Private Henry Prilliman
Private Henry Prilliman
Private Henry Prilliman was born c. 1837 in Franklin County, Virginia. Slave schedules for the county identified the family name of Prilliman as enslaving sixty-six individuals in 1860. Henry Prilliman was most likely sold to enslavers in Tennessee or possibly travelled there with the white Prilliman family. Emancipated in 1863, life for young Black men in a former slave state was difficult. They faced violence, discrimination and limited opportunities, but they also found hope in education and community. They stabilized their family lives, sought to control their work environments, and established their own schools and churches. Pvt Prilliman enlisted on April 26, 1865, in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Military records described him as 28 years old, 5’ 8” with brown complexion. His occupation was recorded as Farmer, and he enlisted for 3 years. At the time he enlisted, he could not write, and his name was expressed with a mark.
Though fighting was over April 9th, 1965, it was not until August 20th, 1866, when the war was legally declared over. Prilliman was assigned to the 42nd USCT Company P. May 1865.
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The Union Army offered a way to earn a living, and some believed if the war could be won, there was the opportunity for American citizenship. But for some, army life was not that much different than enslavement. Henry Prilliman may not have ever mustered in because he is listed as absent without leave in May. In June 1865 he was dropped from the rolls as a deserter. No other records have been found for a man with this name, fitting Henry Prilliman’s description.
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Desertion was a significant issue for both sides during the Civil War, and the United States Colored Troops (USCT) experienced it as well. While desertion rates for USCT soldiers were like those of white soldiers, Black soldiers were often dealing with racial discrimination.
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Black soldiers faced systemic racism in the army, including lower pay, discriminatory treatment, and limited opportunities for advancement, all of which could have contributed to their desire to leave. Some USCT soldiers felt distrust toward their white officers, who were often seen as not having their best interests at heart. The rigors of military life, including poor food, inadequate clothing, and harsh discipline, were common across both Union and Confederate armies, but the added burden of racism could have made the situation even more difficult for USCT soldiers.
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Contributors: Emily Martin, Sheridan Brown and Cathie Cummins
