I'm Black...but my ancestor fought for the Confederacy.

It is odd to be a descendant of slaves, yet have an ancestor who fought for the Confederacy.

Such is the case with my GG-Grandfather Goliah Rolland, a Creek Indian. That is not, however, why I named the villain in my novel SEEDS OF DECEPTION after him. He was not a slave owner, but there were more than a few Indigenous tribes that owned African slaves just like their white neighbors.

The only saving grace for me in regards to this particular ancestor is that —as you can see from the document above — he only fought for the Confederacy for four months before deserting. Not before he marked his “X” to collect his $75 pay, though. (Pictured below)

It is no badge of honor to have any ancestor who deserted his soldierly duty, but family lore says that he realized who he was fighting for (or against?), then he joined the right side, the noble side, the Union Army. Others say he was a double agent.

All that means is that I must continue my research, as the job of a family historian is an ongoing saga.

Stay tuned!