. fought bravely as did the five Maryland U.S. Colored Regiments inducted here.
Close-up of photo on marker
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, November 2, 2014
4. Certificate
At Monocacy Junction, January 6, 1864, Grafton Burgee signed over his property - William "Samuel" Adams - for $300 (receipt below), enabling Adams to join the Union army and ultimately gain his freedom. Private Adams was assigned to Company D, 19th Regiment, United States Colored Troops for three years.
19 South Street Balt.
Monocacy Frederick Co. MD Jan 6th 1864
Slave in C D 19th Regt
This Certifies that Samuel Adams (a slave for 30 years) Age 20 Height 5 ft 11 in. — Eyes Black Complexion Copper Hair Black The property of Grafton Burgee a resident of Frederick Co. Md. has this day been received a recruit of the service of the United States.
Witness Cd J.P. Creager, Charles P Goodyear, Srgt
and Recruiting Officer.
Close-up of image on marker
Credits. This page was last revised on May 13, 2022. It was originally submitted on August 31, 2014, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 682 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos:1. submitted on August 31, 2014, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 2, 3, 4. submitted on November 4, 2014, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland.