Milton S. Littlefield

Milton Smith Littlefield was born on July 19, 1830, in Ellisburgh, New York. The corruption scandal was brought forth after George W. Swepson and Littlefield defrauded the state by $4 million, after the North Carolina Legislature of granted $27.8 million in Railroad bonds.{{cite news |title=The Case Of Milton S. Littlefield |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1879/07/29/archives/the-case-of-milton-s-littlefield.html |quote=The Governor of North Carolina in 1878 made a requisition upon Gov. Drew, of Florida, for the surrender of Milton S. Littlefield, which was complied with, and the warrant for his surrender issued. |newspaper=New York Times |date=July 29, 1879 |access-date=2010-12-20 }}{{cite web |url=http://ncccha.blogspot.com/2006/11/george-william-swepson-1819-1883.html |title=George William Swepson (1819-1883) |access-date=2010-12-20 |publisher=Caswell County Historical Association |date=November 13, 2006}} Along with Swepson, Littlefield was indicted for the fraud but was never convicted.

When the American Civil War broke out in 1861 Littlefield organized a company of infantry, which became Company F of the 14th Illinois Infantry, and was elected as its captain. After serving in the west at Shiloh and Corinth, Littlefield was made Lieutenant Colonel of the new 14th Illinois Cavalry. In 1863 he was sent to the South, briefly commanded the 54th Massachusetts Infantry, a colored unit, and was ordered to recruit black troops. Littlefield raised the 4th South Carolina Infantry(African Descent); whose Colonel he became. When the United States Colored Troops were organized his regiment became the 21st USCT Infantry. On November 26, 1864, Littlefield was given a brevet promotion to brigadier general of Volunteers. He served as brigade and district commander and was mustered out on April 25, 1866.{{cite book|last1=Eicher|first1=John H. and David J.|title=Civil War High Commands|date=2001|publisher=Stanford University Press|location=Stanford, CA|page= 350|isbn=0-8047-3641-3}}

Littlefield married and had two sons, including Milton S. Jr. He died on March 7, 1899, at his home on Madison Avenue in New York City. He was buried in Kensico Cemetery.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-new-york-times-gen-milton-s-little/160818623/ |title=Gen. Milton S. Littlefield |date=1899-03-09 |newspaper=New York Times |page=7 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=2024-12-13}}{{Open access}}

According to a court record filed on March 29, 1886, on March 18, 1872, John H. Miller sued Littlefield in Duval County, Florida over a debt of fifty thousand dollars.{{Cite web |url=http://ftp.resource.org/courts.gov/c/US/117/117.US.419.html |title=Courts.gov Littlefield case record |access-date=2010-12-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120325093504/http://ftp.resource.org/courts.gov/c/US/117/117.US.419.html |archive-date=2012-03-25 |url-status=dead }}

His lust for profiteering was exhibited in his Civil War service, having charge of recruitment of black troops in the Department of the South, he sought to have freedmen pressed into service and appropriated the enlistment bounty many of these 'recruits' were due. Allegedly he used these misappropriations to fund these financial schemes.

There were also related findings with the Pensacola, Florida, railroad lines, as well as suits involving Calvin Littlefield, who filed to have the bonds given over to him.

• 1868 North Carolina railroad bonds scandal

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Category:1830 births

Category:1899 deaths

Category:People from Ellisburg, New York

Category:Military personnel from New York City

Category:Military personnel from North Carolina

Category:Union military personnel

Category:North Carolina Republicans

Category:Union army colonels

Category:Burials at Kensico Cemetery