This photograph is a portrait of First Sergeant William A. Messley (also Measley), Company C, 62nd United States Colored Troops (formerly known as the 1st Regiment Colored Infantry, Missouri Volunteers). “1st Sergt William Messley, Glasgow, Missouri” is written on the back of the photo.
Messley enlisted on December 7, 1863, at Chillicothe, Missouri, was mustered in on December 14, 1863, at Benton Barracks, Missouri, and was mustered out on January 19, 1866, at Fort McIntosh, Texas.
The 1st Regiment Colored Infantry, Missouri Volunteers was organized in December 1863 at Benton Barracks, Missouri, and attached to the District of St. Louis. In January 1864, the regiment was ordered to Port Hudson, Louisiana, and its designation changed to the 62nd Regiment United States Colored Troops. Assigned to the Department of the Gulf and Department of Texas, they saw action at Palmito Ranch on May 12-13, 1865, the last action of the war.
The regiment was posted to duty at various locations in Texas until March 1866, when it was ordered to St. Louis via New Orleans, where they were mustered out on March 31, 1866.
William Messley died on December 18, 1916.
Image Courtesy Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield; WICR 11510
