Born a slave in Virginia in 1802, Wilkes B. Flagg learned the blacksmith trade in Georgia. His owners also allowed him to learn to read and write. With extra money earned from blacksmithing, Flagg purchased his freedom and that of his family. By 1850, Flagg had become a Baptist minister while he continued his blacksmithing.…
William A. Boon was born on January 15, 1845. Of mixed racial heritage, Boon was born a free man. As a young adult, his skin was light enough that he possibly passed himself off, at times, as a white man. On August 4, 1864 Boon enlisted in the Union Army and was assigned to the…
Retreating Confederate forces achieve success today in the Battle of Ringgold Gap, a minor clash that follows the just-concluded three day Chattanooga Campaign. The victory allows the Confederate Army of Tennessee to retreat safely through the mountain pass known as “Ringgold Gap.” Confederate casualties number about 200, while the Union suffers some 500 casualties. Gen.…