Of "Desdemona's Struggle": A Search for a Black Family in Civil War America.

This article discusses a collection of pen and ink sketches acquired by American Ancestors that depict the efforts of Desdemona Carter, an African American woman, to secure a Union Army pension in the late 1800s. The sketches provide valuable insight into the experiences of Black soldiers during the Civil War and the postbellum era, shedding light on the inequities they faced in the pension system. The article also explores the connection between the sketches and the Fort Pillow massacre, a significant event during the war. The pension files of two Black soldiers, Richard and Robert Carter, are examined, revealing challenges faced by Black women in applying for pensions and discrepancies in the available records. Overall, the sketches offer a glimpse into the real experiences of African American soldiers during the Civil War. [Extracted from the article]