Sergeant CUFFEE WASHINGTON, Co. A, 1st Regiment of South Carolina Volunteer Infantry
Cuffee Washington was born into slavery c. 1842 on Saint Helena Island, Beaufort County, South Carolina. Cuffee spent the first 20 years of his life enslaved. Then in 1862, with the War Between the States raging and with Union troops nearby, Cuffee escaped the situation he was in and made his way to those union troops in Beaufort County, many who were black like him. On October 18, 1862, Cuffee volunteered to serve with those troops, who were soon to be mustered into service as the 1st Regiment of South Carolina Volunteer Infantry (Colored) U.S. Cuffee Washington was assigned as a Private in Co. A of the 1st South. On January 1, 1863, Cuffee, who had apparently demonstrated himself to be a leader, was appointed a Sergeant in Co. A and was mustered as such when the men of the 1st South were mustered into the service on January 31, 1863. At the time he enlisted, Cuffee Washington was recorded as being 20 years of age, as being born on St. Helena Island, South Carolina, as being a House Servant, as being 5' 7" tall.
The 1st Regiment of South Carolina Volunteer Infantry (Colored) U.S. was assembled in Beaufort County, South Carolina, in the latter half of 1862 and was one of the first regiments of African Americans to be mustered into the service of United States Army during the Civil War. The enlisted men were, for the most part, escaped slaves from South Carolina, Florida and Georgia. However, a number of free black men, primarily from Florida, served in the regiment as well. The officers were, for the most part, from regiments which were also serving in the Beaufort County area, including the 8th Maine, the 100th Pennsylvania, the New York Engineers and the 51st Massachusetts, the unit the commanding officer of the 1st SC, Colonel Thomas Wentworth Higginson, a Minister and Abolitionist, came from.
The 1st South Carolina regiment spent most of the war serving on various expeditions, skirmishing and doing garrison duty along the South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida coast. In February of 1864, the 1st South Carolina's designation was changed, much to the chagrin of the men of the 1st, to the 33rd Regiment of United States Colored Troops (USCT), as they had been one of the first black regiments, if not the first, to be mustered into the service and they were proud of that 1st designation. In January and February of 1864, Sergeant Cuffee Washington served, along with a number of other men from the 1st/33rd, aboard the Steamer/Gunboat John Adams, which was serving as part of the blockade of the South Carolina/Georgia/Florida coast.
In the latter half of 1864, the 33rd served in the operations against Charleston, South Carolina, serving on James Island, Folly Island and Morris Island and all along the South Carolina coast. In February of 1865, Charleston was finally wrested from the hands of the Confederacy. It was about this time that Sergeant Cuffee Washington, who had served for more than 2 years as a Sergeant in Co. A, got into some trouble.
What occurred is not known at this time, but whatever occurred it was serious enough that the commanding officer of Co. A, who at the time is believed to be Captain Niles G. Parker, was forced to reduce Sergeant Cuffee Washington "for neglect of duty" to the ranks as a Private on February 7, 1865. Cuffee Washington would serve the remainder of the war as a Private. The men of the 33rd USCT would spend much of the remainder of the war as part of the Charleston's Union garrison. Private Cuffee Washington and the men of the 1st SC/33rd USCT were mustered out of service on January 31, 1866 near Charleston harbor, above the mass graves of Colonel Robert Gould Shaw and his men, members of the 54th Massachusetts, who were killed during the assault on Fort Wagner in Charleston harbor, who were memorialized in the motion picture "Glory." The men of the 1st/33rd then set out to make new lives for themselves in the post-Civil War south.
After the war came to a close, Cuffee Washington is believed to have returned to his family and his roots on St. Helena Island, South Carolina. At the time of the 1870 census, Cuffee Washington is believed to be the Cuffee Washington we find on St. Helena, Beaufort County, South Carolina;
Hector Field 31 B Farmer SC
Sally Field 29 B Farm Laborer SC
Jane Field 10 B Farm Laborer SC
Hector Field 3 B SC
Ansel Field 1 B SC
Judy Field 60 B Farm Laborer SC
Phoebe Jenkins 80 B Farm Laborer SC
Cuffee Washington 25 B Farm Laborer SC
Phoebe Washington 22 B Farm Laborer SC
Sally Washington 12 B Farm Laborer SC
Patsy Washington 10 B Farm Laborer SC
However, at some point after the war, Cuffee Washington is known to have moved south to Jacksonville, Florida, where he spent quite a bit of time during the war. Cuffee Washington died there in Jacksonville, Duval County, Florida on March 14, 1896 and according to the 1940 WPA Veteran Burial Records. the mortal remains of Sgt. Cuffee Washington were laid in the Mt. Herman White & Colored Cemetery in Duval County, Florida.
