Deposition
[John Mills]

Deposition
[John Mills]

John Mills was nineteen years old, 5’7” tall, from St. Augustine, FL when he mustered into the United States Colored Troops, 33rd Regiment, Company F on November 12, 1862 in Beaufort, SC as a Sergeant. His wife was Selina Mills. He was reduced to ranks then deserted August 04, 1863 and died a deserter August 23, 1863 on Coosaw Island, South Carolina and was buried there.

James Brown likely employed code-switching during his deposition interview, a tactic which may have meant subjecting himself to prejudice while simultaneously disproving or refusing that prejudice:

“I served in Co F 33 U.S.C.T. I enlisted April 19, 1863 and was discharged on Feby 8, 1866 at Charleston S.C. When I joined the above company at Camp Mills near Beaufort SC I first met John Mills who was a serg’t in the Co.”

Audience expectations on race

James Brown

USCT 33rd Regiment, Company F

University of North Florida Special Collections, Jacksonville, FL

Flagler College

08/26/1893

Diana Blood,
Lewis Blood,
Peter Johnson,
Bristow (?) Eddy,
Domingo "Mingo"? Norman,
Mary F------ (?),
Abram Lancaster,
John Williams,
Frank Johnson,
John Rivers,
Benjamin Martin,
William Benjamin,
Jack Toomer,
Toby McKnight,
Frederick Fripp (?),
Edmond Washington

Box 4, Folder 13