Cain Duncan
Born March 31, 1840
Died March 21, 1927
Place of Birth: Fairfax County, Virginia
Buried: Cub Run Memorial Gardens, Centreville, Virginia
How Died: Unknown
Military Service: United States Union Army
Military rank held: Sergeant
Unit: Company A, 23rd United States Colored Infantry
Battles/engagements: Appomattox Campaign
Cain Duncan was drafted into the US Colored Infantry on August 4, 1863 and soon charged with desertion. Charges were later dropped when Cain was able to prove that he had not received any notice of being drafted.
Cain enlisted November 23, 1863 and reported to the 23rd Regiment US Colored Infantry at Camp Casey, Virginia. His service was to last for three years. Cain’s military records vary in the spelling of his name including: Cain, Kane, Cane and Kain Duncan.
Cain’s unit guarded wagon trains, forts, railroads and similar facilities in Virginia. The 23rd also engaged in the final pursuit of Lee’s army, April 3 to 9, 1865. After Lee’s surrender at Appomattox, Cain and his regiment were transferred to Brownsville, Texas. He was mustered out on November 30, 1865.
After the war, Cain and his family settled in the Centreville area where he worked as a farmer and laborer.
Sources:
1. US census
2. fold3 (formerly footnote.com)
Larger photo of marker
Researched and written by Mary Lipsey
