Hey, everyone! Welcome back to another Culture Canvas.
Thanks to BridgeDetroit Engagement Editor Bryce Huffman, who filled in for me on last Monday when I was out of the office! I loved his interview with Ajara Alghali, the director of TéMaTé Institute for Black Dance and Culture.
For this bonus newsletter I talked to Jack Dempsey, a Plymouth historian, former President of the Michigan Historical Commission, and author who has written 10 books on topics ranging from the Civil War, the history of Michigan and cultural heritage. His newest book “Warriors for Liberty: William Dollarson & Michigan’s Civil War African Americans,” features a complete recounting of the critical roles played by African Americans in Michigan in winning the Civil War.
William Dollarson was a formerly enslaved person who escaped from bondage and became a conductor for the Underground Railroad in Detroit, working out of the old state Capitol Building in what is now Capitol Square Park. He then returned to the South as a staff member for Union General Alpheus Starkey Williams when his team of Michigan volunteers joined the Army of the Potomac in 1861.
Dempsey gave a book talk Thursday at Detroit’s Elmwood Cemetery, where Dollarson and his wife Maria Dollarson are buried.
During our conversation, Dempsey talked about when he discovered Dollarson’s contributions to the Civil War, how he did his research for the book and why Dollarson’s story is worth being told.
EDITOR’S NOTE: This interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity.
BridgeDetroit: When did you first hear about William Dollarson?
Dempsey: I first came across his name about 12 years ago, and it was in connection with this effort by our organization (Michigan Historical Commission) to erect a monument at the Antietam Battlefield (in Maryland) for Michigan’s role in that battle, which led to the Emancipation Proclamation. A colleague of mine, Brian James Egan, and I were invited to do a book and so, we were researching the book, and I came across William Dollarson in connection with his relationship with Alpheus Williams. He was a Detroiter who was a veteran of the Mexican-American War, who volunteered his services in 1861 to lead an unit (in the Civil War). He was given a general’s commission, he put together his staff, and among the group, he invited William Dollarson to be part of that as their chef. Long story short, I began to check into that story and it’s unfolded over the last 12 years. Until this most recent book, I only had bits and pieces of his story. So, now we have what we think is a pretty comprehensive biography of him and his service with the Union Army, with General Williams as part of that core of just a few individualists who went down to serve our country.
BridgeDetroit: How did you do your research for the book?
Dempsey: Lots of different ways. And there are a lot of resources from that era that you can now look at online. The Williams letters were published and republished, so that’s available, but also it’s looking at others who were part of that core staff group and their documents. Samuel Pittman, who’s buried here (Elmwood Cemetery) as well, who was a soldier, wrote very positively and fondly about Dollarson and the relationship that they all had. You have to look at different sources and different places to finally put it all together. It’s like pieces of a puzzle.
BridgeDetroit: Why do you think Dollarson went back down south to be part of Alpheus William’s unit?
Dempsey: Since he was a freedom fighter in the sense of being part of the Underground Railroad…I think he was seen as someone who had prominence, and he had self-emancipated. That’s an incredible story. So, I believe when he was asked, or maybe he volunteered–we really don’t know–but he thought this was going to help extend liberty to all Americans. And this is a war for the Constitution and for liberty and equality. It’s to fulfill the Declaration of Independence. So, I think that’s why he went.
He was gone for about a year. Once they (the unit) went into Virginia and saw what it was like to be in a jurisdiction where slavery was legal, what it was like to live under those conditions, and what happened to people who were on the other side of that…I think they counseled him (Dollarson) that this is just too dangerous. “You’ve already done enough, you’ve done a lot, but we really want you to go home.” And so, he did come back to Detroit at that point.
BridgeDetroit: What was Dollarson doing during his time in Detroit?
Dempsey: He was a conductor (in the Underground Railroad) so he was part of the leadership and helped bring people in and get them over to freedom in Canada. And he was apparently a well-known chef, which is interesting because there were very few opportunities for Black people in Detroit to do whatever they wanted. They were limited, in many cases, to certain professions. So, the fact that he became this prominent individual who did other things, like the Underground Railroad, suggests to me that he was seen as a leader in his community, as well as known by a number of people who were in the power structure of Detroit.
BridgeDetroit: Why is it important for readers to know Dollarson’s story?
Dempsey: I think it inspires all of us to appreciate what we’ve inherited; this whole American way of life, of liberty, of equal opportunity. It makes us appreciate people who we’ve never heard of, what they did on behalf of the entire people. And it’s inspirational. It also teaches us about the shortcomings that America had and still has, that we continue to try to improve ourselves, improve ourselves as a society and as individuals. He’s part of that whole story as well. So, maybe it’s a stretch to say, when you look at the Statue of Liberty, you should think of William Dollarson in a way. But I don’t think so.
As always, have a great week!
Cheers,
Micah