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16th USCI, Company C

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Contents

Regiment Information

See the main page for the 16th Regiment United States Colored Infantry for more information about the regiment.

Company Information

Company C began recruiting enlisted men in December 1863. The first enlistees were mainly former enslaved people from the contraband camp next to Clarksville, Tennessee. Throughout the war, the ranks would continue to be filled by men from other parts of the country, especially Ohio. The men who enlisted in Tennessee typically signed a contract for three years, necessitating their service until the regiment mustered out in April 1866; by contrast, those who enlisted in Ohio usually did so for only one year, and many completed their service and left for home before the final mustering out.

A total of 4 officers and 135 enlisted men served in Company C between November 1863 and April 1866.

No officers, in any of the 16th's companies, died on active service.

Of the 135 enlisted men who served in Company C, 56 (41%) mustered out with the regiment on 30 April 1866, and 19 (14%) completed a shorter term of service.

A staggering 35 men, or 26% of the men who served in the company, died of disease during their service. An additional 5 men were transferred from the company to the Invalid Corps due to serious physical debility, and many or all of them may have died after the transfer. 3 men were discharged for disabilities that were too severe for them to serve even in the Invalid Corps.

12 men deserted from the company, representing about 9% of the total men who served.

Two men from Company C, Corporal Frank Dillard and Private Alvin Broaddus, were murdered by white citizens in Knoxville, Tennessee. Corporal Dillard was shot by three or four men in January 1866, and Private Broaddus was hanged by a lynch mob in February 1866.

For a full account of each enlisted man's fate, including those not mentioned above, see the "Discharge Reason" column in the tables below.

Company Officers

Company C was originally under the command of Captain Frank T. D. Ketcham, who was appointed to his role in November 1863. Ketcham, unfortunately, was an absolute disaster of a commander. His drunken antics--which included, among many other things, flirting with the wives of his Black enlisted men while telling people he was on a "special mission"--ultimately caught up with him, and he was arrested in mid-1864. He was dishonorably dismissed from the service on the following charges: “disobedience of orders, insubordination, appropriating the company fund for his own use and benefit, stealing a horse and equipments, and offering the latter for sale, lying, and drunkenness on duty.”

With Captain Ketcham both unwilling and unable to command, the de facto commander of Company C was a lieutenant, 1st Lieutenant John T. Scott. Despite serving in this role throughout the company's existence, Lieutenant Scott was never promoted to captain (with the corresponding large increase in pay, as well as authority). Instead, from April 1865 until the mustering out in April 1866, a different officer, Captain Bishop W. Perkins, was officially "assigned" as company commander. Captain Perkins, however, had been shifted around various adjutant roles for years, and his muster rolls show him on detached service at the Post Headquarters in Chattanooga for the year of his command. He was thus only commander on paper; Lieutenant Scott was still the highest ranking officer in the company.

To add to the strangeness, the company appears to have had only one officer other than Lieutenant Scott--2nd Lieutenant William Collins--and he was promoted and transferred to a different company in July of 1865. This means that for the last nine months of the company's existence--including the tragic months of January and February 1866--Lieutenant Scott was not only the company's highest-ranking officer, but its only officer.

The chaotic command climate at Company C could not have inspired confidence in the men, and this likely contributed to the disorder which culminated in the terrible murders of Corporal Dillard and Private Broaddus.

Company Commander

  • Captain Frank T.D. Ketcham: November 1863 - November 1864 (with absences)
    • On detached service May 1864 - June 1864
    • Under arrest in August 1864; dishonorably discharged in November 1864
  • 1st Lieutenant John T. Scott: June 1864 - April 1866 (acting/de facto)
  • Captain Bishop W. Perkins: April 1865 - April 1866 (absent)
    • On detached service all through "command"

Lieutenants

  • 1st Lieutenant John T. Scott: See Company Commander
  • 2nd Lieutenant William Collins: December 1863 - July 1865 (promoted and transferred to Company F)

Roster of Enlisted Men

Names in bold are connected to the Global Family Tree.

The Age column refers to the given age at time of enlistment.

"ETS" in the Discharge Reason column stands for "expiration of term of service." Some soldiers only enlisted for a one-year term and were therefore discharged before the unit mustered out.

