Though I personally have found few examples of White soldiers defrauding Black recruits of the bounties promised them in return for their enlistment during the American Civil War, it was apparently a common practice. The following deposition is one such example. It was made by Evert D. Keator, a 20 year-old illiterate Black man of Marbletown, Ulster county, New York. Evert (or Everett) was eventually placed in Co. C, 20th U. S. Colored Troops (USCT), but his deposition—recorded by Lt. William H. Folk of the 173rd New York—tells a tale of deception and fraud committed by a former captain of the 156th New York Infantry named William H. Van Wagenen, who had been previously cashiered in January 1863 on the finding of a court martial who found him guilty of multiple charges. These included:

Charge 1st—”Conduct to the prejudice of good order and military discipline.”
Charge 2d–“Breach of arrest.”
Charge 3d–“Conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman.”
Charge 4th—” Direct disobedience of orders.”

Evert’s deposition states that he was accompanied by two others from Ulster county named George W. Ellsworth and John J. Ellsworth. I initially assumed they were also Black but I could not find any enlistments for them among the Black regiments. However, I did find a George W. Ellsworth and a John E. Ellsworth of Hurley, Ulster county, both 18 years of age, who enlisted on 30 November 1863 (the same day as Keator) in New York City and were taken into Co. K, 158th New York Infantry. Both enlisted for two years and served out their time in the 158th and in the last couple months of the war in the 100th New York—both of them obviously illiterate White soldiers who also signed (with their marks) a similar deposition (see below) with the same story. Their deposition demonstrates that illiterate Whites were as vulnerable to these fraudulent practices as illiterate Blacks.

To learn more of the foul business of the so called “bounty brokers,” see an excellent article entitled, “Honoring Pvt. William H. Halsey, 20th USCT” that appears on The Washingtonville Cemetery website.

Transcription

Draft & Volunteer Rendezvous
Riker’s Island, New York Harbor
December 5th 1863

Evert D. Keator of the town of Marbletown, County of Ulster, & State of New York, being duly sworn, deposes and says, that on the evening of November 29th 1863 while at Rhinecliff Hotel, Rhinebeck Landing, Dutchess County, New York, in company with George W. and John J. Ellsworth, on their way to the City of New York to enlist, were met by one William Van Wagenen (personally know to me) & who claims to be the Major of the 156th Regt. N. Y. Vols. The deponent further says that the said Van Wagenen represented to him (deponent) that he could enlist him in the 156th Regt. N. Y. State Vols. & accompanied deponent together with the aforesaid George W. and John I. Ellsworth to the City of New York on steamboat (believed to be Rip Van Winkle). On our arrival in New York City, Monday morning November 30th 1863, were taken by said Van Wagenen to a hotel, had our breakfast & while at the hotel, said would get three hundred and seventy off dollars cash (in hand) down, twenty-five dollars of which he would pay us as soon as we were sworn in and the balance on the following day at Riker’s Island. The said Van Wagenen agreed to draw the Bounty for us & deponent verily believes he did draw the same and has failed to come to this Rendezvous & pay said balance and deponent has neither seen nor heard of said Van Wagenen since mustering in, on which day we were paid twenty-five dollars as agreed by said Van Wagenen. And deponent further says that he believes said Van Wagenen intends to defraud him out of said money, that he is now informed he cannot be assigned to the 156th Regiment N. Y. State Vols, it being a regiment composed entirely of white men whereas the deponent is colored.

Evert D. Keator (his mark)

Sworn to before me this 5th day of December 1863

I certify that there is no civil magistrate at this post before whom affidavits can be taken.

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Draft Volunteer Rendezvous
Riker’s Island, Harbor of New York
December 5th 1863

Evert D. Keator of the town of Marbletown, County of Ulster, & State of New York, being duly sworn, deposes and says, that on the evening of Nov. 29th, 1863, while at the Rhinecliff House, Rhinecliff, Dutchess county, New York,in company with George W. & John J. Ellsworth, on the way to the City of New York to enlist, they were met by one William Van Wagenen (personally known to deponent) & claims to be Major of the 156th N. Y. S. Vols. The deponent further says that the said Van Wagenen represented to him he could enlist him in the 156th N. Y. S. Vols. and accompanied deponent & the aforesaid George W. & John I. Ellsworth to the City of New York on steamboat believed to be the Rip Van Winkle. On our arrival in the City of New York, Monday morning, November 30th 1863, were taken to a hotel by said Van Wagenen, had our breakfast and while at the hotel, said Van Wagenen represented to us that each of us would get three hundred and seventy odd dollars cash down, twenty-five of which he would pay as soon as we were mustered or sworn in & the balance on the following day at Riker’s Island. That said Van Wagenen, the two Ellsworths & myself, then went to Lafayette Hall in Broadway, New York, where the Ellsworths & myself enlisted, each of us designating the 156th Regiment as the regiment we enlisted for. We each signed or made our marks to a number of papers but as deponent cannot read writing, he cannot tell what they were. Said Van Wagenen, who had been present during all the time, now handed to a clerk, a person engaged at the recruiting office, some money and said clerk or person immediately handed to each of the two Ellsworths and myself the sum of twenty-five dollars. That it was agreed between us and aforesaid Van Wagenen that he should draw the entire bounty of $377 or whatever the sum might be for us, & promised to do so and come to Riker’s Island on the following day & pay us the balance. Deponent verily believes that the said Van Wagenen has drawn the entire bounty due the deponent and that he has falsely and fraudulently appropriated the same to his own use. He has not come to Riker’s Island nor has he paid or offered to pay the balance of said bounty to deponent. Deponent further says that he confided in said Van Wagenen because of his official position in the regiment which deponent expected to join. Deponent further says he is now informed he cannot be assigned to the 156th Regiment, that being composed entirely of White men whereas the deponent is Colored.

Evert D. Keator (his mark)

5th day of December 1863

Wm. H. Folk, 1st Lt & Adjt. of 173rd Regt. N. Y. S. Vols.

I certify that the deponent could not be taken before a civil magistrate, there being none at this post. – Wm. H. Folk, 1st Lt. & Adjt. 173rd N. Y. S. Vols.

Deposition of George W. Ellsworth and John J. Ellsworth: