Alfred Green (abt. 1838 - 1921)

Born about May 1838 in Pennsylvania, United States

Died 16 Dec 1921 at about age 83 in Allegheny Township, Blair, Pennsylvania, United States

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Biography

Alfred Green is a part of US Black heritage.

Private Alfred Green served in the United States Civil War.
Enlisted: Mar 11, 1863
Mustered out: Aug 20, 1865
Side: USA
Regiment(s): 54th Regiment, Massachusetts Infantry (Colored)

Alfred Green was born in 1838^[1] in Pennsylvania. He served with the famous 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry during the American Civil War, and survived nearly two years as a Prisoner of War before the Confederates were finally willing to exchange Black Union soldiers.

Occupations

• 1920: Retired
• 1910: Odd jobs
• 1900: Mason tender
• 1863: Farmer

Residences

• 1910-1920: 406 Garber Street, Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania with his wife

Military Service

During the Civil War, he served as a Private in Company B of the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, the first regiment in the United States made up entirely of enlisted men of color. He was 26 years old, married and working as a farmer when he enlisted on 11 March 1863 in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania. He was captured on 18 July 1863 at the Second Battle of Fort Wagner and imprisoned. Miraculously, he survived the prisoner of war camps and was finally exchanged on 4 March 1865 at Goldsboro, North Carolina. He returned to the regiment on 9 July 1865 and soldiered through to muster out with his regiment on 20 August 1865.^[2]

POW, Charleston Jail 1863-1864

Of Charleston Jail, Captain Samuel C. Timson of the 95th NY had this to say:

There were twenty-one negro soldiers, most of them belonging to Colonel Shaw's Fifty-fourth Mass. regiment of immortal memory, among the number. They were never to be exchanged, but were to be reduced to slavery. They were all that were left of the colored troops captured at Wagner. The rest were bayoneted and shot after they surrendered. Their rations were bread and water; still they would sing Union songs, pouring their melody through their prison bars for the entertainment of the Union officers in the prison and below.^[3]

POW, Florence Stockade 1864-1865

Around December 1864, the 54th POWs were transferred to the Florence Stockade in Florence, South Carolina.^[4]

After his release, Private Green reported:

We were taken to Florence Stockade and remained over winter, and from there we were brought to Raleigh, N.C., and were then taken to Wilmington, N.C., and from there to Goldsboro, N.C. We were then brought back to Wilmington, and remained until the night before it was taken. We were then removed to a wood the other side of the railroad bridge between Wilmington and Goldsboro. We were there when our army came up. We heard our guns. We were then taken back to Goldsboro, and there remained until we were paroled. The paroling grounds were between Wilmington and Goldsboro.^[5]

Alfred passed away in Blair County Hospital, Allegheny Township, Blair, Pennsylvania, on 16 Dec 1921 and is buried at the Union African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Cemetery in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania.^[6]

Projects

• 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry

Sources

1. ↑ death certificate
2. ↑ Emilio, McKay Roster
3. ↑ Emilio, p. 415
4. ↑ Emilio, pp. 422-423
5. ↑ Emilio, p. 423
6. ↑ "Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1966," database with images, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/ai/collections/PA/StateArchives : accessed 02 May 2019), death certificate image, Alfred Green, 16 December 1921, no. 115483.

• 1900 United States Federal Census Year: 1900; Census Place: Hollidaysburg, Blair, Pennsylvania; Page: 15; Enumeration District: 0078
• 1910 United States Federal Census Year: 1910; Census Place: Hollidaysburg Ward 2, Blair, Pennsylvania; Roll: T624_1317; Page: 15B; Enumeration District: 0071; FHL microfilm: 1375330
• 1920 United States Federal Census Year: 1920; Census Place: Hollidaysburg, Blair, Pennsylvania; Roll: T625_1540; Page: 8B; Enumeration District: 93
• Emilio, Luis Fenollosa. History of the Fifty-Fourth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, 1863-1865. Boston, MA, 1894.
• Find a Grave: Alfred Green