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According to his compiled military service record (CMSR), Samuel Walden enlisted September 3,1864, at Newbern, North Carolina. John N. Francis, recruiting agent for the Northern State of Rhode Island, accepted Samuel's volunteer enlistment to serve as a soldier in the Union Army of the United States Civil War for a period of three years and $300.00 bounty. Samuel was a 28 year old laborer born in Northampton County, North Carolina, and was 5 feet 8 inches tall and had black hair and black eyes with a light complexion. He was a married man with three small children and a pregnant wife, Nancy,who was residing in the home place of Winton, North Carolina, Hertford County, and due to deliver their fourth child in early February of 1865. Maj. T.J. Kennedy, 3rd. N.J. Arty & A. Com., mustered Samuel in the First Regiment of N.C. Col'd H. Arty Volunteers. His company, 14th United States Colored Heavy Artillery, was organized at New Bern and Morehead City N.C., March 17,1864.
Samuel was assigned Recruiting Service on September 16,1864 and was absent, but due his first bounty installment of $25.00 according to Co. C, 1 Reg't N.C. Col'd H. Art'y* Muster Roll for Sept. & Oct. of 1864. An additonal $100.00 was due on the Nov/Dec. Roll. By Mch/Apr of 1865, Samuel was reported as "Deserted while on Recruiting Service on or about the 12th day of January, 1865" as recorded by "Jarvis" who signed the muster roll. A September 20,1875 report from the Adjutant General's Office, initialed by WTM, found no evidence of charges, trial, or restoration to duty by Special Order for the alleged desertion after thoroughly examining all of the Co's and Reg't records. A May26/65 report revealed "1 man gained from desertion, " but his name is not given. The man's name was not mentioned until June 14/65, when he was reported ,"Detailed as Carpenter at Post Hdqrs." A second report dated July 17/65 stated "Died in Regt. Hospital.
If Samuel Walden deserted while on Recruiting Service, this act was not officially reported. Perhaps someone in Samuel's command allowed him a home visit to Winton, North Carolina, Hertford County, due to his wife's expected delivery. His second daughter and last child, Deborah, was born on February 15,1865 in Winton, North Carolina, Hertford County. Deborah's birth would coincide with the time frame of the alleged desertion. It is also possible that Samuel became ill and may be a reason for his assignment as carpenter at Post Hdqrs. Samuel's friends; James Smith, Boone (?) Nickens, and Dempsey Newsom of Winton, North Carolina, Hertford County, all whom had know him five years or more, reported on 3 October , 1866, that Samuel had been sick about 4 weeks before he died. In a sworn affidavit,each of Samuel's friends, James, Boone, and Dempsey, described him as a sober, steady man both before and after his enlistment. Winton, North Carolina, Hertford County's Justice of the Peace, S.S.Newell, described James Smith, Boone Nickens, and Dempsey Newsom, as "respectable Free Men of Color and entitled to credit".
Samuel Walden, my GG Grandfather, died while in the service of the United States Civil War. It is not know if he was successful in his Recruiting Service duties, or if he experienced heavy battle. He served less than a year of service and endured the pain of separation from his pregnant wife he left behind in Winton North Carolina, Hertford County; an unproved report of desertion, and finally an illness which caused his death. Samuel only received clothing from the United States Union Army, in the amount of $61.12 while in service and was due a balance of $300.00 bounty when he died. Samuel Walden was buried at Newbern, North Carolina. Boone Nickens and Dempsey Newsom were detached from the 14th USCHA to accompained his body from Morehead City North Carolina to the burial grounds. Samuel left to mourn , his 23 year old wife Nancy Weaver Walden, two sons, Titus LaGrand, and Dukenigh, and two daughters, Eleanor and Deborah. Nearly 56 years later, his wife, now remarried , Nancy Ann Weaver Walden Hunter, died in a Winton North Carolina Bank, Hertford County, while collecting her first Civil War Survivors check.