Alonzo Granville Draper (September 6, 1835 – September 3, 1865) was a volunteer officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War who eventually earned the grade of

brevet Brevet may refer to: Military * Brevet (military), higher rank that rewards merit or gallantry, but without higher pay * Brevet d'état-major, a military distinction in France and Belgium awarded to officers passing military staff college * Aircre ...

brigadier general. During his early career, Draper was an outspoken advocate of various social causes, particularly worker's rights. As an officer during the Civil War, Draper was best known as the commander of the 36th United States Colored Troops.Reid, 43.

Early career

Born in Brattleboro, Vermont, Draper eventually moved to Lynn, Massachusetts. He was known as an eloquent speaker and became a local leader of several social causes including temperance and

labor rights Labor rights or workers' rights are both legal rights and human rights relating to labor relations between workers and employers. These rights are codified in national and international labor and employment law. In general, these rights influen ...

.Casstevens, 132. In 1859, Draper was elected the first chairman of the Lynn Mechanics Association. In connection with this position, he also became editor of the '' New England Mechanic'', a publication dealing with the rights of industrial laborers. Draper was one of the key leaders of the

New England Shoemakers Strike of 1860 The New England Shoemakers Strike of 1860 began on February 22, 1860 with 3,000 shoemakers walking off their jobs in Lynn, Massachusetts. It ended in April with modest gains for shoemakers, including pay increases and owner recognition of some labor ...

, the first significant movement of its kind. The political popularity he earned as a champion of worker's rights helped him to become assistant

city marshal Marshal is a term used in several official titles in various branches of society. As marshals became trusted members of the courts of Medieval Europe, the title grew in reputation. During the last few centuries, it has been used for elevated o ...

in Lynn. A few years before the Civil War, Draper married Sarah Elizabeth Andrews of Boston. They would have six children including one set of twins.

Civil War service

Shortly after the beginning of the Civil War, Draper began recruiting a

company A company, abbreviated as co., is a Legal personality, legal entity representing an association of people, whether Natural person, natural, Legal person, legal or a mixture of both, with a specific objective. Company members share a common p ...

of volunteer soldiers in Lynn. Draper was commissioned

captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...

on July 5, 1861, and his company became Company C of the

14th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry The 1st Massachusetts Volunteer Heavy Artillery Regiment was a unit that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It was originally raised as the 14th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment. History 14th Mass Infantry The 1 ...

. The regiment trained at Fort Warren in Boston and departed for Washington, D.C., in August 1861. Soon after arriving in Washington, the 14th Massachusetts was assigned to

garrison A garrison (from the French ''garnison'', itself from the verb ''garnir'', "to equip") is any body of troops stationed in a particular location, originally to guard it. The term now often applies to certain facilities that constitute a mil ...

duty at Fort Albany in Arlington, Virginia, which was one of many fortifications defending the capital. The regiment spent months training in the use of heavy artillery and therefore, in January 1862, was re-organized and became the

1st Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Heavy Artillery The 1st Massachusetts Volunteer Heavy Artillery Regiment was a unit that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It was originally raised as the 14th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment. History 14th Mass Infantry The 1 ...

. On January 16, 1863, he was promoted to the grade of

major Major (commandant in certain jurisdictions) is a military rank of commissioned officer status, with corresponding ranks existing in many military forces throughout the world. When used unhyphenated and in conjunction with no other indicators ...

.Bowen, 917-918. In the summer of 1863, Brig. Gen. Edward A. Wild, also from Massachusetts, organized the creation of several units of North Carolina infantry regiments consisting of African-American volunteers who would fight for the Union. Draper desired to lead one of these regiments and sought the support of Governor John Albion Andrew of Massachusetts. Writing Gov. Andrew, Draper described his passion for

abolitionism Abolitionism, or the abolitionist movement, is the movement to end slavery. In Western Europe and the Americas, abolitionism was a historic movement that sought to end the Atlantic slave trade and liberate the enslaved people. The Britis ...

