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“…With the Greatest Determination…”
February is Black History Month! In observance, the Archives of Michigan presents this photo of Samuel Lett. Lett served in the 102nd United States Colored Troops (102nd U.S.C.T.) during the Civil War. This regiment officially mustered into federal service in Michigan on February 17, 1864 -143 years ago this month!
The 102nd United States Colored Troops
It began as the 1st Michigan Colored Infantry. On March 28, 1864, this regiment boarded a train for Annapolis, Maryland. From there, the men were sent to Hilton Head, South Carolina, arriving on April 19th. On May 23, 1864, the 1st Michigan Colored Infantry officially changed its designation to 102nd U.S.C.T. It was no longer under control of the State of Michigan but instead administered by U.S. Army’s Bureau for Colored Troops.
After arriving in Hilton Head, the 102nd was divided, with troops assigned to picket duty (or “guard duty”) on St. Helena, Jenkins and Hilton Head Islands. A few weeks later, the regiment was assigned to occupy Port Royal and construct fortifications there. On August 1, 1864, it was sent to Jacksonville, Florida. From there, the men marched twenty-one miles to Baldwin, Florida. There, a Confederate cavalry force attacked them. The 102nd U.S.C.T. fought bravely and drove the invaders from the field. The men continued marching through Florida. At Magnolia, they built more fortifications. Finally, the regiment was transferred to Beaufort, South Carolina, arriving on August 31, 1864.
Samuel Lett
At this point, Samuel Lett enters the story. He enlisted in Grand Rapids on August 31, 1864. Muster rolls note that he was twenty years old, although no birth date is cited.
Lett was mustered into the 102nd U.S.C.T.’s Company G. He arrived in Beaufort on October 4, 1864. He remained with the 102nd U.S.C.T. until it was mustered out of service at Charleston, South Carolina on September 30, 1865. The descriptive rolls provide no further details on his service, and no other biographical information is available.
“Covered Itself With Glory”
We do know that Lett’s regiment saw a great deal of action during his tour of duty. In November, 1864, a detachment of 300 joined a Union action to destroy the Charleston and Savannah Railroad around Pocataligo, South Carolina. One of the 102nd men declared that his regiment “covered itself with glory.” He asserted that the 102nd “maintained the steadiest line of battle and fought with the greatest determination of any troops.” The Confederates possessed greater firepower, however, and Union troops were forced to retreat. Men of the 102nd U.S.C.T. then participated in a successful counterattack to retrieve three hastily-abandoned Union cannons. Fighting continued in December, with the 102nd U.S.C.T. encountering combat at the Tillifinny River.
The year 1865 brought more hardship for the 102nd U.S.C.T. In late January, the entire regiment moved to Pocataligo. The Record of Service of Michigan Volunteers in the Civil War states that the 102nd U.S.C.T. then “made several expeditions in the enemy’s country, driving off his cavalry and destroying railroads and building breastworks.” The regiment separated into detachments at times, but then reunited in Savannah Georgia in March, 1865. The whole regiment then moved to Charleston, South Carolina.
In April, it again split into two detachments. One was commanded by Colonel Henry L. Chipman; the other by Major Newcom Clark. Chipman’s detachment was assigned to march from Charleston to the Santee River at Nelson’s Ferry (a total distance of seventy miles). These soldiers encountered – and drove off – Confederate cavalry along the way. Clark’s detachment joined with the 54th Massachusetts (another famed African American regiment). This group fought in several skirmishes and encountering a large Confederate force at Boykin’s, South Carolina. The Confederates were driven away and the two detachments of the 102nd U.S.C.T. were then reunited. Finally, on the morning of April 21, Companies A, B and C of the 102nd U.S.C.T. faced an attack by two hundred Confederates. The 102nd inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy and drove them back.
This would prove to be the 102nd U.S.C.T.’s last battle. The regiment spent the next five months on occupation duty and was then officially mustered out of service on September 30, 1865.
Sources
The Samuel Lett photo above was donated to the Archives of Michigan by Civil War researcher Hondon Hargrove. Mr. Hargrove’s short history of the 102nd U.S.C.T. proved essential in composing this essay. This history, entitled “Their Greatest Battle Was Getting Into the Fight,” can be found in Michigan History Magazine, vol. 75 (January/February 1991), pp. 24-30.
