Apr 8, 2016 Orange County Review
Sgt. Qualls Tibbs, Co. E, 27th USCT (Ohio) Infantry
Courtesy of the Tibbs Family
Last weeks’ story was about Orange County’s own Lucy Quarles, who emancipated 60 of her slaves—in rereading her will, it seems that circumstances changed for an additional six individuals bringing the total to 66—and the Orange County-born men who enlisted in the United States Colored Troops. It is my hope in due time I can report on the lives of those 66 and if fortune will blow the winds of success my way, several living descendants will be identified and recognized as well.
Seeking information regarding a soldier named Qualls Tibbs turned out to be only the tip of a giant iceberg. And thanks to his descendants for saving significant personal belongings and preserving his history, there is quite a story to tell.
Time and space only allows for highlights here, but as you will read there will be more to come.
Qualls moved with his mother Matilda and several siblings to Fairfield County, Ohio, a journey of about 400 miles. On May 25, 1858, in Fairfield, Ohio, Qualls Tibbs married Josephine Holmes, also a native of Orange County, VA believed to have been emancipated in the 1840s. (More on that story later.)
On Feb. 13, 1864, Qualls Tibbs would make the decision to leave his family--Josephine and two daughters—to join Co. E, 27th USCT (Ohio) Infantry for a three-year stint. Perhaps this young man, who though born into slavery was anointed with the unsurpassed glory of freedom, felt a duty to ensure that others would have the same option.
Almost a year to the date of enlistment, the Orange County native, promoted to sergeant, was wounded in battle. The Battle of Wilmington, NC occurring Feb. 11-12, 1865 enabled the Union forces to successfully close the last Confederate port on the East Coast. Sgt. Tibbs was hospitalized and eventually given a medical discharge. He was listed with his family as head of household in the 1870 Census for Fairfield Co. Ohio.
Qualls and Josephine would raise 10 children on a farm that Mr. Tibbs would own free and clear. Between 1900 and 1910, after at least 42 years of marriage, Josephine died. By the age of 75, Qualls had learned to read and write. He died Oct. 25, 1922 a successful farmer, a good father and an American patriot.
The Smithsonian Channel produced a three-part documentary in 2013 entitled The Civil War 360. It can be ordered on Amazon.com. The third part, The Fight for Freedom, included a short segment spotlighting Qualls Tibbs including his tintype photo in uniform.
The Tibbs Family kept sacred many of his military belongings, including his tintype or daguerreotype photo and, I am told, also his rifle and uniform. They have donated these to the new museum. You can be sure I will be at the front door in September to view the exhibit that regales the story of this remarkable individual.
He may not have looked so kindly on his birthplace, but things do change and he is most deserving of Orange County’s pride.
The second half of the alphabetical list of Orange County-born USCT enlistees is included here (last name, first name). Anyone with information on these soldiers is encouraged to contact me.
Listed here (last name, first name) are the second half of United States Colored Troops born in Orange County, VA. Anyone with information on these men is encouraged to contact Zann Nelson at (540) 718-3465 or M16439@aol.com.
Lynn, Henry
Mail, Isaac
Malone, Silas
Mason, George
McDaniel, Joseph
Miles, Henry
Miller, William
Miner, Phillip
Morton, William
Nelson, Washington
Newman, Samuel
Norris, William
Owens, Alfred
Padget, Lewis
Pannill, William
Parsons, William
Perkins, Addison
Perry, Joseph
Pillow, James
Porter, Washington
Ridley, John
Robinson, Jack
Rose, John
Samuel, Robert
Scott,George
Shelton, John
Simpson, Norman
Siner, John
Smith, William
Smith, Henry
Spotts(wood), John
Taylor, Frank
Thompson, Jeff
Tibbs, Qualls
Tillman, Richard
Tunison, Charles
Walker, James
Wallace, George
Warfield, Cager
Washington, Horace
Watts, James
White, James
White, Henry
Williams, Peter
Williams, John
Williams, Calvin
Williams, Smith
Willis, Henry
Until next week be well.