Chester, Thomas Morris. Thomas Morris Chester, Black Civil War Correspondent: His Dispatches from the Virginia Front. Edited by R. J. M. Blackett. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 1989. Petersburg, 95ff Explosion at City Point, 95 Fierce Confederate along the lines, 96 Dismissal of a lieutenant in the 36th USCT. 96-97 Lieutenant of 5th USCT killed in trenches by a sharpshooter, 97-98 Both sides firing at night, 98-99 Reorganization of colored troops, 99-101 Deep Bottom, General Birney, 102-5 Flag of truce, burial, 105 Stripping the Union dead, 105-6 Slave manacles, 106 Fighting along Weldon railroad, 107-8 Black troops before Petersburg, Birney, Butler, 108-110 9th USCT, casualties, 111=12 Artillery fire, 112-13 Soldier killed by a Confederate sharpshooter, 113 Friendly fire against 7th USCT, 4th New Hampshire, 113-14 Picket truce, 114-16 One member of the 5th USCT deserted to Confederates, 115 Execution, 115 Accidental shooting, 115 Railroad building, 116-17 General Birney, 117 Heavy firing along the line, 117 News from Atlanta, 118 Fatal accident withs shell, 118 Desertion of black soldiers, 118-19 Picket lines, 119 Incessant artillery fire, 120 Railroad building, 120 Casualties among black troops, 120-21 Regimental bands, 121-22 Confederate pickets dancing, 122 Confederates short of food, eager to trade tobacco, 122-23 Growing faith in black soldiers, 123 Confederate deserters, game a good meal, 123-24 Dutch Gap Canal, 124-25 Bravery of 6th Pa. USCT, 124-25 Evidence of southern barbarism in dealing with black soldiers, Washburn, Lee, Forrest, Fort Pillow, 125-34 Deep Bottom, Grant and Lee, 135 Casualties among black soldiers, 136 1 Salute to Sheridan’s victory in the Valley, 176-77 Mistreatment of black soldiers by Union troops, 177-78 Confederate deserters, 178-79 Chapin’s Bluff, 179 4th and 6th USCT, bravery, Confederate sharpshooters, 179-81 Chapin’s Farm, Kautz raid, 141-42 Gunboats on the James River, 142 Officers of black troops exchanged, brutal treatment of one officer, Henry Wise, Libby prison, 143-47 Reconnaissance, casualties among black troops, 147-49 Chapin’s Farm, black troops not given enough credit, acts of bravery, 149-52 Earthworks, army here to stay, 153 Most skeptical convinced that blacks will fight, 153 Prisoner exchange, well-dressed Confederate officers pretend all is well, naval prisoners, 153-62 Charges against a ship steward, 154-55 Sanitary Commission, 158-59 Cedar Creek, Army of the James, 163-64 55th Pennsylvania, 164-65 Confederate prisoners forced to work on earthworks under fire, Dutch Gap Canal, 165, 169 Butler’s canal, 165 Union artillery fire, 166 Review of black regiments, 167 Disciplining a lieutenant, 168 Death of General Birney, 169-70 Firing on Confederate navy in the James River, 170-71 Sutlers closed down, 171 Grant and substantial victory, 172 Boydton Plank Road, Hatcher’s Run, 172-84 Casualties in 1st USCT, 182-84 Criticism of officers, 185-86 Election of 1864, possible military plans on each side, McClellan, 186-87 Soldier voting, 188 Copperheads, McClellan, 188 Vote in the Army of the James, 189-91 Soldiers used to shelling, 191. 193-94 Lincoln and soldier voting, 191 Action along picket line at Bermuda Hundred, 192 Butler returns to army, will not become secretary of war, 192 Thanksgiving in the army, 194-95 Confederate shelling and casualties, 197 Soldier executed for encouraging desertion, 197-98 Bounty jumpers, 198 Construction of Confederate defenses, 198-99 Naval battle, Butler steam burned, 200-1 Organizing black soldiers into corps commanded by Weitzel, 201-2 Troubles with black soldiers declared unfit by surgeon and discharges, 202-3 2 Porter, Butler, Wilmington, 203-4 Sea voyage, 205-7 Torpedo boat, 207-9 Attack on Fort Fisher, bombardment, 207-17 Hospital boat, 218 Butler, 218-19 Underground railroad, 219-20 Affairs in Richmond, 220-21 Guerrillas, 221 General Ord, 221 Departure of Butler from the army, 221-23 Bermuda Hundred, 223 Underground railroad, runaway slaves, 223-24 Fort Burnham, 224 Dutch Gap Canal, 225 Confederate deserters, Pickett’s Division, 225-26 General Draper and Staff, 226 Rumors about evacuation of Richmond, 227, 229 Schoolhouses