It seems like these last few weeks have been filled with nothing but news of illness and loss; and again this morning I woke up to learn of the passing of another friend.
I was first introduced to Nicholas Lusher back in 2018, as I began my journey into the early history of photography in Bermuda. To say he was an expert – and I do not toss that word around lightly – was an understatement, having an academic, professional, and personal/family background that did in fact make him what his obituary referred to as an “internationally esteemed art and antiques dealer dedicated to preserving the island’s cultural heritage.” But he was so much more than the acclaimed Caribbean and New York art dealer on the surface.
Upon learning of my interests, Nicky welcomed me into his world immediately, excited to provide research material, make referrals, and open doors that I otherwise would never have had as an outsider to Bermuda. We collaborated for several years thereafter as collectors, historians, and ultimately as friends. Once I published my story on photographer Samuel W. Gault (which I naively thought would be the end of my research), we remained in contact to share new historical findings and “talk shop.” And despite the fact he was in the business to find and sell art, he would frequently tip me off when Gault images would pop up in the marketplace, giving me the first chance on them.
I will forever be grateful for Nicky’s mentorship and the legacy he leaves in the art world, but most of all I send my deepest condolences to his family, of which I know he so loved and cherished even more. Requiescat in pace, my friend.
Among many others who I thank for their service today, I remember my grand-uncle, Burnie Robert Taylor (pictured here as a young man, on the right.)
Charles Hobson Taylor and Burnie Robert Taylor as boys, circa 1903.
Uncle Burnie was born in Brunswick County, Virginia, in 1893, but raised primarily just across the state line in Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina. He enlisted at the age of 22 in Company F of the 3rd North Carolina Infantry (National Guard) on June 26, 1916, prior to the American entry into World War I, and spent his early training in El Paso, Texas, as a part of General Pershing’s expedition against Pancho Villa.
His unit was drafted and federalized in August 1917, becoming the 120th Infantry, a part of the 30th Division, under the Command of British General Henry Rawlinson during much of the War. Uncle Bernie rose to the rank of Sergeant, and during what was known as the Hundred Days Offensive, was wounded in action on October 9, 1918. According to the family history, he was was felled by machine gun fire to his left hip, and lay on the field wounded for close to a day somewhere near Cambrai, France. He was eventually rescued, and spent the coming months at the Red Cross Military Hospital (No. 21) at Paignton, Devon, England. In December 1918, Uncle Burnie was transported to Liverpool, enroute back to the United States. He arrived in January 1919, and was discharged from Camp Lee, Virginia.
After the War, he returned home to Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina, where he worked the rest of his life as a textile mill worker. He was married to Fannie Eula Collier, and he passed away on January 23, 1976.
Typically on a day like today the history nerd in me tries to attend a lecture or do something to commemorate the event. Unfortunately, I was unable to participate in any of the local Juneteenth activities due to some other obligations, but that did not keep me idle.
This afternoon, I decided to take a walk and reflect on the occasion. I walk a lot around downtown. My normal stroll from the office takes me across the railroad tracks following Main Street to Suffolk’s historic Cedar Hill Cemetery. I find a lot of inspiration there. Today, I intentionally took a different route… and headed along Market Street to Oak Lawn Cemetery.
For those not familiar, Oak Lawn is located across the street from City Hall – adjacent to the City Registrar and Social Services building. Though there was a cemetery there prior, this was established officially as “Oak Lawn Cemetery” in 1885 and thereafter became the final resting place of a literal “Who’s Who” of Suffolk African-American leaders and their families. But I digress…
So why did I go there? Well I’m not quite sure one can begin to talk about history without going to the source of it all and for me that has always been through visits to cemeteries. To this very point, I recalled from a prior visit some years back that there were a number of veterans buried at Oak Lawn. Specifically, Union veterans, which made me ask who are they and what is their story? I really wasn’t sure what I would find, and quite candidly, did not really think I would make a Juneteenth connection, as this celebration really started off as a Texas holiday (I should mention that here on the east coast, most freed slaves recognized January 1st as “Emancipation Day” and held celebrations & parades of this well into the early 1900s).
Today though, I can now tell a Suffolk-centric Juneteenth story, of course only after a little sleuthing later this evening, chasing some rabbit holes (literally) at the cemetery, and some good old fashioned fate on my side.
Allow me to introduce you to Redmond Parker.
Redmond Parker was a native of Hertford County, North Carolina, and by occupation a farmer when he enlisted on December 12, 1863 at Camp Hamilton/Fort Monroe in Company E of the 1st Regiment United States Colored Cavalry. One website focusing on this regiment’s history (1stuscoloredcavalary.wordpress.com) described the early organization as including “free men, freedom seekers and white officers from the United States and abroad.” In researching Parker’s compiled service records from the National Archives, the Company muster book described him as being twenty years old and 5’8” tall, with black eyes, hair, and complexion.
