Southard's Independent Company, Pennsylvania (Colored) Infantry was a United States Colored Troops unit briefly formed during the Civil War. The unit was organized at Camp William Penn, Pennsylvania on July 28, 1864 It was named for its commander, Captain Converse Southard. The unit was disbanded November 14, 1864 at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and its remaining members sent to reinforce existing U.S.C.T. regiments.
Not much is known about this unit, except that it did not see combat. It was enlisted for a period of only 100 days; enlistments of 3 to 4 months or so were usually for emergencies. Many members transferred to other units before the unit was disbanded, including its officers.
An army under CSA General Jubal Early had threatened Washington DC in the beginning of July but had fled to West Virginia by August. The troops may have been raised to serve in the defense of Washington DC or replace Pennsylvania units sent to Maryland.
There were 100 men (3 officers, 18 NCOs, 2 Musicians, and 77? Soldiers) assigned to the unit at formation.
Captain Converse Southard (). Southard was from Peoria City, Illinois and was a clerk before the war. He was commissioned as a 1st Lieutenant in the Illinois Militia on Aug 16, 1861 and was assigned to Company "A", 47th Illinois Infantry. He was promoted to Captain of Company "A", 47th Illinois on May 9, 1862 but resigned his commission on October 29, 1862. He was commissioned as a Captain in the Pennsylvania Militia on July 20, 1864. He transferred to the 119th US Colored Infantry Regiment, U.S. Colored Troops on August 11, 1864.
First Lieutenant Enon M. Harris (b. March 3, 1839 - d.October 26, 1908) Enon Major Harris was commissioned as a First Lieutenant in the Pennsylvania Militia on July 20, 1864.
Second Lieutenant George W. Keys was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Pennsylvania Militia on July 21, 1864. He transferred to Company A, 41st US Colored Infantry Regiment, U.S.C.T. on September 10, 1864. Promoted to Adjutant on August 14, 1865.
First Sergeant William Lee
Sergeant Daniel Young
Sergeant Daniel Wright
Sergeant Enoch P. Gibbs
Sergeant Levi M. Hood
Sergeant Crawford Hardy
Sergeant Harvy P. London
Sergeant Anthony Y. Wilson
Corporal Martin Gibbs
Corporal Thomas L. Wesley
Corporal Jacob T. Compton
Corporal Jacob S. Christy
Corporal James Patten
Corporal Isaac P. Brown
Corporal Charles W. Calaman
Corporal Henry P. M’Kinsey
Corporal Ebenezer J. Miller
Corporal Jacob M. Miller
Enoch Ferguson
Abraham Brown
Levi Alexander
John A. Archie
William Brown
Christopher Brown
Jacob Boyer
Philip Bell
William S. Bell
Ephraim Brown
Henderson Brown
William H. D. Bush
William Cain
William Cole
John Clemans
James Chambers
Samuel Christy
Jacob T. Cumpton (b? - d.September 6, 1905) mustered into the company as a private on July 28, 1864. He transferred as a corporal to Company D, 24th US Colored Infantry Regiment, U.S.C.T. on November 14, 1864 and was promoted to Sergeant on February 23, 1865. Cumpton was mustered out with his Company on October 1, 1865.
John Davis
William H. Dixson
Franklin Duffin
Edward Emery
Isaac B. Fray
William Fray
John Giddings
Benjamin M. Gooseberry (b? - d. September 16, 1906) mustered in as a private on July 28, 1864. He transferred as a private into the 41st US Colored Infantry Regiment, U.S.C.T. on September 21, 1864. Gooseberry was discharged on completion of his term of service on September 30, 1865.
Benjamin Hill
Ferdinand Hearkless
Daniel Harmon
James Hallow
John Hood
Alfred W. Jones
Andrew Jackson
Cyrus Johnson
Samuel L. Little
Isaac Lewis
Michael Lamborn
Joshua Mason
Lewis L. Nixon
Richard Plater
William H. Paxson
William Platter
George W. Patts
William Prigg
Robert Peck
Isaiah Queman
William H. Rudolph
George W. Richardson
John H. Rozell
William H. Smith
Charles Sheridan
William P. Scott
Henry Smith
James H. Samons
Francis H. Smith
William H. Thomas
Henry Wilson
William H. White
David M. Wells
Joseph Wilkinson
John Wooden
Richard Wilson
