Private Paul Pearson
Pvt. Paul Pearson
Private Paul Pearson was born c. 1844 in Franklin County, Virginia, and enlisted on March 1, 1864, in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. He was probably enslaved in Arkansas, having been sold by Virginia slave traders, prior to emancipation. Military records described him as 20 years old, 5’ 6” tall, with a brown complexion. His occupation was recorded as farmer. He enlisted for 3 years with the 54th USCT Infantry, Co. F, but served only four months before passing away in a hospital in Fort Smith, Arkansas. He died on July 11, 1864, with his cause of death listed as dropsy, now understood as edema, which is a buildup of fluid in the body’s tissues. It can be caused by a number of conditions, including heart failure, lung problems, malnutrition, liver disease, and pancreatitis.
The Second Arkansas Infantry (African Descent) was one of the many African American units formed following the Emancipation Proclamation. The regiment was raised under the commands of Lieutenant Colonel George W. De Costa and Major George W. Burchard in early 1863 and was composed primarily of freed slaves in the Arkansas River Valley. Just after Pearson enlisted the regiment received a new designation as the 54th U.S. Colored Infantry Regiment at the time Pearson enlisted. This unit should not be confused with the 54th Massachusetts Infantry, the second all African American regiment in the Union Army, featured in the movie Glory.
The 54th USCT was ordered west to Fort Smith in west Arkansas in Indian Territory in May of 1864, and these soldiers were on duty there until January 1865, seeing action at Fort Gibson, Cabin Creek and Cow Creek, KS. There was action on the Arkansas River in January 1865. After the Civil War, the unit withdrew to Little Rock until it completely mustered out in December 1866.
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At the time of his death, Pvt Paul Pearson had not yet been paid his bounty for enlisting. There was no family identified to receive his personal effects, and a record of his burial has not been found.
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Contributors: Emily Martin and Cathie Cummins
