| Morris Yeoman | 70th U.S. Colored Troops & 95th Ohio Voluntary Infantry |
| by Matt Hodge |
Morris Yeoman was born in 1838. It should be noted that there were several different spellings of the name Yeoman found Youman, Youmans, Yeomans, and Yoaman. These records are compiled with searches being used for all of these spellings. He came to Otterbein College and was supposed to graduate in 1859 but never did due to the fact that he joined the United States Military. He joined the Civil War through the 95th Ohio Volunteer Infantry at Camp Chase. He later transferred to the United States Colored Troops in Natchez Mississippi and became the Lieutenant Colonel of the 70th Regiment [Yeoman was a white officer]. His last known address was at 1242 Neil Avenue in Columbus Ohio. There is no record of his death in Ohio; it is believed that he lived after the war because in the Official Roster of the Soldiers book it lists all wartime deaths and he was not mentioned.
Before the war began Yeoman was promoted to Captain in 1861 so from the outset he was a captain in the 95th O.V.I. Company F. On January 15th 1863 he was promoted to 1st Lieutenant of his infantry. This infantry unit was organized on August 19th 1862 at Camp Chase Ohio and served for three years. They later joined the 16th Infantry in 1864 and fought with them the rest of the war. They were discharged on August 19th 1865. The losses for this unit included fifty-nine in battle, and two hundred seventeen by disease.
Bibliography
"Civil War Soldiers & Sailors." http://165.83.216.56/cwss/Personz Detail.cfm?Per Nbr=136052. (accessed March 1, 2001).
"Civil War Soldiers & Sailors." http://165.83.216.56/cwss.Personz Detail.cfm?Per nbr=136060. (accessed March 1, 2001).
"The Civil War Archive." http://www.civilwararchive/unreghst/uncolinf3.htm#70. (accessed March 1, 2001).
McPherson, James A. A Negro's Civil War. New York: Pantheon Books, 1965.
McPherson, James A. Marching Toward Freedom The Negro in the Civil War 1861-1865. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1967.
Official Roster of the Soldiers of the State of Ohio in the War of the Rebellion. Vol. 7. Ohio Valley Press, 1888.
Otterbein College Archive Room Folder 3, Westerville, Ohio.