*******USCT Virtual Cemetery*******
There are two (2) military gravestones for Joseph A. Palmer:
1. Here: FAG# 49346397 [1].
and
2. FAG# 55341584 (Iowa) [2]
BOTH stones declare service in the "54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment (Colored)." Joseph and his older brother,
Ishmael (FAG# 29168374),
African Americans, both served in the 54th. The existence of the two gravestones cannot be explained with certainty. [3] However, the following is known:
Civil War military units were segregated. There was ONLY ONE "54th Colored" regiment. Records for the 54th at the NATIONAL PARK SERVICE CIVIL WAR SOLDIERS AND SAILORS SYSTEM identify ONLY ONE "Joseph A. Palmer" of the 1,673 men who were members. Of the "colored" regiments, there was ONLY ONE "54th." And, there was ONLY ONE "54th" Regiment identified with the state of Massachusetts.
The 54th Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, was among the first military units composed of free men [4] of African descent to form following the issuance of the President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation. It would become celebrated in the 1989 Academy Award winning film, GLORY , starring Matthew Broderick, Denzel Washington and Morgan Freeman.
The muster call for the 54th was overwhelmed by enthusiastic, patriotic African American men. In order to necessarily screen down for the appropriate enlistment number, candidates were assessed for an extraordinary level of physical fitness. Joseph and brother Ishmael passed.
Following the war, Joseph can be traced in 1870 as a "mulatto Barber" in Massachusetts, married to Kate of N.H. In 1880, he is a "white Barber," living in OH, married to Virginia of VA.
By June, 1890, he is established as a barber with his own shop in Cheyenne, WY. The newspaper announces his marriage to Sallie J. Tyler of TN. From this marriage,
son George is born.
The Cheyenne barbershop, located on 17th and Eddy Streets (present day Warren Ave.), would be a successful fixture for at least the next 10 years with Joseph as proprietor. Brother Ishmael arrived in Cheyenne in 1899 to join in the operation of the shop. Joseph advertised his shop in the newspaper.
By 1910, Joseph, who would have been 70 years old, has left Cheyenne. His whereabouts at this entry cannot be further identified. It can be presumed he re-established in Fort Dodge, IA, the location of this gravestone.
[1] This stone identifies Company "A." Military records only identify Company "K." Correctly, the stone declares Joseph as having been 1st Sergeant in rank.
[2] This stone identifies Joseph's assignment with Company "F." Again, military records only document Company "K."
[3] Joseph's son, George, was a U.S. Navy veteran whose service included an active duty assignment in Virginia. It may be that George applied for a cenotaph at Arlington to further commemorate his father.
[4] Joseph and Ishmael declared Stark County, Ohio as their place of birth. At this entry, I am unable to substantiate with another public record. There are Ohio census records for one "Israel" Palmer with Joseph as a child in the HH, but these records are speculative for race. Both Joseph and brother Ishmael were "light-complexioned."
[*] Joseph's date of birth is established by military record and the Fort Dodge cemetery record itself.
~~
Military Service: Joseph A. Palmer
5 May 1863 -- Enlisted in Dayton, OH with the 54th Massechusetts Infantry Regiment (Colored). Born in Stark County, OH, Joseph was 23 years old and a barber by profession. He was described as 5' 11" tall with a light complexion.
13 May 1863 -- Near Boston, MA, commissioned 1st Sergeant by Colonel Robert Gould Shaw.
16 Jul 1863 -- "J" Palmer wounded at James Island (the 54th's first skirmish -- 42 soldiers killed.)
18 Jul 1863 -- Wounded at Fort Wagner and hospitalized at Beaufort, S. C. -- "Descriptive List sent" (The 54th suffered 272 casualties. Colonel Shaw was killed.)
7 Aug 1863 -- Discharged from hospital, returned to unit, then given furlough during September and October. (The record seems to suggest he went back to Dayton, OH. Upon his return to duty, he claimed c. $35.00 for travel expenses)
20 Feb 1864 -- Battle of Olustee in Florida. (The record states in January and February that Joseph was sick and in the hospital in Jacksonville, FL. In another record, it says he had been hospitalized since February 8th. This suggests Joseph may not have participated in the Battle of Olustee. The Union army sustained over 1,800 casualties.)
14 May 1864 -- Reduced in rank, at Joseph's own request, to 3rd Sergeant by order of Col. Hallowell. There is no explanation.
16 Mar 1865 – 30 Jun —Sick and in hospital at Savannah, GA. The 54th had been at Savannah, March 13-27; then returned to South Carolina for the rest of the war.
May 1865 -- In the hospital again in Beaufort, S. C.
