Private Josiah Taitt
Pvt. Josiah Taitt
Private Josiah Taitt was born c. 1845 in Franklin County, Virginia, and enlisted on Sept. 6, 1864, in Fulton, Calloway County, Missouri alongside his younger brother, Granville Taitt. He was described as 19 years old, 5’8” tall, with black complexion, black eyes, and black hair. His occupation was recorded as farmer, and he enlisted for three years. Like brother, he was reported to be enslaved by George Law, a citizen of Calloway County.
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Pvt Josiah Taitt served in the 18th Regiment, United States Colored Infantry, Company H, and began his service stationed in Missouri until November 1864. From there, his regiment was directed to maintain the occupation of Nashville, Tennessee. Confederate General John Bell Hood expected to take over Nashville and move on to Kentucky in hopes of finding more volunteers to join Robert E. Lee's forces in Virginia. Instead, Hood’s forces were defeated at the Battle of Nashville on December 15-16, 1864, which ended Southern resistance in Tennessee.
Both Josiah and Granville fought in the Battle of Nashville with 13,000 other USCT troops, the largest number of black soldiers on any battlefield until that point in the Civil War, composed of the 12th, 13th, 14th, 16th, 17th, 18th, 44th, and 100th regiments. The Union Army won the Battle of Nashville and the USCT troops’ bravery was acknowledged and commended by those that served with them.
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The 18th USCT was next relocated to Bridgeport, Alabama, west of Chattanooga, Tennessee. Josiah had become ill with pneumonia and died there on Dec 26.
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Josiah’s brother Granville was allowed to receive the dead soldier’s belongings which included “one great coat, one blouse, one pair of trousers, 2 pairs of flannel drawers, one flannel shirt, one pair of shoes, one pair of socks, one wool blanket, one rubber blanket and $20 in notes.” Josiah had paid the US government $38 for these items and still owed $6 for “ordnance (military weapons or ammunition) lost through neglect.” This document, in which Granville expresses his signature with an “X” is the only historical document linking these two men as brothers.
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No record has been found of Josiah’s grave.
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Contributors: Brynna Wert, Sarah Plummer, and Cathie Cummins