From NKAA, Notable Kentucky African Americans Database (PIONEERS & PATRIOTS: Anderson County Military Servicemen, Revolutionary War - WWI)
Meaux, Phillip
(born: c. 1838) Phillip Meaux, was born about 1838 in Kentucky, most likely in Anderson or Mercer County. On May 6, 1867, Phillip was married in Anderson County to Miss Susan Birdwhistle. The Phillip Meaux family appears on the Federal census for Anderson County in 1870, where he is listed as a 32-year old Black man with a wife, Susan, and children Minerva, Esther, and William.Phillip was born into slavery, and remained a slave into young adulthood; President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation only freed slaves in states openly hostile toward the Union. Later in the war, however, the government called for the enlistment of colored regiments, and all who answered the call were granted immediate freedom.
Phillip therefore made his way to Camp Nelson. Where he enrolled as a private in Company A of the 116th U.S. Colored Infantry Regiment and mustered into Federal service July 1864. The regiment remained at Camp Nelson until September, and during its stay there helped bolster the defenses of the camp and nearby Hickman's Bridge against an expected attack by Forrest's army.
He was later deployed to the east, reporting to General Butler's Army of the James River in Virginia. From October 1864 until April 1865 the group took part in the siege operations against Petersburg and Richmond. During this time, the regiment was active in a major Battle at Hatcher's Run on March 27-28, 1865, and was present on April 2 for the Fall of Petersburg.
As General Lee's rebels evacuated Richmond, the 116th was in pursuit, and they stood opposite his forces at Appomattox Courthouse, and was on hand for the surrender of April 9, 1865.
As part of the regiment, Phillip Meaux served occupation duty at Petersburg until May 25, when it was ordered to rejoin the war and dispatched to Texas where fighting was still going on. It reported for duty June 22, 1865 at Brazos Santiago and saw duty at White's Ranch, Rome, and the Lower Rio Grande region until September 1866. It was then transferred from Texas to New Orleans, where it was stationed until January 1867, then ordered to Louisville, where the regiment was mustered from the service and discharged.