A - D

Surname Given Names Rank Age Birthplace Enlistment Date Enlistment Place End of Service Discharge Reason
AllenThomasSergeant, Private20Tennessee, Montgomery County12/2/1863Tennessee, Clarksville6/3/1864Transferred to Invalid Corps
BaileyAlexanderPrivate24Kentucky, Logan County12/10/1863Tennessee, Clarksville4/30/1866Mustered out
BaileyAlfredPrivate, Sergeant18Kentucky12/10/1863Tennessee, Clarksville4/30/1866Mustered out
BaileyMarshallPrivate23Kentucky12/10/1863Tennessee, Clarksville6/12/1864Died of disease
BaileyNelsonPrivate18Kentucky12/10/1863Tennessee, Clarksville4/30/1866Mustered out
BanisterThomas W.Private24Ohio2/17/1865Ohio, Sandusky2/17/1865ETS
BanksJames C.Private21Ohio, Clearfield County2/25/1865Ohio, Dayton5/2/1865Died of disease
BarberJamesPrivate44Tennessee, Williamson County12/7/1863Tennessee, Clarksville12/25/1864Died of disease
BarkerAlbertPrivate21Tennessee, Montgomery County1/4/1864Tennessee, Clarksville6/3/1864Transferred to Invalid Corps
BarkerCalebPrivate18Tennessee12/7/1863Tennessee, Clarksville5/20/1865Died of disease
BarkerEllickPrivate20Virginia12/2/1863Tennessee, Clarksville4/30/1866Mustered out
BarkerJasperPrivate21Virginia12/7/1863Tennessee, Clarksville4/30/1866Mustered out
BarkerJerryPrivate21Tennessee12/7/1863Tennessee, Clarksville12/19/1864Died of disease
BarkerJohnPrivate22Virginia12/7/1863Tennessee, Clarksville6/3/1864Transferred to Invalid Corps
BarkerPeterPrivate18Virginia12/7/1863Tennessee, Clarksville4/30/1866Mustered out
BarkerRobertPrivate21Tennessee12/7/1863Tennessee, Clarksville4/30/1866Mustered out
BarkerSandyPrivate36Tennessee, Montgomery County1/19/1864Tennessee, Clarksville4/30/1866Mustered out
BolesRobertPrivate18Kentucky, Todd County12/3/1863Tennessee, Clarksville4/30/1866Mustered out
BookerMosesPrivate21Kentucky3/4/1865Ohio, Sandusky3/25/1865Died of disease
BowmanHenryCorporal23Tennessee, Rutherford County12/1/1863Tennessee, Clarksville1/20/1864Died of disease
BowmanIshamPrivate19Tennessee, Rutherford County12/1/1863Tennessee, Clarksville5/4/1864Died of disease
BrannanBeverlyPrivate19Alabama, Huntsville12/8/1863Tennessee, Clarksville1/14/1865Died of disease
BroddaAlvinPrivate19Tennessee, Montgomery County2/16/1864Tennessee, Clarksville2/13/1866Lynched by a mob
BrownAnslow D.1st Sergeant, Private19Texas12/3/1863Tennessee, Clarksville11/8/1864Deserted
BucknerEllickPrivate, 1st Sergeant43Kentucky, Christian County12/6/1863Tennessee, Clarksville4/30/1866Mustered out
BucknerHenryCorporal, Private25Kentucky, Hopkinsville12/6/1863Tennessee, Clarksville4/30/1866Mustered out
BucknerWilliamCorporal, Private18Kentucky, Hopkinsville12/6/1863Tennessee, Clarksville3/7/1866Died of disease
CampbellAlexanderPrivate21Kentucky, Christian County1/21/1864Tennessee, Clarksville3/12/1864Died of disease
CarrEgbertPrivate30Tennessee, Montgomery County12/11/1863Tennessee, Clarksville4/30/1866Mustered out
CarterWilliamMusician28Not stated2/4/1864Not stated4/30/1866Mustered out
ClarkRichardPrivate36Kentucky, Fayette County12/8/1863Tennessee, Clarksville4/30/1866Mustered out
ClarkWilliam H.Private19Kentucky, Todd County12/11/1863Tennessee, Clarksville7/18/1864Died of disease
CrowderLouisPrivate35Tennessee, Montgomery County2/16/1864Tennessee, Clarksville10/25/1865Dishonorably discharged and confined
CruggsHarryPrivate36Tennessee, Davidson County12/4/1863Tennessee, Clarksville9/29/1864Deserted
DadeJacksonCorporal, Private20Virginia12/7/1863Tennessee, Clarksville4/30/1866Mustered out
DavisJamesPrivate20Mississippi4/19/1864Ohio, Mount Vernon8/12/1865ETS
DillardFrankPrivate, Corporal22Kentucky, Christian County12/6/1863Tennessee, Clarksville1/25/1866Murdered by citizens
DinnardMichalPrivate21Tennessee, Williamson County12/7/1863Tennessee, Clarksville4/4/1864Deserted
DordenAndrewPrivate, Corporal25Tennessee, Robertson County2/22/1864Tennessee, Clarksville4/30/1866Mustered out
DraineSamuelPrivate25Tennessee, Robertson County12/7/1863Tennessee, Clarksville5/8/1864Died of disease

