2-949-862 - Heritage Art/Heritage Images

Petition for compensation for slave pressed into military service, Civil War, 1863-12-04. The document refers to T. (or J.) Warren Nelson as the owner of a slave named Laurens who was 'impressed in May 1862 by John C. Nelson one of the Commissioners of Roads...to work for one month on the military fortifications at or near Charleston [in South Carolina]. That the said slave at the time of his impressment was about 20 years old, sound and healthy and a very valuable blacksmith. That he was retained in the service of the Confederate States...during which time, as appears in the accompanying certificate of Dr [illegible] he sickened and died of Congestive fever, and that...the said slave was worth...two thousand dollars...T. (or J.) Warren Nelson was the owner of said slave [who was]...never returned to his owner'. Signed by John L. Manning of Clarendon District, and James Tupper, State Auditor.