Officers of the USCT
All identified themselves with being in other regiments and not as USCT except possibly Lieut. Parmenter and Lieut. Bascombe.
ALLEN, Seneca - Captain, 85th NY. Detailed to command the black recruits after the Battle of Plymouth began. He was captured during the battle and was held prisoner at Macon & Savannah, GA; Charleston & Columbia, SC and Richmond, VA. He escaped from prison twice but was recaptured. Paroled on 26 March 1865.
BAKER, William Frederick – Major, 10th USCT. First commissioned as Captain 22 Sept 61 of Co. D, 9th Maine Infantry. Resigned 20 March 63 as Major. Appointed Major in the 10th USCT on 9 Nov 63 & mustered in 6 Dec 63 at Fortress Monroe, VA. On recruiting duty 28 March 64 at Plymouth, NC. 2nd Lieut. John A. Reed, 2nd NC Union Volunteers, stated that a Major Baker from the "10th Maine" came with him to Plymouth from Roanoke Island on April 18th, 1864 on the Massasoit. Captured 20 April 1864 at Plymouth, NC. Exchanged 3 Aug 64 at Charleston, SC.
BASCOMBE, Richard - 2nd Lieutenant, 38th USCT. Born in England. Enlisted 26 Aug 1862 into Co. C, 50th NY Engineers at Rome, NY, a 39 year old Carpenter. Mustered in as a Private. Wounded 11 Dec 1862 at Fredericksburg, VA. Promoted to Corporal on 27 Dec 1862. Promoted to Sergeant on 16 March 1864. Discharged 26 March 1864 for promotion to 2nd Lieutenant, 38th USCT. Captured 20 April 1864 at Plymouth, NC before being mustered in as 2nd Lieut. At the time of capture stated that he was a Lieut. with the 50th NY Engineers, but at some point that he revealed he was an officer of USCTs. POW at Camp Asylum, Columbia, SC among others.
FRENCH, George W. - 2nd Lieutenant & Recruiting Officer, 2nd U.S. Colored Cavalry. Born 1839 in Amsterdam, Montgomery Co., NY, son of Benjamin & Barbara Ann (Shuler) French. Enrolled 21 Jan 63 at Buffalo, NY, a 24 year old Clerk. Mustered into Co. F, 12th NY Cavalry as a QM Sgt. Transferred 20 May 63 to Co. E. Reduced 11 Nov 63 to 5th Sergeant. Admitted Nov 63 - Feb 64 sick in the hospital at New Bern, NC. Transferred Feb 64 & commissioned 7 March 64 as a 2nd Lieutenant & recruiting officer for the 2nd United States Colored Cavalry, under Captain Dennison. Captured 19 April 64 at Plymouth, NC. At the time of capture, one account states he identified himself as a member of the 12th NY Cavalry and was sent to Andersonville, GA. (Squad 39, 2nd Mess) Admitted 1 June 64 to the prison hospital with Remittent Fever under the name of Private, John Burns, Co. G, 2nd MA Heavy Artillery. It is unclear if he took the name of John Burns at Plymouth or Andersonville. Attending Assistant Surgeon Ashley W. Barrows, who was familiar with him from Plymouth, identified him after his death on 4 July 1864 incorrectly as Lieut G. W. French of the 37th U.S.C.C. His regiment was identified correctly after the war. Grave 2888. Headstone. Memorial Headstone at Green Hill Cemetery, Amsterdam, NY. Mother Barbara applied 1 Feb 1869 for pension #171059/133975. Statement by Ashley M. Barrows, Hospital Steward, in the mother's pension file stated incorrectly that he died from Chronic Diarrhea on 1 Aug 1864 which added to the confusion of his actual death date.
MARVIN, Hiram Leonard - Captain, Co. B, 37th USCT. Born 6 Aug 1835 in NY, son of Hiram & Polly Marvin. Enlisted 10 Sept 61 in the 85th NY at Friendship, NY at age 26. Mustered in 28 Sept 61 as Private, Co. C. Promoted 9 April 62 to Sergeant Major. After S. B. Adams was promoted, Hiram was commissioned 31 July 63 as 2nd Lieutenant with rank from 2 May 63. Never mustered in the 85th as 2nd Lieut. Discharged 5 Oct 63 for promotion to 2nd Lieutenant, Co. D, 3rd NC Colored Infantry. Promoted to Captain by General Wild due to the death of Captain Daniel Foster. Began recruiting for the 3rd NC Colored Troops on 7 Nov 63. Served as Captain of Co. E & F as well. The 3rd NC Colored Troops became the 37th USCT in Feb 64 when he became Captain, Co. B. Captured 20 April 64 at Plymouth, NC. In 1894, Charlie Mosher, 85th NY, stated, "The captain reduced himself to the ranks without a hint of a court-martial. It was Private Martin in a private's uniform. He did not wish to be known as an officer of colored troops." Paroled 25 Feb 65 from the prison at Goldsboro, NC.
McNARY, Oliver R. – Major, 37th USCT. Born 1 Feb 1823 in North Strabane Twp, Washington Co., PA, the son of John & Jane (Hill) McNary. Married 16 Sept 1846 to Eleanor Grove. Recruiting officer and acting Superintendent of Negro affairs at Plymouth, formerly the Quarter Master of the 103d PA Infantry. Captured at the Battle of Plymouth. He blended in with the ranks of the 103rd PA to escape identification.
PARMENTER, Daniel Webster - 2nd Lieutenant, Co. G, 10th USCT. Detailed 26 March 64 to recruiting duty at Plymouth, NC. Captured 20 April 64 at Plymouth, NC. No record if he identified himself as a USCT officer. On approximately 24 April 64, he is reported to have been shot while trying to escape at Tarboro, NC. Also listed as dying at Weldon, NC.