Confederate Slave and Body-Servant Reuben Patterson

Subject

Military

Description

A series of photos and newspaper articles on former Morgan County, AL slave and Confederate body-servant Reuben Patterson (1836-1928) who went to war as the body-servant of Morgan County attorney and future TN state legislator Col. Josiah Patterson (1836-1906) of the 5th AL Cav, CS. When Josiah moved to Florence from Summerville in Morgan County in 1869, Reuben came with him. He married Abbeville Thornton in 1871 and thereafter worked as a cook at local hotels and on the Muscle Shoals Canal before being given his own boot-black stand by the United Daughters of the Confederacy in 1914. After the war "Uncle" Reuben attended over twenty-five United Confederate veterans reunions across the US and was interviewed in 1906 for *Trotwood's Monthly* magazine regarding his war-time service as the 5th Alabama's company bugler, forager and its unofficial "horse-swapper" (Union horse thief).

1. Reuben Patterson, Mrs. Lutie Patton (18889-1923) of Sweetwater in Florence, and an unnamed Confederate veteran at a United Confederate Veterans (UCV) reunion ca. early 1920s.
2. Three of Florence's former Confederate body servants at the annual 1921 Mars Hill UCV reunion, from left, George W.. Seawright, Reuben Patterson, and Peter Stewart.
3. A Closeup of Reuben Patterson from the 1921 Mars Hill UCV reunion photo.
4. Reuben Patterson and his former master's granddaughter, Mary Gardner, near Birmingham, AL, ca. 1925.
5. Reuben Patterson's CS military marker erected by O'Neil Sons of Confederate Veterans Camp in 1999.

Creator

1. Unknown
2. The Landrum Collection
3. The Landrum Collection
4. Unknown
5. Donald Murks
6.-7. Florence Herald
8-9. Florence Times
10. Florence Herald
11-16. Florence Times
17. Florence Herald
18-21. Florence Times
22. Florence Herald
23-24. Florence Times
25. Florence Herald
26-30. Trotwood's Monthly

Source

1. Unknown
2. The Landrum Collection
3. The Landrum Collection
4. Unknown
5. Donald Murks
6.-7. Florence Herald
8-9. Florence Times
10. Florence Herald
11-16. Florence Times
17. Florence Herald
18-21. Florence Times
22. Florence Herald
23- 24. Florence Times
25. Florence Herald
26-30. Trotwood's Monthly

Publisher

Newspapers.com

Contributor

Lee Freeman

Rights

Images are available for educational and research purposes. This image may not be reproduced for commercial purposes without the express written consent of the copyright holder. It is the responsibility of the interested party to identify the copyright holder and receive permission.

Format

Jpeg

Language

English

Type

Still Image

Files

Reuben Patterson and Lutie Patton UCV Reunion 1920s from Sweetwater Collection.jpg
Black Vets at 1921 Reunion Landrum Col Photo.jpg
Reuben Patterson from Landrum 1921 vets photo.jpg
Reuben Patterson and Mary G Patterson.jpg
Reuben Patterson's Mem Stone in City Cem by Donald Murks.jpg
A Colored Veteran FH Thurs May 5 1898 p 1.jpg
Uncle Reuben Patterson Came Down from the Canal FH Fri May 22 1903 p 1.jpg
Reuben Patterson Colored Who Followed FT Fri June 23 1905 p 5.jpg
That Was a Deserved Tribute FT Fri Jan 25 1907 p 1.jpg
Note of Thanks FH Fri Jan 25 1907 p 8.jpg
UDC Meeting FT Fri March 8 1907 p 5 p I.jpg
UDC Meeting FT Fri March 8 1907 p 5 p II.jpg
Off For Richmond FT Fri May 31 1907 p 1.jpg
Among the Visitors to the Memphis Reunion FT Fri June 18 1909 p 1.jpg
At the Late Reunion in Mobile FT Fri May 6 1910 p 4.jpg
Among the Confederate Veterans Who Went Down FT Fri May 19 1911 p 1.jpg
Alex Jones and Reuben Patterson FH Thurs June 5 1913 p 1.jpg
Uncle Patteron Who Went All Through the War FT Fri Sept 4 1914 p 1.jpg
Reuben Patterson Veteran FT Fri May 26 1916 p 6.jpg
That Faithful Old Confederate Reuben Patterson FT Fri April 26 1918 p 9.jpg
Uncle Reuben Patterson Colored One of the Landmarks FT Fri Oct 10 1919 p 1.jpg
Uncle Rube Patterson FH Thurs Oct 21 1920 p 1.jpg
The Veterans Entertained FT Fri Oct 22 1920 p 3.jpg
Delightful Reunion FT Fri Sept 2 1921 p 5.jpg
May 18 1916 FH Fri May 15 1931 p 3.jpg
Trotwood's Travels I Trotwood's Monthly May 1906 p 451.jpg
Trotwood's Travels II Trotwood's Monthly May 1906 p 452.jpg
Trotwood's Travels III Trotwood's Monthly May 1906 p 453.jpg
Trotwood's Travels IV Trotwood's Monthly May 1906 p 454.jpg

Collection

Military

Citation

1. Unknown 2. The Landrum Collection 3. The Landrum Collection 4. Unknown 5. Donald Murks 6.-7. Florence Herald 8-9. Florence Times 10. Florence Herald 11-16. Florence Times 17. Florence Herald 18-21. Florence Times 22. Florence Herald 23-24. Florence Times 25. Florence Herald 26-30. Trotwood's Monthly, “Confederate Slave and Body-Servant Reuben Patterson,” Shoals Black History, accessed April 18, 2024, https://shoalsblackhistory.omeka.net/items/show/1053.