FDJCJC Members
William Henry Costley (circa September 1840 – October 1, 1888)
By Carl Adams, author, Education Comm. National Juneteenth Observance Foundation
First Male Slave freed from bondage by Attorney Abraham Lincoln, July 23, 1841.
Born and raised in Pekin, Tazewell County, Illinois. Parents were Benjamin Costley and Nance Legins of African American heritage who lived on Amanda Street between N. 2nd & N. 3rd along Pekin-Peoria Road.
Marriage Record: Justice of the Peace Middleton Tackaberry; October 15, 1840. City Directory address.
William H. Costley: occupation was Hostler & Laborer; He was illiterate; no education; Methodist religion.
Pekin City Directory; Census Records.
US Army Volunteer enlistment record # 524296; September 21, 1864 to 1865; William H. ‘Corsley’ {sic}
Multiple misspellings of Surname throughout Army record; Pension file and hospital records.
Private: Company B, 29th Regiment US Infantry (Colored); mustered at Camp Butler, Springfield, Illinois.
National Archives: Can # 560; Bundle # 33. Illinois Adjutant General’s Report, page 782, “Recruits” line 9; date Sept. 21,1864.
Enlistment: age 25. Desc.: Hair: Black; Eyes: Black; Complexion: Black; Height 5’,10”; Weight: 165 lbs.
“Declaration of Recruit” 21 September 1864 for one year; # 524296. Bounty $ 100.00; Paid $ 33.33, balance paid later.
Emancipation: July 23, 1841; Supreme Court of Illinois; Indenture Servants, Nance was age 28; two little girls, Amanda and Eliza Jane, son Bill was 10 months old, by Attorney Abraham Lincoln.
Service: Lines before Petersburg, VA; March-April 1865. Co. B, 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division 25th Army Corps:
On March 26, Pvt. Costley and 25,000 men of 25th Corps paraded in Review for President Lincoln. On April 1, at Hatchers Run, after victory at nearby Five Forks, Infantry attacked Confederate lines. Company B attacked the breastworks about the time of “…a heavy bombardment of the lines by Union artillery…”. “Soldier was struck by a piece of shell… (back left shoulder) …” He was taken to the aide station, but as walking wounded, he was ordered back to the front, even though he couldn’t shoot. April 2, the enemy began retreating from Petersburg; April 3, the 29th USCT entered Petersburg unopposed and Bill Costley evacuated to Post Hospital, Alexandria, VA. The Black Civil War Soldiers of Illinois; E.A. Miller, p.147; Pension file #524296; OR, Official Record War of Rebellion.
Pvt. William H. Costley was in the hospital for about a month to mid-May; had about one week of rest at Camp Lincoln, then ordered to march to City Point to load steam transports Wilmington & William Kennedy, with the ships ordered to depart when ready for Texas. The 3rd BDE was ordered to Brazos
Santiago, the port for Brownsville, TX, but due to a storm and rough seas, they could not land. Short of supplies the ships turn back to resupply at Galveston and entered the bay on June 18 docking on June 19th – JUNETEENTH.
Costley pension file # 524296; OR Official Record; The Army’s Navy series by Dana & Kay Gibson; JUNETEENTH 101 by D.J. Norman-Cox, p.89
During the three days in Galveston, Gen. Gordon Granger issued the famous General Order #3, “…all slaves are free.” Order Book: Gen. Granger; National Archives; Documents online.
Some were able to celebrate like Capt. Willard Dagett’s F Co., who went swimming off Galveston Pier, however Capt. Dagett was court martialed for fraternization and drunkenness with enlisted men. While others had important duties when a funeral detail buried “Morse, Jordan D., died, buried at Galveston June 20, 1865.”
The Black Civil War Soldiers of Illinois, E.A. Miller p. 162; Illinois Adjutant General’s Report, p. 795.
Private William Henry Costley died October 1, 1888 and buried in Quarry Hill cemetery, Rochester, MN.
More information is online: search William Henry Costley, First Male slave freed by Abraham Lincoln. Burial name under “Crossley”.
Education Committee, National Juneteenth Observance Foundation