From NKAA, Notable Kentucky African Americans Database (PIONEERS & PATRIOTS: Anderson County Military Servicemen, Revolutionary War - WWI)
Grayson, Thomas (born c. 1846)
(born: c. 1846) Grayson was born about 1846 in Anderson County. He was certainly a slave owned by Matt Searcy, who filed a claim for lostproperty when Thomas ran away to join the Union Army during the Civil War.
President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation only freed slaves in states openly hostile toward the Union. Late in the war, however, the government called for the enlistment of colored regiments, and all who answered the call were granted immediate freedom.
Among these was Thomas Grayson, who made his way from Lawrenceburg to Camp Nelson, where on September 9, 1864 he was mustered into Federal service as a private in Company E of the 5th U.S. Colored Cavalry Regiment. His enlistment record describes him as an 18-year old farmer from Anderson County, 5'4" in height, of dark complexion with dark hair and eyes.
Although the 5th Colored Cavalry had not reached its full complement of men, those who were enrolled by the end of September were assigned to General Stephen Burbridge for his campaign into southwest Virginia. On this expedition, the 5th regiment was active on October 2, 1864 at the 1st Battle of Saltville, where after a fierce engagement the Federals were driven back with heavy losses. In December another attempt was made to destroy the Salt Works, and the 5th Cavalry was part of that battle known as Stoneman's Raid. On December 17 and 18, 1864, the Federals attacked and captured Confederate lead mines near Marion, Virginia, and on the 20-21 captured and destroyed the salt works at Saltville.
In January 1865 Company E of the 5th Regiment was detailed to escort a herd of cattle from Camp Nelson to Louisville. As this column passed through Mercer and Anderson Counties, itís progress was closely monitored by Confederate partisans operating in the area. On Jan. 25, 1865, just outside Simpsonville in Shelby County, the rebels attacked the Federal rear guard of about thirty Company E troops, resulting in a complete massacre, as nearly all were killed or left for dead. Local citizens gathered up the dead and buried them in a mass grave, while the wounded were taken to Louisville.
At the roll call for February 1865, Thomas Grayson was listed as 'absent' and was reported to have been at the General Hospital at New Albany, Indiana since February 2, suffering from wounds received in action at Simpsonville on January 25. His wounds must surely have been serious, as he remained at the hospital from March-June.
In July 1865, he returned to active duty with his regiment as it was transferred to Arkansas, where it was engaged against renegade groups until March 20, 1866, when the 5th Colored Cavalry was discharged and mustered from service at Helena, Arkansas.
Thomas Grayson survived the war and returned to Anderson County, where he is found on the 1870 Anderson County Census as a 24-year old mulatto living in the home of Ambrose Portwood.