An Affront to Unalienable Rights

Major Alexander T. Augusta was a free black born in Norfolk, Virginia in 1825. He lived briefly in Baltimore and Philadelphia, then moved back to Baltimore where he met Mary 0. Burgoin, and shortly after the couple traveled to California. In 1860, he received a Bachelor of Medicine degree from Trinity College Medical School in Toronto.

Life, Liberty and Pursuit of Happiness

In January 1863, Dr. Augusta was employed at the Toronto General Hospital when he learned of the Emancipation Proclamation issued by President Abraham Lincoln. He offered his services to the War Department in Washington, but was refused due to his race and alien status. Finally, the U.S. Army Medical Board, realizing a need for his services to treat black soldiers, granted Augusta his commission as Major.

A month later Major Alexander Augusta testified about being assaulted while trying to travel north via the President Street Station in Baltimore:

A May 1863 Incident at President Street Station

“On May 1, 1863, I left Washington to travel to Philadelphia. In Baltimore I boarded the 10:00 AM Train at the President Street Station and was assaulted while seated on the Train Car awaiting departure. A 15 year old boy employed by the Railroad approached me from behind and while swearing aloud ripped off my shoulder strap. I rose from my seat to face the boy when an older male employee tore off my other shoulder strap. The boy was now armed with a club. I made my way to the train platform where I noticed eight more toughs waiting to pounce on me. Soon afterward a Baltimore Policeman entered the train car and stood beside me.”

Then luckily two Provost Guards happened to board the car and Major Augusta approached them for protection. Major Augusta was escorted to the Provost Marshall’s Office on Calvert Street to lodge his complaint. On the way there, he was assaulted again. Provost Marshall Lt. Colonel William S. Fish ordered a Lieutenant Morris to return with Augusta back to the President Street Station and arrest the railroad employees involved in the first incident. As they reached the corner of Pratt and President Streets, Augusta was struck in the nose by a man named Dunn, who was immediately seized and arrested.

As Augusta and the Provost Marshall posse reached the President Street Station, one of the suspects was spotted crossing the street and arrested. Augusta could not locate the 15-year-old boy assailant, however, two men involved in the earlier assault were identified and arrested.

Major Augusta finally boarded the scheduled 1:00 p.m. train for Philadelphia with the protection of two Union Army cavalrymen and a Major Robertson from General Hooker’s staff.