ALFRED J. LUTHER, SGT. AT GRANT’S CANAL
Alfred J. Luther enlisted, in Missouri, on May
30, 1861 in Company A of the 1st Kansas Infantry. Alfred was promoted to Sargeant on May 1,
1862, then rising to the rank of corporal before the Battle of Wilson’s Creek.
The Battle of Wilson’s Creek was fought on
August 10, 1861, and the 1st Kansas was in this battle when Brigadier General
Nathaniel Lyon was killed and Alfred was slightly wounded. The First Kansas was documented having lost
300 of their 800 men that day.
General Ulysses S. Grant was ordered to capture
Vicksburg. At Lake Providence, two of
Grant’s engineers proposed digging a
mile long canal from the river into the lake and then follow various waterways
from the lake to the Red River to bypass the Rebel regiments and cannons in the
bluffs near Vicksburg.
Along with many other regiments, the 1st
Kansas Infantry, was sent to Lake Providence, arriving on February 8th, 1863,
for provost duty until July. They were
attached to the 1st Brigade, 6th Division, of Major General James B.
McPherson’s XVII Army Corps, during the ‘Grant’s Canal’s project.
Many lives were lost at Lake Providence due to
small pox, cholera, malaria, etc. due to unsanitary conditions. On March 22, 1863, Sgt. Alfred Luther was one
of those lost. Alfred was respected for
bravery by fellow soldiers, always there, doing the duty handed and never
showing any fear as is expected of the soldiers.
Records indicate the original
burial site of Alfred as “1 mile north of Lake Providence, 40 yards south east
of Dr. Blackman’s residence, in a row, running from North to South, joining the
Vaults (tombs), heads of bodies towards the East.”—a red asterisk was placed in
the records by the name of A. J. Luther.
Later about 40 soldiers’ remains were removed
from Lake Providence and places in the Vicksburg National Military
Cemetery. Burial removal records
indicate that A. J. Luther, #24, as a “white soldier”, however most of the
soldiers removed were unknown colored soldiers. 
When preparing this soldier for burial, it must
have been a big surprise to learn that he was actually female. To learn the sergeant, the man they thought
was Alfred, and fought alongside for two years, was actually a ‘she’. And imagine all that she had to endure during
her two year stint, to conceal the female identity.
It is said that about 250 women fought as men…
yet almost unheard of. The men in the
company all spoke of her in terms of respect and affection.
She would have been promoted to a Lieutenancy in
just a few days if she had lived.
Sandra Guthrie Moore
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