Bullets and Bulletins: African American Activism in Civil War Era Rhode Island, February 3-April 28, 2017

Petition asking for repeal of Statute forbidding the intermarriage of Whites and Blacks, January 1868

Advanced Bounty Receipts, 1863

An Act to secure to all persons within the State their civil rights with accompanying letters of support from Mahlon Van Horne & George T. Downing of Newport, January 1884

Authority to Raise Battalion of Colored Heavy Artillery, August 14, 1863

Authority to Raise Colored Regiment, February 10, 1863

Authority to Raise Heavy Artillery Company of Colored Men, June 17, 1863

Bounty Receipts, 1864

Charles Harris letter to Adjutant General, August 11, 1862

Letter to Colonel Charles E. Bailey, Aide de Camp to Governor Smith concerning the presentation of the Regimental Flag for the Fourteenth Regiment of Heavy Artillery by the colored ladies of New York. Flag designed by a man of color Mrs. James J. Spelman, 37 Park Row, New York, January 2, 1864

Regimental Notifications of Death: Daniel Wormsley, Battery A, April 4, 1864

David D. Williamson letter, March 16, 1863

Establishment of Draft, August 5, 1862

General Order 24 Establishing a Camp for the recruits for the Colored Regiment, July 28, 1863

General Order 36: Sixth Rhode Island Volunteers, August 4, 1862

George Downing Petition, January 1878

George Downing Petition, May 1859

George Nelson enlistment papers, July 28, 1864

George Nelson; age 18; native of Providence; July 28, 1864, enrolled as a Substitute for Thomas F. Fessenden of Providence.

George T. Downing letter to Governor Smith, September 17, 1863

Regimental Notifications of Death: George Wallace, Battery A, January 14, 1864

George Washington Petition to the General Assembly, January 1866

Horace Greeley Wade Petition to the General Assembly, 1866

J. Sheldon letter to Adjutant General, August 12, 1862

James Spelman letter to Governor Smith, January 2, 1864

Correspondence of John H. Williams to Gov. Sprague recommending Rev. John Mars, a man of color for position in the 6th Regiment, 1862.

Correspondence from John Norris to Governor Sprague offering services in the proposed 6th Regiment of Infantry to be comprised of soldiers of African-American descent.

John Pool letter to Governor Smith, December 23, 1864

Regimental Notifications of Death: John Telegrove, Battery A, April 4, 1864

L.C. Lockwood to Gov. Sprague inquiring if Rhode Island will accept companies from New York offering service as Chaplain.

Letter from Lemuel Freeman to Gov. Sprague a man of color seeking to enlist in proposed regiment and inquiring as to the amount of bounty and aid.

Regimental Notifications of Death: Lewis Fisher, Battery C, December 20, 1863

Major J. J. Comstock communication to the Governor concerning unrest among the enlisted men of his command over the issue of pay. Informing of the arrest of men belonging to Battery A who refused to fall out for inspection due monthly pay of $7.00 being offered instead of $13.00 given to White soldiers HQ, Fort Esperanza, Texas, April 16, 1864

Major General N.F.T. Dana letter to Governor Smith, January 27, 1864

Nathaniel Scoggins Petition to the General Assembly, January 1866

No distinctions on account of race or color of the applicant for public school admission, 1866

Petition for Act Guaranteeing Equal School Rights, January 1862

Petition for Act Guaranteeing Equal School Rights, January 1864

Petition for Act Guaranteeing Equal School Rights, January 1860

Petition regarding the law forbidding inter-marriage of whites with Negroes, Indians, and Mulattoes, 1876

Prepare for the Draft, August 29, 1863

Babcock writes that he enlisted “for 13 dollars and the same rations and privileges as white soldiers,” but has only been offered $7.00 per month and half-rations.

Joint Resolution of Congress Upon Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution; Transmittal Letter of William H. Seward, Department of State, Feb.2, 1865 & accompanying Rhode Island Joint resolution to adopt, February 2, 1864

Seeking enlistments for proposed Regiment of color from Rhode Island newspaper clipping, August 1862

Walter F. Taylor letter to Adjutant General, August 9, 1862