20 Aug 1865 Mustered out at Mount Pleasant, S. C.
1 Sep 1865 -- 54th Regiment discharged at Boston, MA
--Prepared and submitted by Clint Black, May 2012
There are two (2) military gravestones for Joseph A. Palmer:
1. Here: FAG# 49346397 [1].
and
2. FAG# 55341584 (Iowa) [2]
BOTH stones declare service in the "54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment (Colored)." Joseph and his older brother,
Ishmael (FAG# 29168374),
African Americans, both served in the 54th. The existence of the two gravestones cannot be explained with certainty. [3] However, the following is known:
Civil War military units were segregated. There was ONLY ONE "54th Colored" regiment. Records for the 54th at the NATIONAL PARK SERVICE CIVIL WAR SOLDIERS AND SAILORS SYSTEM identify ONLY ONE "Joseph A. Palmer" of the 1,673 men who were members. Of the "colored" regiments, there was ONLY ONE "54th." And, there was ONLY ONE "54th" Regiment identified with the state of Massachusetts.
The 54th Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, was among the first military units composed of free men [4] of African descent to form following the issuance of the President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation. It would become celebrated in the 1989 Academy Award winning film, GLORY , starring Matthew Broderick, Denzel Washington and Morgan Freeman.
The muster call for the 54th was overwhelmed by enthusiastic, patriotic African American men. In order to necessarily screen down for the appropriate enlistment number, candidates were assessed for an extraordinary level of physical fitness. Joseph and brother Ishmael passed.
Following the war, Joseph can be traced in 1870 as a "mulatto Barber" in Massachusetts, married to Kate of N.H. In 1880, he is a "white Barber," living in OH, married to Virginia of VA.
By June, 1890, he is established as a barber with his own shop in Cheyenne, WY. The newspaper announces his marriage to Sallie J. Tyler of TN. From this marriage,
son George is born.
The Cheyenne barbershop, located on 17th and Eddy Streets (present day Warren Ave.), would be a successful fixture for at least the next 10 years with Joseph as proprietor. Brother Ishmael arrived in Cheyenne in 1899 to join in the operation of the shop. Joseph advertised his shop in the newspaper.
By 1910, Joseph, who would have been 70 years old, has left Cheyenne. His whereabouts at this entry cannot be further identified. It can be presumed he re-established in Fort Dodge, IA, the location of this gravestone.
[1] This stone identifies Company "A." Military records only identify Company "K." Correctly, the stone declares Joseph as having been 1st Sergeant in rank.
[2] This stone identifies Joseph's assignment with Company "F." Again, military records only document Company "K."
[3] Joseph's son, George, was a U.S. Navy veteran whose service included an active duty assignment in Virginia. It may be that George applied for a cenotaph at Arlington to further commemorate his father.
[4] Joseph and Ishmael declared Stark County, Ohio as their place of birth. At this entry, I am unable to substantiate with another public record. There are Ohio census records for one "Israel" Palmer with Joseph as a child in the HH, but these records are speculative for race. Both Joseph and brother Ishmael were "light-complexioned."
[*] Joseph's date of birth is established by military record and the Fort Dodge cemetery record itself.
~~
Military Service: Joseph A. Palmer
5 May 1863 -- Enlisted in Dayton, OH with the 54th Massechusetts Infantry Regiment (Colored). Born in Stark County, OH, Joseph was 23 years old and a barber by profession. He was described as 5' 11" tall with a light complexion.
13 May 1863 -- Near Boston, MA, commissioned 1st Sergeant by Colonel Robert Gould Shaw.
16 Jul 1863 -- "J" Palmer wounded at James Island (the 54th's first skirmish -- 42 soldiers killed.)
18 Jul 1863 -- Wounded at Fort Wagner and hospitalized at Beaufort, S. C. -- "Descriptive List sent" (The 54th suffered 272 casualties. Colonel Shaw was killed.)
7 Aug 1863 -- Discharged from hospital, returned to unit, then given furlough during September and October. (The record seems to suggest he went back to Dayton, OH. Upon his return to duty, he claimed c. $35.00 for travel expenses)
20 Feb 1864 -- Battle of Olustee in Florida. (The record states in January and February that Joseph was sick and in the hospital in Jacksonville, FL. In another record, it says he had been hospitalized since February 8th. This suggests Joseph may not have participated in the Battle of Olustee. The Union army sustained over 1,800 casualties.)
14 May 1864 -- Reduced in rank, at Joseph's own request, to 3rd Sergeant by order of Col. Hallowell. There is no explanation.
16 Mar 1865 – 30 Jun —Sick and in hospital at Savannah, GA. The 54th had been at Savannah, March 13-27; then returned to South Carolina for the rest of the war.
May 1865 -- In the hospital again in Beaufort, S. C.
