Military Pension Files for Private John Saunders a.k.a. William Gibson, 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, Co. D. Special Examination by A.J. Green. Deposition A of William Gibson. p. 14

Transcription 3 of 3:

History of Movements of Co[mpany] & Reg[imen]t

After I enlisted in March, 1863, I drilled and marched until the regt. was filled up. We staid around Boston a month, maybe longer. It has been too long to remember. We then took transport at Boston and went to James or Morris Island, S[outh] C[arolina], where we were in camp about six months in which time my regt. was engaged in bringing about downfall of F[or]t Wagner on Morris Island. We then went to Jacksonville, Fl[orid]a, where we were four or five months during which we went on a raid after Finnegan and got into fight of "Augusty" [researcher note: Olustee is no doubt meant], Fla. We then went to Hilton Head, N[orth] C[arolina],

--(cont'd on p. 15)--

Transcription 2 of X:

Q[uestion]: You say he was the only one you knew the name of; how is that when you mentioned Wm Buckner and the Beards and Robinson as your slave companions?

A[nswer]: Well, I have found them out since - thought of their names since.

Q: When did you first meet William Buckner after the war?

A: Here in Hanover before I enlisted in Co. C, 10" U.S. Cav[alry].

In Co. D, 54" Mass. Vols. my officers were Capt[ain] ? Jones, Lieut[enant] Swales and Lt. Thompson, and Serg[ean]t Alex Pinckney. I don't remember the other sergeants' names. Some Corporals were Cain and Knox. I don't remember others.

--(cont'd from p. 13)--

Transcription 1 of X:

some of the slaves of my said master were as follows: Alfred Buckner - he lives at Madison, Ind[iana], Peter Robinson, Harry Beard, and Joe Beard.

When I enlisted in Co. D, 54" Mass. Vols. I thought I might be captured and when my right name would be known I might be taken back into slavery. So I enlisted under the name of John Sanders so they would not know my name. Well, the reason I took name of John Sanders was he was the only one I knew and I took his name. Well, I knew him in Kentucky - he belonged to my master. Well, you see it made no difference about my taking his name because if they captured me under his name they would [TBD] know that he did not run away.

See also Special Examination Index

Public domain military record

National Archives Catalog #300020. "Case Files of Approved Pension Applications of Widows and Other Veterans of the Army and Navy Who Served Mainly in the Civil War and the War With Spain, compiled 1861 - 1934."

National Archives retrieval courtesy of American Origins, LLC

Fee provided by J.M.

Photo editing and transcription by K Raymoure