Notes:

E - K

Surname Given Names Rank Age Birthplace Enlistment Date Enlistment Place End of Service Discharge Reason
EasleyRoland T.Private20Missouri3/1/1865Ohio, Sandusky3/1/1866ETS
EllisHenryCorporal, Private19Kentucky, Anderson County12/8/1863Tennessee, Clarksville1/12/1865Deserted
EvelandAlbertPrivate20Kentucky, Springfield12/7/1864Tennessee, Clarksville9/5/1864Died of disease
FergusonJerryPrivate19Virginia12/7/1863Tennessee, Clarksville3/16/1864Died of disease
FergusonPeterPrivate, Corporal18Virginia12/7/1863Tennessee, Clarksville11/25/1865Died of disease
FieldsHenryPrivate25Tennessee, Montgomery County12/12/1863Tennessee, Clarksville12/15/1865Deserted
FinleyWilliamPrivate21Tennessee, Stewart County12/4/1863Tennessee, Clarksville2/8/1865Died of disease
FordAlbertPrivate35Kentucky, Christian County12/12/1863Tennessee, Clarksville12/15/1865Deserted
FordJosephPrivate35Virginia, Richmond1/19/1864Tennessee, Clarksville4/30/1866Mustered out
FosterPhillipSergeant36Kentucky, Lexington12/8/1863Tennessee, Clarksville4/22/1864Died of disease
FreemanDavid C.Private28Virginia2/15/1865Ohio, Marietta2/17/1866ETS
GarrettSamuelPrivate29Tennessee, Flat Lick11/23/1863Tennessee, Clarksville4/30/1866Mustered out
GarthDavidPrivate20South Carolina12/2/1863Tennessee, Clarksville4/30/1866Mustered out
GarthFredPrivate23South Carolina12/2/1863Tennessee, Clarksville2/24/1864Deserted
GoldAchillesPrivate, Corporal22Tennessee, Montgomery County2/16/1864Tennessee, Clarksville4/30/1866Mustered out
HarrisJohnPrivate26Virginia, Albemarle County3/7/1865Ohio, Dayton3/6/1866ETS
HartawayGeorgePrivate23Kentucky, Logan County7/1/1864Tennessee, Chattanooga7/3/1865Died of disease
HatcherFrankPrivate, Corporal18Kentucky12/10/1863Tennessee, Clarksville4/30/1866Mustered out
HatcherJohnPrivate, Corporal43North Carolina12/10/1863Tennessee, Clarksville4/30/1866Mustered out
HatcherMosesPrivate19Kentucky12/10/1863Tennessee, Clarksville8/27/1864Died of disease
HendersonHenryPrivate22Virginia2/6/1865Ohio, Cincinnati2/6/1866ETS
HendersonWilliamPrivate36Not stated2/4/1864Tennessee, Clarksville4/30/1866Mustered out
HickmanJohnPrivate19Virginia, Richmond12/8/1863Tennessee, Clarksville4/30/1866Mustered out
HilliardGeorgePrivate18Tennessee, Montgomery County2/16/1864Tennessee, Clarksville4/30/1866Mustered out
HowellJohn F.Private44Virginia, Halifax County2/13/1865Ohio, Marietta2/17/1866ETS
HughesJohnPrivate18Tennessee, Montgomery County2/22/1864Tennessee, Clarksville11/20/1865Escaped from military prison
IrvinWashingtonPrivate20Kentucky, Lexington2/22/1864Tennessee, Clarksville2/11/1865Died of disease
JohnsonJamesPrivate25Ohio, Harrison County2/16/1865Ohio, Marietta2/17/1866ETS
KinnardMichaelPrivate, Corporal21Not stated12/4/1863Tennessee, Clarksville4/4/1864Deserted
KnowlenAndrewPrivate, Sergeant20Tennessee, Montgomery County12/2/1863Tennessee, Clarksville4/30/1866Mustered out
KnowlenGustavusPrivate21Tennessee, Montgomery County12/2/1863Tennessee, Clarksville2/9/1865Died of disease

