Memphis Daily Appeal CS
Yankee Officers Marrying Negroes.
A friend of ours who arrived here yesterday from Arkansas, tells us a story, the correctness of which he vouches foe, which shows that the genuine Yankees are perfectly willing and anxious to put the negroes upon an equality with themselves. While the Yankee troops under Fitch were in camp on White river, near Madison, Arkansas, Col. Daniels, of the 1st Wisconsin regiment, became terribly enamored with a negro woman belonging to David Goodloe, of St. Francis county.(1) Although as black as ebony, the Colonel proposed marriage, and in a short time he led her to the hymenial altar, and there the black hearted dog took Miss Mary Goodloe ‘"for better or for worse."’ A short time afterwards the Major of the same regiment married a slave belonging to Dr. Nash (2), of St. Francis county, and about the same time the Chaplain of the 1st Wisconsin(3) entered into the "holy bonds of wedlock" with a negro of the blackest dye, the property of Mr. Thomas, living on White river. The Yankees had stolen all the negroes within their reach, and had them confined within their lines. A week or two after the officers married the ‘"adorable niggers,"’ our forces made an attack on Fitch, and then the battle of L’Anguelle was fought, resulting in the defeat of the enemy. During the battle Mary Goodloe, the Yankee Colonel's African wife, was taken prisoner, as was also the Major and his wife; while the Chaplain and his ‘"better half"’ were almost instantly killed. A great many Yankees and negroes were killed, and two hundred and fifty of the stolen negroes recaptured.(4) The gentleman who informed us of the above avers that it is every word correct, and adds that when the Chaplain was interred the dead bodies of six negroes, killed in battle, was placed above him.—Vicksburg Whig.

1. David Goodloe is listed on the 1860 Census for St. Francis County, as a resident of Madison, Franks Township. At 29, this Mr. Goodloe was a fairly wealthy man with real estate valued at $7,200 and $16,200 of personal property. This much in personal property, nearly $500,000 in 2012 dollars, could indicate that slaves formed the bulk of his non real estate holdings.

2. Dr. Isaac D. Nash, 31, also is listed in the 1860 Census as living in Madison, with real estate of $400 and $6,800 in personal property.

3. Reverend George W. Densmore(or Dunmore). According to Foxes Regimental Losses, he was one of eleven Union Army chaplains killed in action, and the only one lost west of the Mississippi River.

4. “From Madison, Colonel Daniels proceeded to Memphis overland, where he found orders from the Department commander at St. Louis, inquiring by what authority he had left the post and district assigned him, and ordering the immediate return of the regiment. Colonel Daniels returned to Madison, and on the 28th, took passage in the steamer Carl, for Helena, and never rejoined the regiment. The First and Second Battalions, marched to La Anguille Ferry on the 28th, and reached Marianne, eight miles beyond, on the 29th. A heavy train of baggage wagons, escorted by the Second Battalion, under Major Eggleston, had moved several miles in the rear during the march. The train left Wittsburg on the 2d of August, marching to La Anguille Ferry, and camping on the north shore of the stream, where, on the morning of the 3d of August, they were surprised about daylight, by an overpowering force of the enemy" and but little resistance could be made. The Chaplain of the regiment, Rev. George W. Dunmore, was killed while dressing himself.”
Quiner, E.B. The Military History of Wisconsin: A Record of the Civil and Military Patriotism of the State in the War for the Union. Chicago: Clarke & Co., 1866. Pages 884.