Andrew Shields, later known as Anderson Shields, served in the 49th U.S. Colored Infantry – a regiment that began its service as the 11th Louisiana Infantry, African Descent. Just prior to the war, he had married Kate Street, a woman who was a slave, as he was, at the plantation of Waterman Crane, near Westside, Mississippi in Claiborne County. By 1863, they had three children, one, an infant. Then Grant’s army came. In May 1863, Anderson led a group of men from the same plantation and neighboring areas, into Union lines near Grand Gulf, where they enlisted. They helped the wounded and buried some of the dead at Port Gibson, and were then sent to the Federal outpost at Milliken’s Bend, Louisiana.

Soon enough, the Confederates attacked. Anderson and a number of his comrades were overwhelmed and captured. He was severely wounded. His wife believed he was killed, “But some considerable time after the battle, he returned to me, very badly hurt and almost perfectly disabled. I nursed him day and night for months before he was able to be about, doing moderate plantation work.” She later blamed his death in 1883 on the wounds he received at Milliken’s Bend.

Andrew (Anderson) Shields’ military records consistently list him as “taken prisoner” through June 1864, one year after the battle. In August, 1864, it is ordered that he be “dropped from the rolls…as missing in action” by order of Brig. Gen. J.P. Hawkins. The final entry in Andrew Shields military record is from the muster out roll of the company, dated March 22, 1866, which reads: “Missing since the battle of Milliken’s Bend.” It seems everyone knew that he had been captured during the battle, and he had not been heard from since.

Part 1 of a series.

Sources: Andrew Shields compiled military service record, Co. B, 49th USCI, National Archives; Kate Shields widows pension record, #954257, National Archives.