Notes:

L - P

Surname Given Names Rank Age Birthplace Enlistment Date Enlistment Place End of Service Discharge Reason
LacyRichardPrivate19Tennessee, Montgomery County12/7/1863Tennessee, Clarksville3/28/1864Died of disease
LallyMosesPrivate22Kentucky, Lexington9/12/1864Ohio, Columbus9/12/1865ETS
LawsJamesPrivate18Ohio, Pickaway County9/6/1864Ohio, Columbus9/5/1865ETS
LevelAlexanderCorporal, Private18Kentucky, Todd County12/2/1863Tennessee, Clarksville1/4/1864Died of disease
LevelSinclairPrivate27Kentucky, Scott County12/2/1863Tennessee, Clarksville4/30/1866Mustered out
LewisJohnPrivate22Pennsylvania9/13/1864Ohio, YoungstownUncertainConfined in military prison
MaberyIshamPrivate32Tennessee, Montgomery County2/16/1864Tennessee, Clarksville7/13/1865Discharged for disability
MabreyJohnPrivate37Tennessee, Montgomery County2/16/1864Tennessee, Clarksville4/30/1866Mustered out
MarablePhilipPrivate30Tennessee, Yellow Creek12/2/1863Tennessee, Clarksville4/30/1866Mustered out
MarshallCharlesPrivate22Georgia9/12/1864Ohio, Cincinnati9/11/1865ETS
MartinWesleySergeant33Tennessee, Montgomery County12/5/1863Tennessee, Clarksville4/30/1866Mustered out
McClellanJohnMusician21Tennessee, Jackson County12/4/1863Tennessee, Clarksville4/30/1866Mustered out
McNealBurlPrivate18Kentucky, Todd County2/16/1863Tennessee, Clarksville4/30/1866Mustered out
MillsMiltonPrivate22Kentucky, Todd County1/19/1864Tennessee, Clarksville6/3/1864Transferred to Invalid Corps
MinorRichardPrivate30Kentucky12/7/1863Tennessee, Clarksville4/13/1866Died of disease
MoodyFerdinandPrivate21Ohio2/16/1865Ohio, Sandusky2/17/1865ETS
MoodyFrankPrivate18Kentucky12/10/1863Tennessee, Clarksville2/24/1864Died of disease
MosesJamesPrivate40Kentucky, Bourbon County12/2/1863Tennessee, Clarksville4/30/1866Mustered out
MucksAndrewPrivate23Kentucky2/17/1865Ohio, Sandusky7/21/1865Died of disease
ParrishMosesPrivate38Virginia12/10/1864Tennessee, Clarksville4/30/1866Mustered out
PeacherDanielPrivate21Not stated2/4/1864Tennessee, Clarksville4/30/1866Mustered out
PhelpsThomasSergeant, Private20Kentucky, Christian County12/6/1863Tennessee, Clarksville4/30/1866Mustered out
PollardHartwellPrivate20Tennessee, Montgomery County12/8/1863Tennessee, Clarksville5/7/1864Died of disease
PowersCalvinPrivate23West Virginia, Kanawha County2/8/1865Ohio, Middleport2/17/1866ETS
PriceFrankPrivate, Corporal18Kentucky, Hopkinsville12/6/1863Tennessee, Clarksville4/30/1866Mustered out

Notes:

