A recent post included a brief anecdote about a former slave – now a Union soldier – taking his former master prisoner at Milliken’s Bend.

This story was widely repeated (after all, it made sensational journalism) – but it was a story I chose, after some deliberation, to omit from my book. Why?

To begin with, I had to ruthlessly cut my original manuscript, omitting approximately 50 pages. If the story was not absolutely critical to the narrative, it had to go.

Secondly, because this was a story which appeared in several other sources, I did not feel it necessary to repeat.

Finally, the primary reason I omitted this story was that I was a bit skeptical about the veracity of this event. Here’s why.

The Confederates who attacked Milliken’s Bend were all Texas troops. Most of the black Union defenders were recruited from Louisiana and Mississippi. Because the Texas troops had been recruited in 1862, most of the men were residing in Texas at that time. Around the time of Milliken’s Bend, many Louisiana slaveholding families did indeed flee to Texas. Perhaps a few of these individuals might have been inclined to join a Texas regiment then, but it does not seem probable – certainly not one of the regiments that was present at Milliken’s Bend. Walker’s Division had not been in Louisiana, particularly northeastern Louisiana, very long, and though it also remains possible that they may have gained a few recruits during their brief time in the area, again, it does not seem probable.

It’s true that a battalion of Confederate cavalry under Isaac Harrison was from northeastern Louisiana, and they seem the most likely candidates who could have had a man captured by his own slave. However, the cavalry were not engaged in any significant manner at the Milliken’s Bend fight, instead serving as guides on the march to Milliken’s Bend, and protecting the Confederate rear during the engagement.

I had enough uncertainty about the accuracy of this story that I chose to leave it out of the book. Yes, it is certainly useful – regardless of its truth or falsehood – to shore up the cause of black enlistments with ironic delight. It was certainly good press, and the story has undeniable value when looked at in that light. But did it actually happen? I’m not sure.

There are many questions and uncertainties which still remain about Milliken’s Bend. This is one of them.