by Baxter B. Fite III
Cuffee Washington was born into slavery c. 1842 on Saint Helena Island, Beaufort County, South Carolina. Cuffee spent the first 20 years of his life enslaved. Then in 1862, with the War Between the States raging and with Union troops nearby, Cuffee escaped the situation he was in and made his way to those union troops in Beaufort County, many who were black like him. On October 18, 1862, Cuffee volunteered to serve with those troops, who were soon to be mustered into service as the 1st Regiment of South Carolina Volunteer Infantry (Colored) U.S. Cuffee Washington was assigned as a Private in Co. A of the 1st South. On January 1, 1863, Cuffee, who had apparently demonstrated himself to be a leader, was appointed a Sergeant in Co. A and was mustered as such when the men of the 1st South were mustered into the service on January 31, 1863. At the time he enlisted, Cuffee Washington was recorded as being 20 years of age, as being born on St. Helena Island, South Carolina, as being a House Servant, as being 5' 7" tall.
The 1st Regiment of South Carolina Volunteer Infantry (Colored) U.S. was assembled in Beaufort County, South Carolina, in the latter half of 1862 and was one of the first regiments of African Americans to be mustered into the service of United States Army during the Civil War. The enlisted men were, for the most part, escaped slaves from South Carolina, Florida and Georgia. However, a number of free black men, primarily from Florida, served in the regiment as well. The officers were, for the most part, from regiments which were also serving in the Beaufort County area, including the 8th Maine, the 100th Pennsylvania, the New York Engineers and the 51st Massachusetts, the unit the commanding officer of the 1st SC, Colonel Thomas Wentworth Higginson, a Minister and Abolitionist, came from.
The 1st South Carolina regiment spent most of the war serving on various expeditions, skirmishing and doing garrison duty along the South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida coast. In February of 1864, the 1st South Carolina's designation was changed, much to the chagrin of the men of the 1st, to the 33rd Regiment of United States Colored Troops (USCT), as they had been one of the first black regiments, if not the first, to be mustered into the service and they were proud of that 1st designation. In January and February of 1864, Sergeant Cuffee Washington served, along with a number of other men from the 1st/33rd, aboard the Steamer/Gunboat John Adams, which was serving as part of the blockade of the South Carolina/Georgia/Florida coast.
In the latter half of 1864, the 33rd served in the operations against Charleston, South Carolina, serving on James Island, Folly Island and Morris Island and all along the South Carolina coast. In February of 1865, Charleston was finally wrested from the hands of the Confederacy. It was about this time that Sergeant Cuffee Washington, who had served for more than 2 years as a Sergeant in Co. A, got into some trouble.
What occurred is not known at this time, but whatever occurred it was serious enough that the commanding officer of Co. A, who at the time is believed to be Captain Niles G. Parker, was forced to reduce Sergeant Cuffee Washington "for neglect of duty" to the ranks as a Private on February 7, 1865. Cuffee Washington would serve the remainder of the war as a Private. The men of the 33rd USCT would spend much of the remainder of the war as part of the Charleston's Union garrison. Private Cuffee Washington and the men of the 1st SC/33rd USCT were mustered out of service on January 31, 1866 near Charleston harbor, above the mass graves of Colonel Robert Gould Shaw and his men, members of the 54th Massachusetts, who were killed during the assault on Fort Wagner in Charleston harbor, who were memorialized in the motion picture "Glory." The men of the 1st/33rd then set out to make new lives for themselves in the post-Civil War south.
After the war came to a close, Cuffee Washington is believed to have returned to his family and his roots on St. Helena Island, South Carolina. At the time of the 1870 census, Cuffee Washington is believed to be the Cuffee Washington we find on St. Helena, Beaufort County, South Carolina;
Hector Field 31 B Farmer SC
Sally Field 29 B Farm Laborer SC
Jane Field 10 B Farm Laborer SC
Hector Field 3 B SC
Ansel Field 1 B SC
Judy Field 60 B Farm Laborer SC
Phoebe Jenkins 80 B Farm Laborer SC
Cuffee Washington 25 B Farm Laborer SC
Phoebe Washington 22 B Farm Laborer SC
Sally Washington 12 B Farm Laborer SC
Patsy Washington 10 B Farm Laborer SC
However, at some point after the war, Cuffee Washington is known to have moved south to Jacksonville, Florida, where he spent quite a bit of time during the war. Cuffee Washington died there in Jacksonville, Duval County, Florida on March 14, 1896 and according to the 1940 WPA Veteran Burial Records. the mortal remains of Sgt. Cuffee Washington were laid in the Mt. Herman White & Colored Cemetery in Duval County, Florida.
