Brown (Byrd), Calvin

Calvin Brown is listed in the National Archives as Calvin Byrd*; he changed his name after the Civil War. A slave, he ran away from his owner in Louisville, KY, on August 14, 1864,  then three days later enlisted in the 108th Infantry, Company A.

Brown fought in the Battle of Vicksburg in 1865;  injured in that battle, he later became ill with an unrelated disease. In 1996, he and other African American Civil War soldiers were honored with the dedication of a national memorial site.

Calvin (Byrd) Brown was the great-grandfather of Mr. Shirley Foley, Jr. For more see L. Wheeler, "The unseen soldiers get their due memorial to honor blacks who fought in Civil War," Washington Post, 9/03/1996, Metro section, p. B1.

*Last name also spelled Bird in some sources.