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During the Civil War, an act of Congress allowed loyal slave owners in border states (where slavery was still legal after the Emancipation Proclamation) whose slaves enlisted or were drafted into the U.S. military to file a claim against the Federal government for loss of the slave’s services. for more information...

Since each slave compensation claim was based on the service of a specific soldier, a copy of the claim’s paperwork was placed in that soldier’s compiled military service record. The regiments of U.S. Colored Troops that have a large number of these claims are the regiments formed in the border-states (Delaware, Kentucky, Maryland, and Missouri) or in neighboring states.

Artillery

• 1st, 4th, 8th, 12th, and 13th Heavy Artillery Regiments, U.S. Colored Troops

  • Slave Compensation Claims by Name of Soldiers/Former Slaves, 171k PDF

  • Slave Compensation Claims by Name of Former Slave Owners, 182k PDF

Cavalry

• 5th and 6th Cavalry Regiments, U.S. Colored Troops

  • Slave Compensation Claims by Name of Soldiers/Former Slaves, 135k PDF

  • Slave Compensation Claims by Name of Former Slave Owners, 106k PDF

Infantry

• 4th, 7th, 18th and 19th Infantry Regiments, U.S. Colored Troops

  • Slave Compensation Claims by Name of Soldiers/Former Slaves,  376k PDF

  • Slave Compensation Claims by Name of Former Slave Owners,  374k PDF

• 18th Infantry Regiment, U.S. Colored Troops

  • Slave Compensation Claims By Name of Soldiers/Former Slaves:  198k PDF
     or as html Web pages — A–D,  E–H,   I–P,  R–Z

  • Slave Compensation Claims By Name of Former Slave Owners,  198k PDF
    or as html Web pages — A–D,  E–He,  Hi–P,  R–Z