Q - Z

Surname Given Names Rank Age Birthplace Enlistment Date Enlistment Place End of Service Discharge Reason
RitterGeorgePrivate19Tennessee12/8/1863Tennessee, Clarksville4/30/1866Mustered out
RitterHarveyPrivate, Corporal20Kentucky12/8/1863Tennessee, Clarksville4/25/1864Died of disease
RitterJohnPrivate24Kentucky12/8/1863Tennessee, Clarksville3/15/1866Died of disease
RitterLewisPrivate20Kentucky12/8/1863Tennessee, Clarksville4/30/1866Mustered out
RitterRichardPrivate, Sergeant29Kentucky, Russellville12/8/1863Tennessee, Clarksville4/30/1866Mustered out
RoseJamesPrivate18Tennessee, Robertson County7/1/1864Tennessee, Chattanooga4/30/1866Mustered out
ScottAnthonyPrivate24Kentucky2/17/1865Ohio, Sandusky2/17/1866ETS
ScrogginsUriahPrivate18Kentucky, Bourbon County12/2/1863Tennessee, Clarksville4/30/1866Mustered out
SeabreyDudleyPrivate28Kentucky, Lincoln County3/9/1864Tennessee, Clarksville4/30/1866Mustered out
SergeantReubenPrivate18Virginia12/8/1863Tennessee, Clarksville4/30/1866Mustered out
SheltonSamuelPrivate43Alabama8/5/1864Ohio, Cleveland4/30/1866Mustered out
SmithDavidPrivate18Tennessee12/10/1864Tennessee, Clarksville4/30/1866Mustered out
SmithRichardPrivate18Tennessee, Montgomery County2/16/1864Tennessee, Clarksville4/30/1866Mustered out
SmithWilliamPrivate26Tennessee, Montgomery County2/16/1864Tennessee, Clarksville5/10/1864Deserted from hospital
StewartWilliam E.Private35Virginia2/17/1865Ohio, Sandusky6/22/1865Discharged for disability
StiggerJamesPrivate33North Carolina, Beaufort12/2/1863Tennessee, Clarksville4/30/1866Mustered out
TheatesMonroePrivate18Kentucky, Todd County12/8/1863Tennessee, Clarksville4/30/1866Mustered out
ThomasEdmondPrivate21Tennessee, Montgomery County2/16/1864Tennessee, Clarksville3/14/1864Died of disease
ThompsonJamesPrivate, Corporal21Tennessee, Shelbyville12/4/1863Tennessee, Clarksville4/30/1866Mustered out
ThorntonEdmondPrivate32Virginia, Spotsylvania County2/16/1864Tennessee, Clarksville4/30/1866Mustered out
TuckPrestonPrivate18Kentucky, Todd County2/16/1864Tennessee, Clarksville2/24/1864Deserted
TuckUriahPrivate44Virginia2/14/1865Ohio, Marietta2/16/1866ETS
TuppenceEliPrivate23Tennessee2/17/1865Ohio, Sandusky2/16/1866ETS
TuppenceHarryPrivate25Tennessee2/17/1865Ohio, Sandusky2/17/1866ETS
WareHarryPrivate18Kentucky, Christian County2/16/1864Tennessee, Clarksville4/30/1866Mustered out
WarfieldJohn W.Corporal, Private26Tennessee, Montgomery County12/2/1863Tennessee, Clarksville4/30/1866Mustered out
WatkinsJosephPrivate21Virginia, Hanover County2/16/1864Tennessee, Clarksville2/28/1864Deserted
WestWilliamPrivate19Tennessee, Montgomery County12/7/1863Tennessee, Clarksville1/7/1864Deserted
WilsonAbramPrivate23Virginia, Carroll County12/6/1863Tennessee, Clarksville4/30/1866Mustered out
WilsonBelkerPrivate30Kentucky12/7/1863Tennessee, Clarksville4/26/1866Discharged from hospital
WilsonDouglasPrivate27Virginia, Charlotte County12/6/1863Tennessee, Clarksville6/19/1864Died of disease
WilsonIsaacPrivate18Virginia12/6/1863Tennessee, Clarksville3/27/1864Died of disease
WilsonJacksonPrivate21Virginia12/9/1863Tennessee, Clarksville4/30/1866Mustered out
WilsonWilliamPrivate26Kentucky, Maysville9/19/1864Ohio, Cincinnati9/18/1865ETS
WisdomAlexanderPrivate18Tennessee, Clarksville12/11/1863Tennessee, Clarksville4/2/1864Died of disease
WorksThomasPrivate35Virginia2/16/1864Tennessee, Clarksville4/20/1864Died of disease
WormleyGreenPrivate27West Virginia, Hardy County9/7/1864Ohio, Columbus9/7/1865ETS
WryGeorgePrivate34Tennessee, Montgomery County12/2/1863Tennessee, Clarksville4/30/1866Mustered out
YoungBerryPrivate21North Carolina12/7/1863Tennessee, Clarksville6/3/1864Transferred to Invalid Corps

Notes:





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