Sepia Saturday: Buffalo Soldier
This portrait shows Isaiah H. Mays, an American hero who was nearly forgotten, buried anonymously in a graveyard of the Arizona State Hospital. Library of Congress photo collection Isaiah was born into slavery on February 16, 1858 in Carters Bridge, Virginia. According to the 1870 Federal Census, Isaiah was the son of John and Sallie Mays of St. Ann's Parish in Albemarle County, Virginia. Isaiah was one of many children, including Albert Mays (b. about 1850); Millie Mays Harris (b. about 1852) Rebecca Mays (b. about 1855); Phillip Mays (b. mid-1860), and Walker Mays (b. about 1865). There may have been older siblings as well, but as the 1860 Slave Schedule lists only an inventory of slaves belonging to particular slave-holders, it's hard to know for certain. He enlisted in the Army as a "Buffalo Soldier" when he was in his late twenties. He apparently was living in Ohio at that time, as that was his enlistment site. His duties in Company B, 24th U.S. Infantry,
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xo