Black in Blue: Blacks in the Navy

From the Feb. 19th Columbus (Ga) WTVM 9 News "Black In Blue" African Americans in the Civil War Navies" by Brittany Dionne.

A history program was held at the Natinal Civil War Naval Museum in Columbus, Georgia, about three people.

Moses Dallas was a nominal slave (new term for me). Owner, Mrs. Elbert, gave him papers and he could live where he wanted, negotiate his own contracts and keep the money he earned. He loved being a pilot for ships so remained a slave because of a Georgia law which did not allow a free black to be a pilot. A slave, however, could be one.

He had used the money he earned to buy the freedom of his wife and daughter and worked in the Confederate Navy for three years before piloting the expedition to capture the USS Water Witch in which he and five others were killed.

The Confederate Navy had full military honors at his funeral and paid for it, but his last paycheck was sent to Mrs. Elbert and not his widow.

Now, This Is An Interesting Story. --Old B-Runer