Varnum Continentals

Preserving and Sharing Rhode Island History

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[FEATURED EXHIBIT] Revolutionary War-period letter written by African American Veteran Thomas Nichols

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At the Varnum Memorial Armory Museum, we have discovered an American Revolutionary War-period letter written (dictated) by African American Thomas Nichols and signed with “his mark”. Freed from enslavement to serve in the First Rhode Island Regiment, Thomas writes to his former “master and mistress” asking for help in getting a discharge since the Revolutionary War had been “very disagreeable to my mind as well as destructive to my health.”

Thomas fought at the Battle of Rhode Island 2 years earlier and was wounded while helping to repel three Hessian charges. The letter is powerful … you can’t help but feel bad for Thomas’s plight and his desperate wish to go home. He appears to be suffering from PTSD. This is an astoundingly rare artifact from the beginnings of our nation. It also reminds us that many of the men serving and fighting for their freedom and country were people of color.

This is an astoundingly rare artifact. To our knowledge, only one other war-time letter from an African American in the American Revolutionary War exists. And, this may be the only one written by a former slave. This letter is a State and National treasure. However, it requires professional conservation work that will cost approximately $990. This work will stabilize the document physically, make it more readable, and most importantly, will make it possible to safely put it on long term display in our climate-controlled, secure museum. Framing and matting with archival grade materials and the highest quality museum glass will likely cost an additional $500 for an estimated total of $1490.

To that end, we staged a successful online fundraiser that surpassed our goal of $1,500 ($1,720 raised!) to preserve the letter.

Recent tour and viewing of Thomas Nichols letter

We also experienced a fantastic moment of serendipity regarding this particular letter. On the exact day that we met our fundraising goal, we were recently joined by two U.S. Army veterans and their daughter. They were moved by many exhibits in our collection, but this letter proved to be the focal point of their tour. Moments like this is why we work so hard to preserve our local and national U.S. history!

Letter transcription (preserving the original spelling and punctuation):

“Windham January 18th 1781

Onered Master & Mistress I take this opportunity to inform you of my citiation att this time & desire your ade = after I drove 3 waggons as far as Windham I hade waggoner tookaway my bath[?] of driving & ordered me to gard ye waggons which I refused & turned back to colonel green att Covintree & ye wagoner sent back two men after me Ye Colonal did not blame me but told ye men and me to go on again & that I should take my waggon again but being over worried with this tramp I got but 3 miles further than where I left ye waggons in So. Windham att ye house of one Dan Murdock where I have been confined with my old fits But have good care taken of me But I have a desire to Return to you Not having any money Nor Clows fit to wair & all strangers to me makes it something difficult for me I have had a Doctor and a Surgans mate to me which advize me to go to xxx corps of invalids at Boston where I may be under half pay During Life Remaining in this poor State of Body But I ante able to go thether Neither do I incline to with out advice from you But I have a desire that Master or Mistress would go to Colonel Green & see if you cant git me Discharged from ye War it being very Disagreabell to my mind as well as Destructive to my helth I suppose I could ride on a horse or att least in a Slay if you could obtain a Discharge for me So that I may Return to my Master and his family again baring[?] the will of god & your pleasure So No more att this time But I Remain your humble & dutiful Thomas “N” His mark

December 31 1780 These lines I recv’d from ye Surgeon’s mate where as Thomas Nickols a soldier belonging to ye first Regiment in Rhode Island State hath been for some time attended with fits in this place & still likely to Remain unfit for military life”

Endnote on Thomas

Sadly, Thomas didn’t get to go home then. He was transferred to the Invalid Corps in February 1781 to serve in whatever capacity his illness allowed (at half pay). More research is needed to determine what his ultimate fate was during and after the War.

[FEATURED EXHIBIT] 1975 National Guard Recruiting Poster featuring William H. Carney

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We just found this amazing 1975 National Guard recruiting poster deep in our archives at the Varnum Memorial Armory Museum. The caption at the bottom reads:

“You Belong. You and William H. Carney share a unique American Heritage. Like this Medal of Honor recipient and Sergeant in the 54th Massachusetts Colored Infantry Regiment during the Civil War, citizen-soldiers like you have been protecting our country and communities since 1636.”

Recommended Reading

1975 National Guard recruitment poster featuring William Harvey Carney
1975 National Guard recruitment poster featuring William Harvey Carney

[FEATURED EXHIBIT] Cadet Charles Young: Third African American Graduate of West Point

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The Varnum Memorial Armory Museum has a unique albumen photo of the West Point Class of 1877 with Cadet Charles Young, a true American hero. He was the third African American graduate of West Point. He was the first Black American U.S. National Park Superintendent, first military attache, first to achieve the rank of Colonel, and also was the highest-ranking African American officer in the regular Army at that time.

He served with distinction in the American Indian Wars, Spanish-American War, Philippine-American War, the Poncho Villa Expedition, and World War I. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

This exhibit is on loan from Angelo Scarlato.

  • Cadet Charles Young
  • Cadet Charles Young Exhibit
  • Cadet Charles Young Exhibit Card

[FEATURED EXHIBIT] Frank Quagan’s rendition of “Varnum’s Black Regiment”

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At the Varnum Memorial Armory Museum, we have artist Frank Quagan’s rendition of “Varnum’s Black Regiment”, the integrated 1st Rhode Island Regiment formed during the American Revolutionary War.

James Mitchell Varnum was an early proponent for freeing enslaved people in exchange for their service. It is said that he largely is responsible for convincing General George Washington to support the policy.

  • Frank Quagan’s rendition of “Varnum’s Black Regiment”
  • Frank Quagan’s rendition of “Varnum’s Black Regiment”
  • Frank Quagan’s rendition of “Varnum’s Black Regiment”
Frank Quagan’s rendition of “Varnum’s Black Regiment”

[FEATURED EXHIBIT] Springfield Rifle belonging to African American Civil War Veteran Isaac J. Winters

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  • Springfield Rifle belonging to African American Civil War Veteran Isaac J. Winters

Some objects have the power to create an instant sense of awe and humbleness…this is one of those objects.

At the Varnum Memorial Armory Museum, we now have the Springfield rifle carried by African American, Isaac J. Winters, of Company F 43rd U.S. Colored Troops during the American Civil War. He fought heroically in — and survived despite being wounded — some of the War’s most horrific combat.

  • Springfield Rifle belonging to African American Civil War Veteran Isaac J. Winters

This will be part of an upcoming special new exhibit on African American artifacts of the U.S. Civil War. As part of the display, we will tell the wider story of slavery in Rhode Island and how slaves in Rhode Island made the gradual move from this ugly institution to being fighting soldiers and eventually full citizens of our state and country.

Theses objects come to us from Angelo Scarlato who is allowing us to share a small part of his immense and important collection of African American history. Thank you for your generosity, Angelo!

About the Varnum Continentals

The Varnum Continentals are committed to the preservation of the historic heritage of our community, our state, and our nation. Please take a virtual tour of our museums to learn more about our mission to encourage patriotism. You can participate with us through active membership and/or philanthropic support in our non-profit organization. Donations are tax deductible to the full extent allowed by law. Museum tours are welcomed and our facilities may be rented for suitable events.

Our Mission

The Varnum Continentals are committed to encourage patriotism through the Varnum Armory Museum, the Continental Militia, and the James Mitchell Varnum House and thus to preserve, support, and communicate the military history of our community, our state, and our nation.

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