American Historical Ephemera & Photography, including African Americana

Manuscript, likely in the hand of Captain John Hayes, Jr., Co. B, 11th United States Colored Troops, entitled "The Vision of Emet Logan The Negro Prophet of the Arkansas (A Christmas Holiday Exercise in the Camp of the 11th U.S. 'Niggers.' By Captain John Hayes, Jr.)." "Lewisburg Arkansas," 23 December 1864. 21pp, approx. 8 x 12 1/2 in., on blue-lined paper.

A remarkable recounting of the poetic, mystical vision articulated to Captain John Hayes, Jr., on multiple occasions by Emet Logan (ca 1825 - ?) while the two men served together in the 11th USCT. Logan, who had been enslaved prior to his enlistment, was presumably unable to read and write thereby necessitating Hayes's written recording of the vision. The manuscript is thematically divided into two parts, the first portion, seemingly a kind of preamble, is segmented into "1st," "2nd," and "3rd," with the 3rd containing a series of verses of an autobiographical nature describing Emet Logan's father and his own resolution to be free. The next portion is segmented into "1st," "2nd," and "3rd," with the 1st and 3rd both identified as "The Vision."

The first vision describes Logan's search for "Liberty" as he is led by his guide "a little white boy" over mountains, plains, and rivers, and ultimately to a dining room in which he found "The woman black - / Who holds the Sword, famed of youre - /" which brought "Countless millions freedom bought - / In hands of Valliant Washington - / While Freedoms hosts he led on - And the woman black who held it said - / ... that her children should be free - / From the inland to the sea - / On the Mountain, on the shore - / Maintain the battle ever more - Or on the Mountain, Or the plain - / In battle die in heaps of Slain.".

The "2nd" continues with a poetic description of a vision in which Logan sees "My old Master prowls below - / His Children Suffer pain / because in life he dealt in woe / From Misery reaped gain." This vision continues with a philosophical and religious contemplation of nature, equality, suffering, and vengeance, and ends on a hopeful note, "Repeat these words again - / The Lord you can not see / But always feel - he still is ever Near - / He hears the honest Freemans Sigh / And Dries the Bondman's Tear / And Makes him to be free….”

The "3rd" and final vision is brief, and may be incomplete. It describes Logan standing "in the middle of the world" as he sees from the East "an old man go / His hat fashioned old - With weary Step he travelled slow."

[With:] Untitled autobiographical manuscript, in the hand of Captain John Hayes, Jr., "Lewisburg, Arkansas," 5 January 1864. 53pp, approx. 8 x 12 1/2 in., on blue-lined paper. Hayes writes regarding USCT and his association with Emet Logan. Hayes describes the "Negro prophet": "On the last [recruiting] trip I made ... I Brought out Emet Logan a mulatto man about 40 years of age. he was born in Wayne County, Missouri, his father a mulatto - had fought in the Texan Revolution under Houston … [Emet's father] tried to get his children - but they were carried to Arkansas & sold. - Emet was purchased by a Preacher - & lived about Clarksville, was rather unmanageable and was sold into the Logan Family - where he remained till I Recruited him - on the Banks of the Arkansas River Near the Mouth of Spadra Creek." Hayes continues, describing Emet Logan as "an original" who "thinks the Lord Showed him about this war Ever since 1848." Hayes describes Logan's unusual cane, his manner of dress, and his physical appearance. Hayes also notes that Logan explained his vision to him "a number of times," and he recorded Logan's vision in December 1863 "as a curiosity."

The remainder of the manuscript deals with Hayes's promotion to Captain of Co. B, 11th USCT, scouting for recruiting purposes and associated confrontations with Rebels, new recruits, and activities of the 11th USCT up to and including their engagement at Gunther's Prairie on 24 August 1864. Hayes writes glowingly of the capabilities of Colored Troops, writing, "this process [of drilling and instructing for active duty] is nearly always successful with the Colored Recruit. he is quite apt to Learn, and soon you have from the most awkward, ... a soldier who will pass through the 'School of the Soldier' like a 'Regular' ... In fighting Qualities, and capacity for Physical Endurance, they are not inferior to any class of troops...." Detailing the surprise attack at Gunther's Prairie, Hayes singles out the actions of Emet Logan, writing in part: "Sergeant Emet Logan Company B had charge of a guard of Ten men to Protect the Corral where our wagons and Teams and those of the Haying Party were Kept. a party of about 100 of the Enemy charged on the Corral, Sergt. Logan met them in gallant style … they were forced to retreat...Sergeant Logan Kept calling out to the Rebel 'Come on you hell begotten Sons of Bitches, and will send you home to hell, where you belong'...."

In the fall of 1863, shortly after the Union had recaptured Fort Smith from Confederate forces, the 11th Regiment USCT was recruited out of the Fort Smith area in northwest Arkansas with four companies created on 19 December 1863, and a fifth company in March 1864. The 11th USCT was primarily filled with men who had previously been enslaved in the region surrounding Fort Smith, Arkansas, as well as men who had been enslaved by the Choctaw Nation in nearby Indian Territory. The regiment was first assigned to post and garrison duty at Fort Smith. It was first engaged in August 1864 at Gunther's Prairie, 12 miles northwest of Fort Smith, while assigned to guard government livestock and cut hay. The 11th USCT remained at Fort Smith until November 1864 at which time it removed to Lewisburg, Arkansas. It was engaged again at Bogg's Mill on 24 January 1865. After the surrender of Lee's Army in Virginia, the unit was consolidated with the 112th and 113th Colored Infantry regiments to form the new 113th USCT. They were mustered out one year later on 9 April 1866.

Though Emet Logan's enslaver cannot be definitively identified, he was likely enslaved by a member of the Colonel James Logan (1791-1859) family which had removed to Arkansas in the early 1830s from Wayne County, Missouri. U.S., Colored Troops Military Service Records, 1863-1865, indicate that Emet Logan (spelled "Emmet" in some records) was 38 years old when he enlisted as a private in Co. B, 11th Regiment U.S. Colored Infantry, mustering in at Fort Smith, Arkansas, on 19 December 1863, Logan was appointed corporal on 20 February, 1864, and to sergeant on 5 June 1864. He was mustered out of the 11th USCT in April 1865 as part of that regiment's consolidation with the 112 and 113, which was thereafter designated the 113th USCT. Logan may have chosen to remain in Arkansas after his three-year enlistment. Freedmen's Bureau Records, 1865-1878, contain multiple documents associated with an "Emmet Logan" in Arkansas.

John Hayes, Jr. (1826-1909?) enlisted on 16 September 1861 at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, as a private in Co. B, Kansas 5th Cavalry. Originally from Ohio, Hayes was a lawyer residing in Corydon, Wayne County, Iowa when the war erupted. Following recruitment duty from 24 June through 10 December 1863 on behalf of the 2nd Kansas Colored Infantry Regiment, Hayes was discharged for promotion on 15 December 1863 and promoted to Captain, Co. B, 11th USCT. After the war, Hayes returned to Iowa, where he worked as a "Lawyer-Farmer" through the 1880s. He died in Elgin, Chatauqua County, Kansas.

Manuscripts each accompanied by typed transcription.

See Lot 251: [CIVIL WAR]. 11th U.S. Colored Troops archive, Fort Smith, Arkansas.