Surratt Courier

[Steve]

(07-24-2019 01:53 PM)Dennis Urban Wrote:  I believe you are on the right track in thinking Owens is white. I have not seen that expressed before. In all of my CW era research the notation of "colored" is commonly used for a variety of purposes. Additionally, the apparent insolence of Owens points to him being white. For a black man to successfully get along in that southern MD society, he would have to "know his place." Finally, although a minor point, the location of Owens burial in Arlington, points toward him being buried with others of his race rather than in a separate colored section. A black man could be hastily buried in that location but custom points to it being otherwise. I do wonder what is the origin of Owens being labeled as a black man?

Just to add a little side note here, the U.S. Colored Troops of the Civil War are buried in Sections 27 and 23 of Arlington. One notable exception is Lt. Col. Alexander T. Augusta who was commissioned as a Major in the 7th Colored Troops but is buried in Section 1. His FindAGrave page has his story:

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/22770