20 Aug 1865 Mustered out at Mount Pleasant, S. C.
1 Sep 1865 -- 54th Regiment discharged at Boston, MA
--Prepared and submitted by Clint Black, May 2012
*******USCT Virtual Cemetery*******
There are two (2) military gravestones for Joseph A. Palmer:
1. Here: FAG# 49346397 [1].
and
2. FAG# 55341584 (Iowa) [2]
BOTH stones declare service in the "54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment (Colored)." Joseph and his older brother,
Ishmael (FAG# 29168374),
African Americans, both served in the 54th. The existence of the two gravestones cannot be explained with certainty. [3] However, the following is known:
Civil War military units were segregated. There was ONLY ONE "54th Colored" regiment. Records for the 54th at the NATIONAL PARK SERVICE CIVIL WAR SOLDIERS AND SAILORS SYSTEM identify ONLY ONE "Joseph A. Palmer" of the 1,673 men who were members. Of the "colored" regiments, there was ONLY ONE "54th." And, there was ONLY ONE "54th" Regiment identified with the state of Massachusetts.
The 54th Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, was among the first military units composed of free men [4] of African descent to form following the issuance of the President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation. It would become celebrated in the 1989 Academy Award winning film, GLORY , starring Matthew Broderick, Denzel Washington and Morgan Freeman.
The muster call for the 54th was overwhelmed by enthusiastic, patriotic African American men. In order to necessarily screen down for the appropriate enlistment number, candidates were assessed for an extraordinary level of physical fitness. Joseph and brother Ishmael passed.
Following the war, Joseph can be traced in 1870 as a "mulatto Barber" in Massachusetts, married to Kate of N.H. In 1880, he is a "white Barber," living in OH, married to Virginia of VA.
By June, 1890, he is established as a barber with his own shop in Cheyenne, WY. The newspaper announces his marriage to Sallie J. Tyler of TN. From this marriage,
son George is born.
The Cheyenne barbershop, located on 17th and Eddy Streets (present day Warren Ave.), would be a successful fixture for at least the next 10 years with Joseph as proprietor. Brother Ishmael arrived in Cheyenne in 1899 to join in the operation of the shop. Joseph advertised his shop in the newspaper.
By 1910, Joseph, who would have been 70 years old, has left Cheyenne. His whereabouts at this entry cannot be further identified. It can be presumed he re-established in Fort Dodge, IA, the location of this gravestone.
[1] This stone identifies Company "A." Military records only identify Company "K." Correctly, the stone declares Joseph as having been 1st Sergeant in rank.
[2] This stone identifies Joseph's assignment with Company "F." Again, military records only document Company "K."
[3] Joseph's son, George, was a U.S. Navy veteran whose service included an active duty assignment in Virginia. It may be that George applied for a cenotaph at Arlington to further commemorate his father.
[4] Joseph and Ishmael declared Stark County, Ohio as their place of birth. At this entry, I am unable to substantiate with another public record. There are Ohio census records for one "Israel" Palmer with Joseph as a child in the HH, but these records are speculative for race. Both Joseph and brother Ishmael were "light-complexioned."
[*] Joseph's date of birth is established by military record and the Fort Dodge cemetery record itself.
~~
Military Service: Joseph A. Palmer
5 May 1863 -- Enlisted in Dayton, OH with the 54th Massechusetts Infantry Regiment (Colored). Born in Stark County, OH, Joseph was 23 years old and a barber by profession. He was described as 5' 11" tall with a light complexion.
13 May 1863 -- Near Boston, MA, commissioned 1st Sergeant by Colonel Robert Gould Shaw.
16 Jul 1863 -- "J" Palmer wounded at James Island (the 54th's first skirmish -- 42 soldiers killed.)
18 Jul 1863 -- Wounded at Fort Wagner and hospitalized at Beaufort, S. C. -- "Descriptive List sent" (The 54th suffered 272 casualties. Colonel Shaw was killed.)
7 Aug 1863 -- Discharged from hospital, returned to unit, then given furlough during September and October. (The record seems to suggest he went back to Dayton, OH. Upon his return to duty, he claimed c. $35.00 for travel expenses)
20 Feb 1864 -- Battle of Olustee in Florida. (The record states in January and February that Joseph was sick and in the hospital in Jacksonville, FL. In another record, it says he had been hospitalized since February 8th. This suggests Joseph may not have participated in the Battle of Olustee. The Union army sustained over 1,800 casualties.)
14 May 1864 -- Reduced in rank, at Joseph's own request, to 3rd Sergeant by order of Col. Hallowell. There is no explanation.
16 Mar 1865 – 30 Jun —Sick and in hospital at Savannah, GA. The 54th had been at Savannah, March 13-27; then returned to South Carolina for the rest of the war.
May 1865 -- In the hospital again in Beaufort, S. C.
