Lewis Carter (65th USCT)

Lewis (Louis) Carter, aka Lewis Cobb, was born in Albemarle County, Virginia around the year 1842. Lewis was one of the Carter family slaves who originally lived in Albemarle County until moving to Missouri in  1852. While still enslaved, Lewis Carter enlisted in the Union Army for a period of three years on December 10, 1863, at the age of 21. Lewis then mustered into the 65th USCT Infantry Regiment on December 18, as a private in Company A. Giving his occupation as farmer, he was described as 5 feet, 5 inches tall, with black hair, eyes, and complexion.

The 65th USCT was responsible for multiple jobs throughout the war. At one point, they performed Garrison duties at both Morganza and Baton Rouge, Louisiana, for the Department of the Gulf. While this regiment did not see much military action during the war, it suffered many casualties due to the rampant diseases that claimed the lives of more than 750 men. Lewis spent most of his time in the army as a carpenter while the regiment was located in the fort. Then, on December 17, 1866, Lewis Carter mustered out of his unit due to expiration of his term of service. He did not file a pension, and no further details of his post-war life have been found.

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DATABASE CONTENT
Name:Carter, Lewis
Alternative names:
  • Carter, Louis (alternative name)
  • Cobb, Lewis (alternative name)
Roles:
  • Soldier
Gender:M
Race:Black
Regiment/Ship:
RegimentCompany
65th Regiment Infantry U.S. Colored Troops A
Branch of service:Army
Enlistment/Muster:
TypeDatePlaceAccepted/RejectedAgeStatusReason
Enlistment1863-12-10Troy, MOaccepted21Slave
Muster In1863-12-18Benton Barracks St. Louis, MO
Muster Out1866-12-17Baton Rouge, LAMustered Out
Residence at enlistment:Lincoln County, MO
Rank In:Private
Rank Out:Private
Highest rank achieved:Private
Pensions:
Person 1Person 2NumberRelation Type
Carter, Lewisnoneapplication-invalid
Carter, Lewisnoneapplication-minor
Carter, Lewisnoneapplication-parent
Carter, Lewisnoneapplication-widow
Birth date:1842
Birth date certainty:About
Birth place:Albemarle County, VA
Death date:
Death place:
Causes of death:
Occupations:Farmer
Relationships:
Person 1Relation TypePerson 2
Carter, Sr., John Colesowner ofCarter, Lewis
SOURCES

Compiled Service Records for Lewis Carter, RG94, National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), Washington, D.C.; Frederick A. Dyer, A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion, vol. 3 (Des Moines, IA: Dyer Publishing Company, 1908); B. Noland Carter II, A Goodly Heritage: A History of the Carter Family in Virginia, vol. I (2003).