I’ve written about John Gordon before. He joined the 11st Louisiana Infantry, African Descent, in May of 1863 when he was just 15 years old. Decades later, he had this photograph made and submitted it to aid in his claim for a pension from the Federal government.

Now, his full story can be discovered and told. His complete pension file – nearly 300 pages – is now available online from the National Archives! I have not yet examined these documents in full, having just found them late last night – on Juneteenth, no less! But I had to share this outstanding news.

Sign up to be a Citizen Archivist, and help tag and transcribe these documents! Learn more about the incredible and inspiring stories of endurance and courage found in USCT pension documents – and how they can aid in reconstructing the families of enslaved persons. Perhaps no other single resource, in my opinion, can do more to reconstitute the families broken apart by slavery. An incredible wealth of stories awaits! John Gordon’s is only one of thousands.