in camps, chaplains to be teachers, 228 Pickets and fraternization, 228-29 Confederates discontented with Jefferson Davis, mutiny, deserters, 229 Weather, 230 Dutch Gap Canal, 230-31 Semmes and James River squadron, rams, gunboats, 230-37 Confederate shell fire and damage, 234 Results of Confederate James River squadron attacks, 238-39 Confederate fasting, humiliation, and prayer, 239-40 Supplies for Confederate prisoners, 240 Logbook of the Confederate gunboat Drewry, 240-45 Cold weather, 245 Word from runaway slaves about conditions in Richmond, starvation, 245-46 Confederates and arming slaves, 247-51 Confederate deserters, 251 Former slave accused of theft, 252 Peace sentiments in Richmond and in Confederate army, 252-53 Trading tobacco for food, 253 Hungry Confederates cornfield of Boulware plantation, 254 Hungry Confederate deserters reluctant to surrender to black soldiers, 254 Disaffection in Richmond, Davis, 254-55 Anticipation of spring campaign, 255-26 Confederate organization between Fort Gilmor and James River, 257-59 Confederate navy on the James River, 259 Richmond war meetings do not reflect general opinions, 260 Amusing incidents on picket line, trading and buying by desperate Confederates, 260-61 Drilling of Draper’s Brigade, 261 Prisoner exchange, 262-67 3 Confederate plans for arming slaves, 263-64 Washington’s birthday, troop review, 268-70 Speculation on the end of the war, 270-71 Weather, roads in bad condition, 271, 273 Hatcher’s Run, 271-72 Citizens of doubtful loyalty passing north, women, 272 Recruits, bounty jumpers, 273 New York Herald correspondent ready to become an officer in black regiments, 273-74 Resolutions from Confederate regiments in Richmond papers are misleading, thinks were opinions could be freely expressed, majority favored return to the Union, 274-75 Jefferson Davis, 275-76 Arrival of Sheridan’s forces, 276-77 Vigorous spring campaign, soldiers confident, 277-78 Indian refugees, 278-79 Drilling and reviews, 279 Confederate deserters, 279-80 Marching orders and active operations, 280-81 Sword presentation for General Draper, 281-82 Confederate recruitment of black troops, 282-83 Eve of great battle. Speculation about evacuation of Richmond, 283-84 Virginia Unionist, 285-87 General Kautz, 287 Fall of Richmond, buildings, Lincoln, fire, 288-99 Jubilee at African church, 299-300 Cannon salute for Lee’s surrender, 300 Richmond, churches, feeling of Confederates, minister, 300-302 Black soldiers, who first entered Richmond, 302-3 Rejoicing of emancipated slaves, 303-5 Jefferson Davis, 305 Condition of Richmond, 305-6 Colored Sunday Schools, 306-7 Changes in Richmond, Confederates, arrival of Lee and staff, 307-309 Schools for freedmen, 309 Black bishop, 310 Good Friday services, 310 Lincoln assassination, 310-11, 318 Schools for black children in Richmond, 312 Confederates rejoice at Lincoln’s assassination, 312-13 Black soldiers, 313 Fire in Petersburg, 313-14 Black people in Richmond, 314 Robbing the dead, police, regulations, 314-15 Feeding people, 315-16 Certification of loyalty, General Hartsuff, General Weitzel, 316-17 Military occupation of Richmond, 320-23 Black Methodists, 322 4 Reception of Robert E. Lee, 323 Henry Halleck, 323 Confederates in authority and blacks, 324 Jefferson Davis, 324-25 Headquarters of General Mulford, 325-26 Death of John Wilkes Booth, 326 Black people and churches, 326-27 Passes to Richmond, 327 Blacks do not desire to go north, 327-28 Women in Richmond refuse to appear on the streets, 328 Meeting of blacks in Richmond, 328-331 Troops passing through Richmond, 331-32 Ball at army headquarters, 332 Provost marshal, former slaveholders, 333 Grand display of troops in Richmond, review, women, 334-35 Regiments, 335-37 Reward for Jefferson Davis, 337-38 General Ord, 338 Judge Ould, 338 Arrest of Confederate detectives, 338-39 Evacuation of Richmond, 339 Arrest of couriers, 340 Black troops, 340-41 Regular army officers, 341 Escape of a Major Turner from Libby Prison, 34`-42 Castle Thunder, 342 Arrest of Robert M. T. Hunter, 342 Sale of horses and mules, 343 Pontoon bridges, 343 Marriage, 343-44 Arrest of disloyal man, 344-45 Early reconstruction, 346ff 5 .