Padon Turner was 71 years old in 1910 when he made his statement on behalf of Anderson Shields’ widow, Kate. In doing so, Padon [apparently pronounced like “Peyton”] provided information about his own background. He had been born in Hinds more »
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 more »
Many men from Illinois had a hand in the Milliken’s Bend story, and this seems like a timely subject, in anticipation of the upcoming Decatur Civil War Symposium. In April 1863, Adjutant General Lorenzo Thomas traveled along the Mississippi River, more »
John Gordon was just 15 years old when he enlisted in Company B, 11th Louisiana Infantry, African Descent on May 8, 1863. He was probably involved in the fighting at Milliken’s Bend, as there is no evidence that he was more »
When the Rebels flanked the Union line on the Federals’ far left, and the 9th Louisiana Infantry, African Descent, peeled back, it began a cascading effect all along the Federal defenses. All other Union positions suddenly became unsustainable. The 1st more »