by Baxter B. Fite III
Sergeant CUFFEE WASHINGTON, Co. A, 1st Regiment of South Carolina Volunteer Infantry
Cuffee Washington was born into slavery c. 1842 on Saint Helena Island, Beaufort County, South Carolina. Cuffee spent the first 20 years of his life enslaved. Then in 1862, with the War Between the States raging and with Union troops nearby, Cuffee escaped the situation he was in and made his way to those union troops in Beaufort County, many who were black like him. On October 18, 1862, Cuffee volunteered to serve with those troops, who were soon to be mustered into service as the 1st Regiment of South Carolina Volunteer Infantry (Colored) U.S. Cuffee Washington was assigned as a Private in Co. A of the 1st South. On January 1, 1863, Cuffee, who had apparently demonstrated himself to be a leader, was appointed a Sergeant in Co. A and was mustered as such when the men of the 1st South were mustered into the service on January 31, 1863. At the time he enlisted, Cuffee Washington was recorded as being 20 years of age, as being born on St. Helena Island, South Carolina, as being a House Servant, as being 5' 7" tall.
The 1st Regiment of South Carolina Volunteer Infantry (Colored) U.S. was assembled in Beaufort County, South Carolina, in the latter half of 1862 and was one of the first regiments of African Americans to be mustered into the service of United States Army during the Civil War. The enlisted men were, for the most part, escaped slaves from South Carolina, Florida and Georgia. However, a number of free black men, primarily from Florida, served in the regiment as well. The officers were, for the most part, from regiments which were also serving in the Beaufort County area, including the 8th Maine, the 100th Pennsylvania, the New York Engineers and the 51st Massachusetts, the unit the commanding officer of the 1st SC, Colonel Thomas Wentworth Higginson, a Minister and Abolitionist, came from.
The 1st South Carolina regiment spent most of the war serving on various expeditions, skirmishing and doing garrison duty along the South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida coast. In February of 1864, the 1st South Carolina's designation was changed, much to the chagrin of the men of the 1st, to the 33rd Regiment of United States Colored Troops (USCT), as they had been one of the first black regiments, if not the first, to be mustered into the service and they were proud of that 1st designation. In January and February of 1864, Sergeant Cuffee Washington served, along with a number of other men from the 1st/33rd, aboard the Steamer/Gunboat John Adams, which was serving as part of the blockade of the South Carolina/Georgia/Florida coast.
In the latter half of 1864, the 33rd served in the operations against Charleston, South Carolina, serving on James Island, Folly Island and Morris Island and all along the South Carolina coast. In February of 1865, Charleston was finally wrested from the hands of the Confederacy. It was about this time that Sergeant Cuffee Washington, who had served for more than 2 years as a Sergeant in Co. A, got into some trouble.
What occurred is not known at this time, but whatever occurred it was serious enough that the commanding officer of Co. A, who at the time is believed to be Captain Niles G. Parker, was forced to reduce Sergeant Cuffee Washington "for neglect of duty" to the ranks as a Private on February 7, 1865. Cuffee Washington would serve the remainder of the war as a Private. The men of the 33rd USCT would spend much of the remainder of the war as part of the Charleston's Union garrison. Private Cuffee Washington and the men of the 1st SC/33rd USCT were mustered out of service on January 31, 1866 near Charleston harbor, above the mass graves of Colonel Robert Gould Shaw and his men, members of the 54th Massachusetts, who were killed during the assault on Fort Wagner in Charleston harbor, who were memorialized in the motion picture "Glory." The men of the 1st/33rd then set out to make new lives for themselves in the post-Civil War south.
After the war came to a close, Cuffee Washington is believed to have returned to his family and his roots on St. Helena Island, South Carolina. At the time of the 1870 census, Cuffee Washington is believed to be the Cuffee Washington we find on St. Helena, Beaufort County, South Carolina;
Hector Field 31 B Farmer SC
Sally Field 29 B Farm Laborer SC
Jane Field 10 B Farm Laborer SC
Hector Field 3 B SC
Ansel Field 1 B SC
Judy Field 60 B Farm Laborer SC
Phoebe Jenkins 80 B Farm Laborer SC
Cuffee Washington 25 B Farm Laborer SC
Phoebe Washington 22 B Farm Laborer SC
Sally Washington 12 B Farm Laborer SC
Patsy Washington 10 B Farm Laborer SC
However, at some point after the war, Cuffee Washington is known to have moved south to Jacksonville, Florida, where he spent quite a bit of time during the war. Cuffee Washington died there in Jacksonville, Duval County, Florida on March 14, 1896 and according to the 1940 WPA Veteran Burial Records. the mortal remains of Sgt. Cuffee Washington were laid in the Mt. Herman White & Colored Cemetery in Duval County, Florida.
