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Museum object · Slavery and Freedom Objects

Voucher for Union officer with description of "private servant" Dempsy Riley

1865

Petersburg, Virginia, United States, North and Central America

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Source catalog description

This description refers to material held by Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. Visual details below describe the original material.

A voucher submitted by 1st Lieutenant James B. Thomas, Adj. 107th PA. Vol. for "Pay," "Clothing," and "Subsistence" for himself and his "private servant" Dempsy Riley. Document is a single sheet letterpress preprinted form, completed by hand in ink, and allows for Thomas to submit for reimbursement for Riley's food and clothing cost as well as his pay, from September 1, 1864 through December 31, 1864. A box at the bottom left corner of the form titled [DESCRIPTION OF SERVANTS] provides information about Riley: [NAMES. / Demspy Riley / COMPLEXION. / Black / HEIGHT / Feet / 5 / Inches / 10 / EYES. / Black / HAIR. / Black]. The "post or place" where recapitulation is due is listed as [Near Petersburg Va.]. The document has been folded in half vertically and then into thirds, with the exterior facing section of the verso bearing a summary of the contents.

Sources & collection details

Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture — original record ↗

Source collection ↗

Catalog metadata · CC0 · Source checked 2026-10-13

Catalog reference: 2019.26.5

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