20 Aug 1865 Mustered out at Mount Pleasant, S. C.
1 Sep 1865 -- 54th Regiment discharged at Boston, MA
--Prepared and submitted by Clint Black, May 2012
There are two (2) military gravestones for Joseph A. Palmer:
1. Here: FAG# 49346397 [1].
and
2. FAG# 55341584 (Iowa) [2]
BOTH stones declare service in the "54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment (Colored)." Joseph and his older brother,
Ishmael (FAG# 29168374),
African Americans, both served in the 54th. The existence of the two gravestones cannot be explained with certainty. [3] However, the following is known:
Civil War military units were segregated. There was ONLY ONE "54th Colored" regiment. Records for the 54th at the NATIONAL PARK SERVICE CIVIL WAR SOLDIERS AND SAILORS SYSTEM identify ONLY ONE "Joseph A. Palmer" of the 1,673 men who were members. Of the "colored" regiments, there was ONLY ONE "54th." And, there was ONLY ONE "54th" Regiment identified with the state of Massachusetts.
The 54th Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, was among the first military units composed of free men [4] of African descent to form following the issuance of the President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation. It would become celebrated in the 1989 Academy Award winning film, GLORY , starring Matthew Broderick, Denzel Washington and Morgan Freeman.
The muster call for the 54th was overwhelmed by enthusiastic, patriotic African American men. In order to necessarily screen down for the appropriate enlistment number, candidates were assessed for an extraordinary level of physical fitness. Joseph and brother Ishmael passed.
Following the war, Joseph can be traced in 1870 as a "mulatto Barber" in Massachusetts, married to Kate of N.H. In 1880, he is a "white Barber," living in OH, married to Virginia of VA.
By June, 1890, he is established as a barber with his own shop in Cheyenne, WY. The newspaper announces his marriage to Sallie J. Tyler of TN. From this marriage,
son George is born.
The Cheyenne barbershop, located on 17th and Eddy Streets (present day Warren Ave.), would be a successful fixture for at least the next 10 years with Joseph as proprietor. Brother Ishmael arrived in Cheyenne in 1899 to join in the operation of the shop. Joseph advertised his shop in the newspaper.
By 1910, Joseph, who would have been 70 years old, has left Cheyenne. His whereabouts at this entry cannot be further identified. It can be presumed he re-established in Fort Dodge, IA, the location of this gravestone.
[1] This stone identifies Company "A." Military records only identify Company "K." Correctly, the stone declares Joseph as having been 1st Sergeant in rank.
[2] This stone identifies Joseph's assignment with Company "F." Again, military records only document Company "K."
[3] Joseph's son, George, was a U.S. Navy veteran whose service included an active duty assignment in Virginia. It may be that George applied for a cenotaph at Arlington to further commemorate his father.
[4] Joseph and Ishmael declared Stark County, Ohio as their place of birth. At this entry, I am unable to substantiate with another public record. There are Ohio census records for one "Israel" Palmer with Joseph as a child in the HH, but these records are speculative for race. Both Joseph and brother Ishmael were "light-complexioned."
[*] Joseph's date of birth is established by military record and the Fort Dodge cemetery record itself.
~~
Military Service: Joseph A. Palmer
5 May 1863 -- Enlisted in Dayton, OH with the 54th Massechusetts Infantry Regiment (Colored). Born in Stark County, OH, Joseph was 23 years old and a barber by profession. He was described as 5' 11" tall with a light complexion.
13 May 1863 -- Near Boston, MA, commissioned 1st Sergeant by Colonel Robert Gould Shaw.
16 Jul 1863 -- "J" Palmer wounded at James Island (the 54th's first skirmish -- 42 soldiers killed.)
18 Jul 1863 -- Wounded at Fort Wagner and hospitalized at Beaufort, S. C. -- "Descriptive List sent" (The 54th suffered 272 casualties. Colonel Shaw was killed.)
7 Aug 1863 -- Discharged from hospital, returned to unit, then given furlough during September and October. (The record seems to suggest he went back to Dayton, OH. Upon his return to duty, he claimed c. $35.00 for travel expenses)
20 Feb 1864 -- Battle of Olustee in Florida. (The record states in January and February that Joseph was sick and in the hospital in Jacksonville, FL. In another record, it says he had been hospitalized since February 8th. This suggests Joseph may not have participated in the Battle of Olustee. The Union army sustained over 1,800 casualties.)
14 May 1864 -- Reduced in rank, at Joseph's own request, to 3rd Sergeant by order of Col. Hallowell. There is no explanation.
16 Mar 1865 – 30 Jun —Sick and in hospital at Savannah, GA. The 54th had been at Savannah, March 13-27; then returned to South Carolina for the rest of the war.
May 1865 -- In the hospital again in Beaufort, S. C.
20 Aug 1865 Mustered out at Mount Pleasant, S. C.
1 Sep 1865 -- 54th Regiment discharged at Boston, MA
--Prepared and submitted by Clint Black, May 2012
Gravesite Details
SGT 1ST CO A 54 MASS INF
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