Surratt Courier

[L Verge]

(07-24-2019 04:15 PM)Steve Wrote:  

(07-24-2019 03:54 PM)Eva Elisabeth Wrote:  My question - if he were, would that make his statement more or less credible?

I don't think it would have any effect on the credibility of Owens' statement since it is corroborated by other information, such as his description of the horses matching the horses Booth and Herold rode as they escaped Washington. I suppose Owens' reluctance to give information and his being white could mean that he was possibly still hiding more information or maybe that he knew who the men were and why they were fleeing.

Personally, I suspect that (like so many in Southern Maryland - including my own ancestors), Owens could have spilled the beans on a few other people that were in that "secret network," but chose not to. The authorities knew that and beat the life out of him in order to get him to open that can of beans.

Frankly, I am not sure that a colored man would have stayed so silent on what he knew under extreme duress. He may have been a free man during most of the war, but likewise, he may have just been given his freedom as of November 1, 1864, when the new state constitution went into effect. Six months is a short period of freedom in which to forgive and forget past wrongs. If colored, I would be tempted to spill the beans and release years of pent-up anger over being enslaved.

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(07-24-2019 06:13 PM)Steve Wrote:  

(07-24-2019 02:53 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

A number of years ago, the Surratt Courier carried an article about Dr. Augusta and another black doctor (Abbott?). They were also covered in a lecture that we sponsored on Black Surgeons and Nurses during the Civil War. If I remember correctly, both Augusta and Abbott attended a White House reception, and Bob Lincoln was ready to toss them out until the President and First Lady calmed him down.