Albert E. Hunter Collection
Unionville Papers
Finding Aid
General Albert E. Hunter (1917 - 1999), to whom the materials in this collection belonged, was a U.S. Army Brigadier General with an avid interest in the Civil War. Upon retirement, he and his wife moved to the Eastern Shore (Bozman, MD). In 1998 he was instrumental in organizing the effort to honor 18 former slaves who fought for the Union in the Civil War and who are buried in St. Stephens A.M.E. Church Cemetery, Unionville, MD. The ceremony to recognize these soldiers and dedicate markers for their graves was held on November 11, 1998. The materials in this collection pertain to the members of the Unionville 18, their families and the ceremony held on November 11, 1998 to honor them.
A description of the organization of the collection when it was donated is attached. The folders, notebook section and envelopes were reorganized into the following series:
Series 1 - Dedication Ceremony, November 11, 1998 (Folders 4 - 21)
Series 2 - Research Notes and Background Information on Unionville (Folders 22 - 26)
Series 3 - The Unionville 18 Soldiers (Folders 27 - 49)
With a few exceptions, the contents of the folders, notebook sections, and envelopes were not reorganized and remain as they were received.
Original Order
Notes from Nancy S. Hunter
Series 1 - Dedication Ceremony, November 11, 1998. This series contains materials related to the genesis of this ceremony, including Hunter's correspondence and notes on his meetings and discussions regarding arrangements, minutes of the steering committee meetings, and copies of publicity and speeches. (Folders 4 - 21)
Correspondence between the National Archives and Hunter
Correspondence and Discussions between the Talbot County Council and Hunter
Correspondence and Discussions between Historical Society of Talbot County & Hunter
Correspondence and Discussions between Hunter and the District Historic Commission
Correspondence and Discussions between Hunter and the State Highway Administration
Correspondence and Discussions between Hunter and the Maryland Historical Trust
Correspondence and Discussions between Hunter and Rev. Henry, Rev. Holt and Judge Thomas
List of Contacts
Steering Committee Members, Meetings and Notes
Publicity
Miscellaneous Notes
Correspondence and Discussions between Hunter and Bannecker-Douglass Museum
Correspondence and Discussions between Hunter and William Henry Roberts
Expenditures
Correspondence and Discussions between Hunter and Rev. Robinson
Arrangements for ceremony, grave markers, and invitations to ceremony.
Follow-up on ceremony.
Copy of Master of Ceremony Script.
Text of speech by William Henry Roberts
Series 2: Research Notes and Background. This series contains notes made by General Hunter from publications dealing with the Unionville 18 and other Civil War black soldiers, the history of Unionville and the surrounding area, and the Cowgill family's genealogy and land holdings. The contents of folder 6 suggest that Hunter was planning to write a book or journal article on the Unionville 18. (Folders 22 - 26)
Soldiers
Unionville
The Cowgill Family #1
The Cowgill Family #2
Unionville Manuscript
Series 3: The Unionville 18 Soldiers. This series contains the information General Hunter collected on the members of the Unionville 18, including information on their military service, pensions, disabilities, and, in some cases, on their descendants. The amount of information on each soldier varies. (Folders 27 - 49)
Lists of the Soldiers. Also includes some information on their service and the identification of the 18th soldier.
Blackwell, John
Clayton, Ennels
Copper, Isaac
Copper, John
Demby, Benjamin
Demby, Charles
Doane, William
Doran, William
Gibson, Horace
Glasgow, Zachary
Gooby, Joseph
Johnson, Joseph H.
Johnson, Peter
Jones, Edward
Money, Ensolds
Pipes, Frederick
Roberts, Henry
Roberts, Matthew
Data Collection Forms. These were developed by Hunter and are blank.
Service Record Requests. Records of requests made by Hunter to the National Archives and Records Administration.
Descendants. Names and contact information for some of the descendants living at the time of the Dedication Ceremony.
Gooby, Emma. Information on Emma Gooby and her meetings and conversations with General Hunter.
August 27, 2022
Mary Casserly