Private William P. Woodlin, a resident of Onondaga County, New York at the time he was drafted, was born a slave on the Forlorn Hope Plantation, St. Martins Parish, Louisiana about 1841. John Palfrey, owner of the plantation, died in 1843, leaving an estate which included extensive land holdings and over forty slaves. His son, John Gorham Palfrey, a Unitarian clergyman in Boston, Massachusetts, insisted his share of the estate would be made up from the slaves, whom he intended to grant "unconditional emancipation." In different accounts, the actual number of slaves freed by the Reverend Mr. Palfrey varies from sixteen to forty. What is not in dispute is that Palfrey arranged for passage of a number of former slaves to Massachusetts, and found homes and employment for them in the North. In 1850, three children named Woodlin and one with surname of Palfry, born in Louisiana and aged between nine and seventeen years were living separately in Quaker households, located in Ledyard, Cayuga County; Farmington, Ontario County; and Macedon, Wayne County, New York.
William P. Woodlin was listed in the 1850 census with the name of William Palfry, age nine, in the home of David and Edna Thomas in Cayuga County, New York. Five years later, the census enumerator identified him as William P. Woodlin, age fourteen, born in Louisiana and still living with the Thomas family. Woodlin was working as a farm laborer in the household of Alfred and Mary King in Cayuga County when the 1860 census taker visited the King farm. In 1865, the household of Edna Thomas identified William P. Woodlin, age 22 [possible error], as her adopted child who was serving in the army.
Mr. Woodlin joined the army at Syracuse, Onondaga County, New York on August 20, 1863, to serve a three-year term. He was described as being 5' 10" tall, with a black complexion and black eyes and hair. Woodlin was mustered into Company G of the 8th United States Colored Troops on November 3rd with the rank of corporal. In mid-January 1864, at his own request, he was reduced to the rank of private so he could join the regimental band.
Woodlin's diary entries for the month of February 1864:
[Initial location: Hilton Head, South Carolina, headquarters, U.S. Army Department of the South]
Feb 1st
Went into the wood and played Hail To the Chief & also on dress parade – and did it well
2d
Nothing strange happened to day but we attempted to fix our tent by makin slabs for a bunk.
3d
We went out and learned to play a quick step which we played on Dress Parade with great success.
4th
We had orders to pack up for a general review in the after noon at 3 [?] P.M. at the appointed time we took our
stations at the head of our Reg [regiment] and marched about a mile to a fine large field, where were assembled all the Infantry both white & colored, at this station, including cavalry & artillery. We were formed in divisions and the coming of
Gen Gillmore was announced by a salute of 10 guns; He rode down the line on a
canter, and returned in the rear our band playing as he passed both ways: We were then march [sic] in a circle in review and as we passed the Gen our Band filed right, and played until our Reg got past, we fell in again and marched around to our first position when the review was dismissed & we marched home.
5th
We had orders to pack up for a march: we pulled down our tents and left them behind. We marches [sic] about 9 A.M.
and went on board [ship] at 11 A.M. and layed [sic] in the harbor until about 11 P.M. when we weighed anchor and started south.
[8th USCT and other units in General Seymour's Florida Expedition sail from Hilton Head, S.C., to northeastern Florida]
6th
We had a very pleasant sail all day and made Fernandina [U.S. Navy supply and coaling center on Ameilia Island, NE Florida] about 6 P.M. coaled and our cooks went ashore and made some coffe [sic] for us. We weighed anchor about 5 A.M. on the 7th & met about 12 sail after we again got to sea, and passed a great No [number] of them, and reached the mouth of the St Johns river about 8 A.M. where we cast anchor and waited for the rest to come up. We started again in the course of an hour and ascended the river to Jacksonville; where we arrived about 4 P.M. The 54th Mass. Landed first, and exchanged shots with the rebel pickets no one hurt seriously some half dozen Rebels taken prisoners. We marched about 1/4 of a mile from town and encamped, for the night. I set up all night to cook my meat.
8th
Our men went out on a scout and got corn, molasses and other things. There were also quite a No of Rebels captured during the night. Some of the men went into town [Jacksonville] and got oranges from some of the citizens. also some Banannas. Four P.M. the Reg was ordered under arms with six days rations accompanied by the 3 U.S. [artillery battery] & the 2d S.C. [South Carolina] 20 pieces artillery, and a Reg of mounted infantry [40th Massachusetts], the march as formed in the Divisions, one on the right and the other on the left of the R.R.T. [rail road tracks] We march after various halts some 8 miles to Camp Finegan and encamped without anything worthy of note taking place captured quite a number of Reb prisoners and should have got more if the bugler [bugles?] had not sounded to [too] soon in the rear.
9th
We encamped about 2 A.M. this morning, build our fire cook supper and went to bed Nothing strange happened during the night. The boys went out and got Swords, Drums Arkansas tooth picks ____ hogs horses rabbets & whiche [sic] were cook in abundance and some Rebels prisoners, a Guitar etc –
10th
News this morning that we had captured a large No of prisoners, at a Station on the road by the name of Baldwinsville,
[Baldwin] & Stores enough to last a Brigade a week; and pay the whole expense of the expedition chartering boats and all.
