Letter from 1st Sergeant Stephen Swails to the Adjutant General
1/14/1864
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This letter was written by 1st Sergeant Stephen A. Swails of the 54th Regiment of Massachusetts Infantry to Adjutant General Edward D. Townsend. In it, he demanded equal pay for colored troops or requested to be mustered out of the service.
Additional details from our exhibits and publications
1st Sgt. Stephen A. Swails of Company F believed the Army had not honored its obligations regarding his pay. While white first sergeants were receiving $20 per month, Swails was receiving only $7. In this letter, he asked to be mustered out of the Army.
This primary source comes from the Records of the Adjutant General's Office.
National Archives Identifier: 594888
Full Citation: Letter from 1st Sergeant Stephen Swails to the Adjutant General; 1/14/1864; Records of the Adjutant General's Office, Record Group 94. [Online Version, https://docsteach.org/documents/document/letter-from-1st-sergeant-stephen-swails-to-the-adjutant-general, April 26, 2024]Rights: Public Domain, Free of Known Copyright Restrictions. Learn more on our privacy and legal page.