Photos of Samuel Lett and other Michigan Civil War soldiers can be viewed at Seeking Michigan’s “Discover” section (seekingmichigan.org/discover ). Click Samuel Lett to view the descriptive entry on Lett.
If anyone is interested in researching the US Colored Troops with manuscripts, We have the Robert Hunt papers. He was a Civil War US Paymaster. His papers include: account books; business and work-related correspondence; vouchers; disbursement accounts; and returns. Also, various pay records of US Colored Infantry regiments 14th, 16th, 18th, 42nd, 44th; US. Infantry Regiment, 1st; US Artillery Regiment, 5th; and regiments from Ill., Ind., Iowa, Kan., Ky., Mich., Mo., N.Y., Ohio, and Wis. Lastly, there are many oversized muster rolls, muster-out rolls and pay rolls for US Colored Infantry regiments 14th, 18th, 44th; various units from Conn., Ill., Ind., Kan., Ky., Mich., Mo., N.J., Ohio, Tenn., Wis., and miscellaneous detachments.
I’m seeking information about Frank Robertson, the 10-year-old regimental drummer boy who served with the 102nd USCT. Do you know who his parents were and under what circumstances he enlisted? I understand Robertson lost his life in the war. Where did he die? Thanks for any assistance. Betty DeRamus
To request a search of military records at the Archives of Michigan, click this link: http://seekingmichigan.myshopify.com/collections/records-request
More information re Samuel Lett:
Samuel Lett [@1838-1903]
Samuel Lett enlisted as Private in Company G of the 102nd U.S. Colored Infantry in Grand Rapids on August 31, 1864. He was mustered out on September 30, 1865 in Charleston, South Carolina.. Samuel, an African American, was born in Morgan County, Ohio about 1838 or 1839. He moved with his parents and siblings to Berrien County, where he was living in 1860. On April 2, 1863 in Kalamazoo, Samuel married Henrietta Taylor, who was born in Ohio about 1846 and died in 1932. At the time of his enlistment, he was living in Tallmadge Township in Ottawa County, but by 1880 he had moved his wife and children to Bloomer in Montcalm County, where he was a farmer. The Letts’ children, all born in Michigan, were Rosanna, born about 1864; Bertrum, born about 1867; Fred, born about 1870; Alice, born about 1874; Lurinda, born about 1876; and Ira, born about 1882. Samuel died and was buried in Bloomer in 1903. He had a brother, Joseph, who enlisted in Kalamazoo in Company H of the 102nd on January 14, 1864 and, like his brother, mustered out in Charleston, South Carolina on September 30, 1865. Joseph, who was born about 1847, also settled in Bloomer. [Another Samuel Lett enlisted in Company I of the 102nd Regiment in Berlin [Marne], Ottawa County on October 5, 1864. However, no additional information was uncovered about a second Samuel Lett old enough to serve during the Civil War. The two entries may pertain to the same person, despite the discrepancy in their ages and dates of enlistment. In all, ten men with the last name Lett and two with the name Letts served in the 102nd.]
In reference to the request by Betty DeRamus for information about Frank Robertson–I am currently in the midst of a massive project researching the 102nd and the closest I have seen in the official records is a Frank Robinson who enlisted in Company E, Nov. 4, 1863 as a Musician. His age is listed as 24 at the time of enlistment. This Frank Robinson survived the war and received a pension beginnin in 1889 (his widow later received a pension as well)
I am seeking any information on Washington Giboney, who was my great-grandfather. The rolls show he was also in Company G, which I see is Mr. Lett’s company. ANY information would be excitedly welcomed!
I am working on an event entitled “Sons and Daughters Of Africa in the Civil War.” The event will be held at the Airport Hilton Hotel in Grand Rapids, MI on May 4,2012. Individuals whose ancestors fought or served in any capacity in the Civil War are invited to attend and/or submit an application to honor your ancestor. The evening will include a dinner of fine African cuisine, recognition of Civil War Vets/Others, Certificates of Appreciation to families, a “Forgive Ceremony” of African involvement in the institution of slave trade, and much,much more.
Please contact Mary Edmond at this email for more information and/or to submit your ancestor for recognition. Deadline for RSVP and Application of Recognition is April 25, 2012.