Parker was briefly promoted to Sergeant of his Company, but then reduced to ranks as a Private by February 1864 for unknown reasons. His service with the regiment continued on though without interruption, the regiment serving on the peninsula until May of 1864. They then participated in the battles comprising the Bermuda Hundred Campaign and the Siege of Petersburg up to August of 1864. Following this, Parker’s Company E was detached to serve at Fort Powhatan and Harrison’s Landing from August 1864 to May 1865. After the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia and Tennessee occurred, the regiment was ordered to Texas.
And that is where we make our Juneteenth connection. The regiment left Virginia on June 10, 1865 from City Point (Hopewell), and by the time they reached Texas soil – of course sometime shortly after June 19 – U.S. Army Major General Gordon Granger had issued his General Order No. 3, announcing the freedom of all slaves in Texas.
As for Redmond Parker, while initially I was unsure of his actual status, I located a Freedman’s Bureau record confirming that he was a slave in 1863, and preliminary research suggests he was on the Hertford County plantation of Oris Parker. Thus, it is presumed he either escaped or was freed by passing Union troops, enabling him to go Fort Monroe and join the Union army. But regardless of status, he and his comrades arrived to a newly freed Texas in the summer of 1865. That irony of their situation and freedom some time before was probably not lost on them. The 1st Regiment Colored Cavalry spent their time here occupied in patrols along the Rio Grande. On February 4, 1866, the regiment and Redmond Parker were mustered out at Brazo Santiago following twenty six months of service.
After the War, Parker came to Virginia and settled in Princess Anne County (now Virginia Beach), taking a position as a laborer for a wage of $10.00 a month. In the early 1870s, he married Vinnie Jenkins and began a family, settling in the Holy Neck community of Nansemond County. It was here that he and his wife raised six children. Parker later took a civil service job at the Norfolk Navy Yard, initially as a general laborer and worked his way up through the trades as a mason and a teamster. He continued in this employment for several decades to come.
At the age of 74, Redmond Parker passed away from a stroke on December 29, 1918. An obituary in the Norfolk Ledger-Star noted that he was “one of Suffolk’s oldest and most respected colored citizens… he was a member of the local camp of old veterans, having served in the Civil War.” His funeral was conducted at the First Baptist Church, Mahan Street, followed by burial at Oak Lawn.
And so on this June 19th, not only do you know a real Juneteenth story, you know one with a connection to Suffolk.
Here’s to some Friday evening local #fredonhistory in honor of the 162nd anniversary of the battle of Hampton Roads, March 8-9, 1862.
From my collection of images is this cabinet card of Confederate States Navy Commander William Augustin Webb.
Born in 1824 in Virginia, William A. Webb hailed from a strong maritime family – his father Thomas Tarleton Webb serving several decades in the U.S. Navy and reached the distinguished rank of Captain. Following in his father’s footsteps, the younger Webb entered the Navy at an early age, and also quickly demonstrated his capabilities. By 1854 he had been promoted to Lieutenant.
Upon the outbreak of the War Between the States, Webb resigned and offered his services to Virginia and ultimately the Confederacy. He was commissioned a 1st Lieutenant and initially assigned to duty in Florida, but returned to Virginia for service with the James River Squadron by the spring of 1862. Here, Webb was placed in command of the Teaser, a converted eighty-foot tugboat armed with only two guns – 32 lb and 12 lb cannon.
It was in this service in March of 1862, the Teaser (and Webb) would distinguish itself in its supporting role alongside the CSS Virginia (Merrimack) as it clashed with unprepared wooden gunboats and ultimately the U.S.S Monitor. In the after-action report of Captain Franklin Buchanan, he noted that the Squadron and “W. A. Webb, of the Teaser, deserves great praise for their gallant conduct throughout the engagement. Their judgment in selecting their positions for attacking the enemy was good; their constant fire was destructive, and contributed much to the success of the day. The general order under which the squadron went into action required that, in the absence of all signals, each commanding officer was to exercise his own judgment and discretion in doing all the damage he could to the enemy, and to sink before surrendering.”
After the battle, Webb went on to serve in a variety of roles with the CS Navy and was promoted to Commander by 1863. There is much more I can add about his time from this point until War’s end, but I will save that story for another day!
More importantly, if you want to learn more about the Battle of Hampton Roads, I invite you out to The Mariners’ Museum and Park this weekend as they commemorate this historic event with opportunities to view artifacts, as well as enjoy a number of lectures and programs for all ages.
Fred~on~History 