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.

Diana Blood recounted the loss she felt by her daughter’s move to Florida from their home in South Carolina. By doing so, Blood describes how John Mills’ death caused ripple effects of loss throughout the community.

“He begged me a long time for the gal but I would not consent to allow her to go from me and be taken to Florida…. After Mills’ death Amanda Johnson, Mills’ mother came up from Florida looking for her daughter-in-law. Selina met her in Beaufort and in about two weeks they went off to Florida together.”

Mandatory depositions meant witnesses had to relive traumatic experiences of loss.

Diana Blood

Mother-in-law

University of North Florida Special Collections, Jacksonville, FL

Flagler College

11/06/1893

James Brown,
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