Glacier County chief., 1939-02-17

Born in slavery in Virginia in
1S43, and serving 20 years as a
soldier for Uncle Sam, from 1865
to 1885, is the brief history of
Moses Hunter of Miles City. Mr..
Hunters father was slave on the
Hunter plantation in Virginia from
which he derived his surname. He
remembers that his fathers name
was Jock Irving, as near as he
could recall the spelling of the
name, and that when he was freed
as slave by the emancipation
proclamation, he changed his name to
Jock Cowans.
Those were troublous days" says
Hunter. Everybody was talking about
slavery. My fathers ancestors were
brought to the United States in slave
owners in Virginia. I knew my father
was looking forward to the time when
there would be no slavery. I came to
feel. as I grew up that something
should be done about it. I felt that
it wasn't right for my people to be
looked upon as property. I can remem-
Der when black folks were sold like
Catlle. lley Ildu 10 90 Will llIt NIL4tt
man who bid the most money for
them. I didn't like the thing.
In Civil War
IT remember when the Civil war
broke out. I was getting pretty we'll
along in years then; a young man who
thought there should be no slavery
Marse Lincoln called for volunteers.
was too young. but when I grew older
around 20 as he remembered I rar
away when Marse Lincoln madn his
last call in the winter of 1866
Young Hunter went to east Tnnnes-
see and enlisted on April 26. 1865 al
Greenville. Greene county. Tenn, in
company H of the 4Oth regiment.
United States colored infantry volun-
teers. He enlisted for three years. bu.
was honorably discharged at Chatta-
nooga Tenn. on April 25. 1855 He
stated that he was given credit for
two years service in the army
A discrepancy appears in Hunters
birth date. He says it was in 1913.
while in his first discharge papers the
date is given as l845.
In Indian Country
Returning to Virginia in the spring
of 1866. back to the old plantation
Hunter worked on the railroad for
about a year. He heard about the In
dian warfare and went to Knoxville
/
sent to Nashville, where he was sworn
in as member of the 38th infantry
to serve three years. The unit was sent
to Kansas where guard duty was per-
formed and chains carried for building
the Union Pacific railroad. He followed
the line of building through Kansas.
Colorado. Utah. and on to where Los
Angeles is now located. and then back
to Omaha In the early summer of
n ic
where it was consolidated with the
4lst infantry when he was transferred
with company I of the 3Sth infantry
to become a member Of company I of
the oath infantry.
With the expiration Of his term of
enlistment. he re-enliSted again on
June g. 1870, as member of company
Armstrong. commanding. and was
honorably discharged at Fort Brown.
Tex, on June 90. 1875.
Stays With Army
On Dec. 90. 1875. he re-enlisted in
the same company and regiment and
was honorably discharged on Dec. %,
1880 at a camp near Red River. In
dian territory, having served under
Capt. A. C. Markley.
On Dec. 20, 1880 he re-enlisted again
in the same company and regiment.
and was honorably discharged at Fort
Supply. Indian territory, on Dec. %,
1885, making a total of 20 years that
he practically served continuously in
the United States army.
Today at either "a or 90 years Of
age. residing with his daughter in
Miles City. Hunter is slightly bent
under the weight Of his years His eye
sight is becoming dim His physical
vigor, however, despite his years is
still good. His memory is unfailing.
During the years since his retirement
from the army he has made his home