They were Sent to town during the day with a large wagon train. We had fresh pork for dinner and chicken. We moved
about 4 P.M. some 9 miles up the Railroad, to another Station right on the road, called Ten mile Station. Where we
again encamped – cooked supper and went to bed in the grass
11th
The third Reg went off this morning very early and another Reg of reenforcements passed us at daylight going to join the Advance. We moved to the camp of the third Reg & pitched our tents; about 11 A.M. soon after that the engineer Corp passed through here replacing the Telegraph wires & the first Message sent through was that we had taken 800 prisoners & 30 horses with only one man killed & two mortally wounded another large wagon train went to town this morning Some stock was driven in this evening.
12th
Rather rainy this morning; sent a carr [cart?] to town for rations this morning which returned in the evening. We went out to practice this morning Inspection at 4 P.M. during which 4 Cos [companies] of the 54 [54th Massachusetts] passed by on their way to Baldwinsville. Eatables about played out.
13th
Nothing for breakfast this morning, but coffe. The rations were issued this afternoon, and we were once more in good spirits; with plenty to eat.
14th
Nothing, but inspection in the morning; in the afternoon the Reg went out to wash themselves, A large wagon train went down this afternoon, consisting of captured wagon of the Rebs also a squad of Reporters [?] from the front, going home.
15th
The Reg was formed in its regular position and a permanent encampment formed and policed.
16th
We rec’d marching orders this morning, puled [sic] up tents and marched up to R.R. some ten miles to Baldwins Ville, and encamped. A small place but important being at the Junction of four R.R’s, from Jacksonville & Tallahassa [sic - Tallahassee]
Fernandina and some other place. A slaughter house is established here beside a depot of supplies for all the forces in the field. We are Brigaded with the 54 Mass, 3d U.S. [artillery battery] , 2d South C. [Carolina] 55th Mass, 1st North C. [1st North Carolina / 35th USCT] under Montgomery.
17th
A great change in the weather very cool, a large No of cattle driven in last evening boys grinding corn to make their rations hold out.
18th
Still cold; practiced on our horns a little, in the afternoon we rec’d orders to get tens [ten days?] rations.
19th
We marched this morning about 9 A.M. from Baldwinsville by the way of the R.R. [railroad] Saw Gen. Semour [sic - Seymour] in the morning before we started. Reached a station called Barbers Plantation, after passing two Turpentine Distillery’s and halting about 1/2 hour for dinner we also passed an earth work in process of erection, to guard a long __________ work.
20th
We rec’d our rations last evening, and got under way about 1/2 past 6 A.M. at a quick step on the left of the division,
passed Sanders Station [Sanderson]about 11 A.M. about 12 m (as near as could be learned) from B’s Plantation [Barbers Plantation]; we had a very rapid as well as fatiguing march; passed through a dead turpentine forest. After this_____ [?] we were ordered forward; & soon could hear the roar of Canon & the rattle of Musketry ahead of us, we were hurred [hurried?] up to the line of battle at the double quick and our Reg was place [sic] in the center and rec’d the hottest fire that was given; the Col [Colonel Fribley] fell the Major
[Major Burritt] wounded 3 Capt & several lieutenants, the band and Drum Core [sic] went up the front ahead of the Cavalry and were exposed to a very hot fire; for a while when we fell back to the R.R. until we were in danger of being taken by a flank movement, of the Rebs; we got away however and had another station for a while: when we were again move a mile farther from the Battlefield, which was in the front of Lake City. We built some fires there & were halted by the Division __[?] for a while after which we move on until we reached the station we left in the morning 33 [?] m. blow [below] the scene of action nearly worn out, with fatigue & cold. We reached there about 1 A.M. that night and stayed until daylight
21st
We again moved on this morning to Baldwinsville and made short halt, and formed in line of Battle, ate a little & again moved on through swamp & water, until within a ___[?] mile of Ten mile Station where we halted until about 7 A.M. though we were called up at 1 A.M. to eat.
22 [?]
we moved on to Ten mile Station and, so on to Camp Finnegan, where we stoped a short time and then turned to the left to the R.R. where we had rations issued to us & moved down the R.R. a mile turned off and again halted to get hard tack & got none. We then turned to the left through Swaps [swamps] & some ___ pine land; saw more cattels [sic - cattle] had seen any where else, we reached our Camp about Sundown, and had a good nights rest, though we were in danger of being attacked at any moment.
23d
We seem to have a good chance of resting a little while and we need it, a wagon train came in this morning with provisions so we have enough to eat once more
24th
Still resting; our Chap [chaplin?] came in to day and brought the mail. I rec’d four letter & 9 papers and a Chap read the news all day & went on guard at night
25th
All quiet till about 12 ___? When an order came in for us to move as quick as possible to Jacksonville as the Rebs were on us, we of the band & Drum Core went directly into town, where Troops were coming from Gunboats and from the front all the time: and rifle pitts [sic - pits] were thrown up. Gens Fost [?] came in & Gen Ames
26
It is rumored that Gen Butler came last evening, as also more reinforcements. We are under the com’d of Brig Gen Fields now formerly of the 54th Mass Reg, and are going to be in the reserve across the river, there are six Colored Regs here at present four of whom are from the North
27
We practiced a while this morning; and about 1 P.M. move outside the breast works about 1/4 mile and encamped with our Brigade
28th
Every thing quiet meeting in the forenoon, Dress Parade in the evening at which we played. I wrote two letters also during the day
29th
We were muster [sic] in for pay this morning .
William P. Woodlin, Diary of an African American Soldier in the 8th Regiment of the United States Colored Troops, Co. G., Gilderman Lehrman Institute for American History.
Woodlin's biographical information is extracted from Freedom, A Shared Sacrifice!: New York’s African American Civil War Soldiers by Marjory Allen Perez.