by Baxter B. Fite III
Cuffee Washington was born into slavery c. 1842 on Saint Helena Island, Beaufort County, South Carolina. Cuffee spent the first 20 years of his life enslaved. Then in 1862, with the War Between the States raging and with Union troops nearby, Cuffee escaped the situation he was in and made his way to those union troops in Beaufort County, many who were black like him. On October 18, 1862, Cuffee volunteered to serve with those troops, who were soon to be mustered into service as the 1st Regiment of South Carolina Volunteer Infantry (Colored) U.S. Cuffee Washington was assigned as a Private in Co. A of the 1st South. On January 1, 1863, Cuffee, who had apparently demonstrated himself to be a leader, was appointed a Sergeant in Co. A and was mustered as such when the men of the 1st South were mustered into the service on January 31, 1863. At the time he enlisted, Cuffee Washington was recorded as being 20 years of age, as being born on St. Helena Island, South Carolina, as being a House Servant, as being 5' 7" tall.
The 1st Regiment of South Carolina Volunteer Infantry (Colored) U.S. was assembled in Beaufort County, South Carolina, in the latter half of 1862 and was one of the first regiments of African Americans to be mustered into the service of United States Army during the Civil War. The enlisted men were, for the most part, escaped slaves from South Carolina, Florida and Georgia. However, a number of free black men, primarily from Florida, served in the regiment as well. The officers were, for the most part, from regiments which were also serving in the Beaufort County area, including the 8th Maine, the 100th Pennsylvania, the New York Engineers and the 51st Massachusetts, the unit the commanding officer of the 1st SC, Colonel Thomas Wentworth Higginson, a Minister and Abolitionist, came from.
The 1st South Carolina regiment spent most of the war serving on various expeditions, skirmishing and doing garrison duty along the South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida coast. In February of 1864, the 1st South Carolina's designation was changed, much to the chagrin of the men of the 1st, to the 33rd Regiment of United States Colored Troops (USCT), as they had been one of the first black regiments, if not the first, to be mustered into the service and they were proud of that 1st designation. In January and February of 1864, Sergeant Cuffee Washington served, along with a number of other men from the 1st/33rd, aboard the Steamer/Gunboat John Adams, which was serving as part of the blockade of the South Carolina/Georgia/Florida coast.
In the latter half of 1864, the 33rd served in the operations against Charleston, South Carolina, serving on James Island, Folly Island and Morris Island and all along the South Carolina coast. In February of 1865, Charleston was finally wrested from the hands of the Confederacy. It was about this time that Sergeant Cuffee Washington, who had served for more than 2 years as a Sergeant in Co. A, got into some trouble.
What occurred is not known at this time, but whatever occurred it was serious enough that the commanding officer of Co. A, who at the time is believed to be Captain Niles G. Parker, was forced to reduce Sergeant Cuffee Washington "for neglect of duty" to the ranks as a Private on February 7, 1865. Cuffee Washington would serve the remainder of the war as a Private. The men of the 33rd USCT would spend much of the remainder of the war as part of the Charleston's Union garrison. Private Cuffee Washington and the men of the 1st SC/33rd USCT were mustered out of service on January 31, 1866 near Charleston harbor, above the mass graves of Colonel Robert Gould Shaw and his men, members of the 54th Massachusetts, who were killed during the assault on Fort Wagner in Charleston harbor, who were memorialized in the motion picture "Glory." The men of the 1st/33rd then set out to make new lives for themselves in the post-Civil War south.
After the war came to a close, Cuffee Washington is believed to have returned to his family and his roots on St. Helena Island, South Carolina. At the time of the 1870 census, Cuffee Washington is believed to be the Cuffee Washington we find on St. Helena, Beaufort County, South Carolina;
Hector Field 31 B Farmer SC
Sally Field 29 B Farm Laborer SC
Jane Field 10 B Farm Laborer SC
Hector Field 3 B SC
Ansel Field 1 B SC
Judy Field 60 B Farm Laborer SC
Phoebe Jenkins 80 B Farm Laborer SC
Cuffee Washington 25 B Farm Laborer SC
Phoebe Washington 22 B Farm Laborer SC
Sally Washington 12 B Farm Laborer SC
Patsy Washington 10 B Farm Laborer SC
However, at some point after the war, Cuffee Washington is known to have moved south to Jacksonville, Florida, where he spent quite a bit of time during the war. Cuffee Washington died there in Jacksonville, Duval County, Florida on March 14, 1896 and according to the 1940 WPA Veteran Burial Records. the mortal remains of Sgt. Cuffee Washington were laid in the Mt. Herman White & Colored Cemetery in Duval County, Florida.
by Baxter B. Fite III
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