John Van Surley DeGrasse seated

John DeGrasse was the younger son of George and Maria DeGrasse. Theodocia Degrasse was his sister and Peter Vogelsang his brother-in-law. After receiving his medical degree from Bowdoin College, John moved to Boston in the early 1850s. In 1863 he volunteered as assistant surgeon with the First North Carolina Volunteers (later the 35th regiment of the USCT). Unlike Peter Vogelsang, he found himself the target of virulent racism from some of the white officers and surgeons. Accused of drunkenness and dereliction of duty in 1864, he was court-martialed and dishonorably discharged from the army. He died soon thereafter in 1868.

Photograph 36.7
The Massachusetts Historical Society

circa 1864

The Museum of African American History, Boston

Peter Vogelsang

Peter Vogelsang came from a family of activists. His father was a founding member of both the African Society for Mutual Relief and St. Philip's Episcopal Church. Peter Vogelsang married into another prominent black family when he wed Theodocia DeGrasse, the daughter of George and Maria DeGrasse. During the Civil War, Peter served in the famous Massachusetts 54th Regiment under Colonel Shaw reaching the rank of lieutenant at the time of his discharge from army.

circa 1864

State Arhcives of Florida