Sacrifices for Freedom: Stories of African American Civil War Soldiers
Private Charles Annin, Somerville NJ Edition #18
Local Civil War Veterans Emanuel Field, Theodore Layton, Norman Rodger and Gabriel Harris rest peacefully in Somerville, NJ’s New Cemetery. These United States Colored Troops (USCT) were among the 10,940 soldiers trained at Camp William Penn , a segregated facility in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Their regiments were raised at Camp Penn between 1863 and 1865. After completing service-time commitments Field, Layton, Rodger and Harris returned to the area and resumed their lives. Other fellow serviceman Charles Annin died fighting for freedom. Annin’s sacrifice is a Somerville story worth knowing.
Charles Annin, Private Company I 8th Regiment (1835–1864)
In 1850, 15 year old Charles Annin and 10 year old Julia Brocaw (1840-?) resided in Hillsborough at the home of Zacheus Bergen. Both Charles and Julia were identified as laborers. Julia remained in Hillsborough until she and Charles married in 1860. The couple and 1-year old son, John H. Annin made Somerville their home. Charles worked as a hostler, or horse attendant and Juila remained as a domestic on the Bergen farm.
Private Charles Annin, also spelled Annon, Anon, or Amon, mustered into Company I of the 8th United States Colored Troops Regiment on November 26, 1863. The 8th Regiment trained for two months at Camp William Penn. PA. The 8th Regiment enlistees included Pennsylvania, Maryland and Delaware free men, as well as Southern African American prisoners of war. The 8th Regiment joined Howell’s Brigade at Hilton Head, South Carolina in December 1863 and then were called to the District of Florida in February 1864.
The Battle of Olustee, Florida
On February 20, 1864, four months after enlistment, Charles Annin (Amon) was reported missing in action at The Battle of Olustee. Also known as the Battle of Ocean Pond, it was the largest Civil War battle fought in Florida. The 5,500 soldiers on each side included three USCT regiments. The Union forces were defeated and the 8th Regiment suffered 87 casualties. Charles Annin was listed as missing in action and presumed dead. Private Annin remained on the list of missing in action for 16 years. In 1880, war time records revealed that Annin survived the Battle of Olustee and became a prisoner of war. For nearly nine months, February to October, Pvt. Annin remained jailed until his death at the Andersonville Prison in Georgia.
Julia Annin: A Widow’s Story
Widow Julia Brocaw Annin remained a Somerville resident. In 1880, she resided in the home of James Van Kirk in the Lottery Field Section (High Street). Presumably, Julia Annin received a Civil War widow’s pension until 1887 when “conduct unbecoming” disqualified her eligibility.
Neither the details of the unbecoming conduct nor the legality of a widow’s pension suspension are known. The revocation of payments created a precarious financial situation. In 1895 Julia Annin lived in Somerville in a, “ one-story wooden shanty of two rooms,” with more than seven housemates.
Charles Annin’s sacrifice for freedom and its impact on Julia Annin’s life is a Somerville story to be shared.
