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 LeeSergeant Daniel YoungSergeant Daniel WrightSergeant Enoch P. GibbsSergeant Levi M. HoodSergeant Crawford HardySergeant Harvy P. LondonSergeant Anthony Y. WilsonCorporal Martin GibbsCorporal Thomas L. WesleyCorporal Jacob T. ComptonCorporal Jacob S. ChristyCorporal James PattenCorporal Isaac P. BrownCorporal Charles W. CalamanCorporal Henry P. M’KinseyCorporal Ebenezer J. MillerCorporal Jacob M. MillerEnoch FergusonAbraham BrownLevi AlexanderJohn A. ArchieWilliam BrownChristopher BrownJacob BoyerPhilip BellWilliam S. BellEphraim BrownHenderson BrownWilliam H. D. BushWilliam CainWilliam ColeJohn ClemansJames ChambersSamuel ChristyJacob 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 DavisWilliam H. DixsonFranklin DuffinEdward EmeryIsaac B. FrayWilliam FrayJohn GiddingsBenjamin 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 HillFerdinand HearklessDaniel HarmonJames HallowJohn HoodAlfred W. JonesAndrew JacksonCyrus JohnsonSamuel L. LittleIsaac LewisMichael LambornJoshua MasonLewis L. NixonRichard PlaterWilliam H. PaxsonWilliam PlatterGeorge W. PattsWilliam PriggRobert PeckIsaiah QuemanWilliam H. RudolphGeorge W. RichardsonJohn H. RozellWilliam H. SmithCharles SheridanWilliam P. ScottHenry SmithJames H. SamonsFrancis H. SmithWilliam H. ThomasHenry WilsonWilliam H. WhiteDavid M. WellsJoseph WilkinsonJohn WoodenRichard Wilson