[CIVIL WAR]. List of Contrabands on board of the U. S. Steamer "Benton"...Oct. 1864. Manuscript log.

Manuscript list of 42 "contrabands" with first and last names, rates, ages, dates of appearance on board, dates of entry on ship books, pay, employment, and any remarks. Signed by Acting Assistant Paymaster C. G. Lounds.

Some of the names featured in this list also appear in a transcription of excerpts from the deck log of the USS Benton from 10-15 May 1864 (accessed at fortderussy.org, not included in this lot) while the ship participated in the Red River Campaign.

For example, Israel Murray, listed as an 18-year-old first appearing on the ship on 6 August 1862 in the document featured in this lot, is also mentioned in the 1864 deck log excerpts, with the designation "(contraband)" after his name, and a note that he was punished with "eight hours extra duty" with no reason given in an entry dated 14 March. He is later mentioned in an entry dated 19 March, with the designation "(negro)" after his name, for a punishment of "six hours extra duty on pumps." The next day's entry records that he was released from said extra duty.

Another name from the list featured here is Hiram Dixon, who is recorded as being 20 years old when he appears on board on 1 May 1862. He is also listed in the Benton's 1864 deck log in an entry dated 28 March, without a designation after his name but with the note that he was given "six hours extra duty for failing repeatedly to answer at muster of the watch."

Yet another name from the list featured here is Charles Vinegar, who is recorded as being 30 years old when he appears on board on 6 August 1862. He is also mentioned in the 1864 deck log in an entry dated 6 April with the designation "(Negro)" after his name and a note that he was "Confined in double irons on bread and water for disobedience of orders."

As a note of clarification, the 1864 deck log excerpts of the USS Benton are not included in this lot. They are merely referenced to provide evidence that individuals on the manuscript list featured here were actually on said ship, and in some cases listed as being "contraband" or "negro."

Property from the James Milgram, M.D., Collection of Ephemeral Americana and Historical Documents

This lot is located in Cincinnati.