and his desire to support the rights of African-Americans. On August 2, 1863, he became colonel of the 2nd North Carolina Colored Volunteers. According to historian Richard Reid, Draper lived up to his promises, working to enlist freed slaves in his own and other African-American units, defending the men in his regiment in the face of racism on the part of other soldiers and officers, and implementing programs to educate former slaves in his unit. At the same time, Draper was also a harsh disciplinarian, dealing strictly with the men under his command. During their service in Virginia and North Carolina in 1863, the 2nd North Carolina was mainly assigned to expeditions in rural areas aimed at capturing and dispersing Confederate guerrillas and recruiting additional African-American soldiers from the large numbers of freed slaves. Draper led one such expedition in November 1863, commanding two regiments of African-American troops through Princess Anne County, Virginia (now Virginia Beach). The expedition was highly successful and Draper earned praise from his superiors. The expeditions also brought controversy due to alleged harsh treatment of Confederate sympathizers, their families and their property. Draper was under orders from his superior officer, Wild, to execute guerrillas and arrest civilians lending aid to guerrillas. In December 1863, Draper was involved in a dispute with

Lieutenant Colonel Lieutenant colonel ( , ) is a rank of commissioned officers in the armies, most marine forces and some air forces of the world, above a major and below a colonel. Several police forces in the United States use the rank of lieutenant colone ...

Frederick F. Wead, commander of the 98th New York Infantry and a garrison post at

Pungo, Virginia Pungo is a rural community located in the southern part of the independent city of Virginia Beach, Virginia and was one of the seven original boroughs when the City of Virginia Beach was created in 1963. The area derives its name from a local Indi ...

. After a raid nearby Pungo, at Knotts Island, North Carolina, Draper took a female civilian hostage in retribution for the capture of several of his soldiers. Wead objected to this and brought charges against Draper. Major General Benjamin Butler intervened in Draper's favor and had Wead transferred to New York. Draper also received a transfer as a result of the controversy. In March 1864, Draper and his regiment (which had, in February 1864 been renamed the 36th United States Colored Troops) were transferred to garrison duty at Point Lookout, Maryland, a Union

prisoner of war camp A prisoner-of-war camp (often abbreviated as POW camp) is a site for the containment of enemy fighters captured by a belligerent power in time of war. There are significant differences among POW camps, internment camps, and military prisons. ...

. Draper there served as commandant for three months until June 1864. Through the support of his mentor, Butler, Draper eventually secured a transfer away from this undesirable post and in the spring of 1864 the 36th USCT was assigned to combat duty with the Army of the James as part of the XVIII Corps. In 1864 and 1865, the 36th USCT took part in the ending phase of the Siege of Petersburg and the Appomattox Campaign. For much of this time, Draper commanded the brigade, consisting of three regiments of African-American troops, to which the 36th USCT belonged.Eicher, 214. During the Battle of Fair Oaks & Darbytown Road on October 28, 1864, near Richmond, Draper was commended for gallant service. He later received the honorary grade of

brigadier general, dating from October 28 in recognition of his leadership at Fair Oaks. In February 1865, Draper was again involved in a controversy with fellow officers. This time, Draper brought charges against Wild who was, by that time, a division commander. Draper charged Wild with "conduct prejudicial to good order and military discipline."Casstevens, 202-203. Wild, according to Draper, had slandered Draper's reputation by insinuating that he was malicious and biased in his behavior towards other officers. As a result of the charges, Wild was relieved of command of his division and demoted to command of a brigade.

Post-war

After the war, Draper remained in army and was mortally wounded on August 30, 1865, in Brazos Santiago, Texas, by an accidental gunshot wound by soldiers in target practice. He died on September 3, 1865. Draper was buried in Pine Grove Cemetery in Lynn, Massachusetts. Draper is portrayed in Black Cloud Rising, 2022 historic fiction by David Wright Faladé. Draper is the commanding officer of the protagonist and narrator,

Richard Etheridge Pea Island Life-Saving Station was a life-saving station on Pea Island, on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. It was the first life-saving station in the country to have an all-black crew, and it was the first in the nation to have a black man, Ri ...

, who was among the first enlistees in the African Brigade, later known as 36th U.S. Colored Troops. The plot follows them from March 1863 to the time of Draper’s death.

Notes

References

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