Their Story
Harvey Abell was born in Marion, Kentucky, about 1833 or 1834[1]. He was a slave, owned by Loretto Academy when he enlisted. Loretto Academy was a school run by Roman Catholic Nuns, The Sisters of Loretto at the Foot of the Cross[2]. The Academy opened its first school in 1832. The records doesn’t indicate when or how Harvey became enslaved at Loretto Academy. Harvey’s military record is the only clue of his enslavement.
Harvey enlisted in the Union Army on August 1, 1864, at Lebanon, Kentucky[3], about 15 miles southeast of Nerinx, Kentucky where the Academy is located. Harvey’s record indicates he did not have permission of his owner to enlist. Harvey likely walked the 15 miles to Lebanon to enlist.
From Lebanon, Harvey traveled by train to Louisville, Kentucky where he was mustered into Company A, 108th Infantry, United States Colored Troops, (USCT) at Taylor Barracks.[4]
Mustering in is when you are assigned to a unit, issued your uniform, and equipment.[5]
After training and receiving his clothing and equipment Harvey and the rest of Company A were sent to Owensboro, Kentucky on the Ohio River. They were to guard the docks that were used to receive supply to support Union troops in the south.[6]
The 108th Infantry Regiment reassembled in Louisville and left for Rock Island Prison Barracks by train on September 21, 1864, arriving September 24, 1864. The Regiment’s assignment was to guard Confederate prisoners of war at Rock Island.[7]
The Regiment arrived at the “Depot for Prisoner of War at Rock Illinois” on September 24, 1864. Like other soldiers of the 108th, Private Harvey Abell’s, primary duty was to guard the confederate soldiers imprisoned at Rock Island.[8]
Sadly, Private Harvey Abell did not see the end of the war. On January 27, 1865 a very cold night, Harvey was on duty guarding the prisoners, Private Abell sat down inside a windbreak to shelter himself from the cold, fell asleep, and froze to death. Pvt Harvey Abell is buried in Grave 27, Rock Island National Cemetery
[1] Fold3 Compiled military service records of volunteer Union soldiers belonging to the 56th through 138th infantry units, United States Colored Troops (USCT), 1864-1866. https://www.fold3.com/image/302542979?terms=america,united,abell,states,harvey Accessed 5/20/2023.
[2] LOREtto Blog, Federal Census Evidence for Loretto Slave holding, 1820-1860, Posted on November 18, 2020, by Loretto Community https://www.lorettocommunity.org/federal-census-evidence-for-loretto-slaveholding-1820-1860/ Accessed 5/20/2023.
[3] Fold3 Compiled military service records of volunteer Union soldiers belonging to the 56th through 138th infantry units, United States Colored Troops (USCT), 1864-1866. https://www.fold3.com/image/302542979?terms=america,united,abell,states,harvey Accessed 5/20/2023.
[4] IBID
[5] Wikipedia contributors, “Muster (military),” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Muster_(military)&oldid=1146110874 (accessed May 22, 2023).
[6] The Road to Freedom, A History of the 108th Infantry Regiment (USCT) by Edwin Reiter, Published 2015.
[7] IBID
[8] IBID