Roscius (Roshus, Rusher, Charles) Short

Roscius probably escaped from Sherwood Forest in the 1860s and joined the 1st U.S. Colored Cavalry, Company H during the Civil War. In his pension application from 1902, Roscius states that he was born in Charles City, his parents were William and Louisa Short, and his former owner was John Tyler. In this same source, Roscius states that he often went by the name Charles because it was more common than Roscius or Rusher. He died at the National Soldiers Home in Hampton, Virginia and was buried at the Hampton National Cemetery. [1]

Julia Gardiner Tyler wrote a letter regarding Roscius’ attempt to emancipate himself. In late December 1855, Roscius ran away from Sherwood to Richmond, where he was eventually apprehended and abused. Julia wrote,

“A gentleman…brought the message for us concerning our runaway from the chief of police [of Richmond]. The fellow drank pug [?] during the Christmas holidays as they always do John [John Tyler, Jr.] reprimanded him for something he replied saucily, John struck him with his fist the fellow took an attitude for a fight when John fell upon him to pummel him well when he turned and ran out the front gate and was not thereafter heard of until we received the notice of his lodgment in jail in Richmond. The day after he left which was a day or two after Christmas the P. got a notice to the watch in Richmond placing them on the look out and also the steamboat captains…It is William's son Roscuis [sic] who has got himself into this trouble by getting drunk. He will have had punishment enough before he sees home again to disgust him with traveling.” [2]

Contrary to earlier documentation on slavery at Sherwood Forest, many enslaved individuals sought to resist the condition of bondage imposed on them by the Tylers. Another record demonstrates Roscius’ continual struggle against the perpetrators of slavery. John Tyler’s son, Lyon G. Tyler, likely authored an article that describes Roscius’ defiance of an overseer named Hogan at Sherwood Forest in the 1850s. The article claims that Hogan attempted to harm Roscius by locking him inside the barn and threatening to whip him. The article claims that Tyler dissolved the scene and then went to see his neighbor, Mr. Selden, at his plantation. Tyler supposedly said, “Ha! ha! Selden, did you ever know of such a fool as my overseer Hogan? Lock himself up in a barn with my man Roscius. Why, sir, he might just as well have locked himself in a cage with a roaring, raging lion; ha! ha! did you ever hear the like?” The article reports that Tyler subsequently fired Hogan. [3]

Charles City historian Judith Ledbetter believes that Roscius may have been one of the two enslaved men who aided a free woman, an enslaved woman (who may have been Eliza Black), and six children in their escape from Sherwood Forest during the Civil War. Ledbetter elaborates, “I don’t think this was a simple slipping away in the dark. My sense is that it probably was a harrowing journey and it would not have succeeded without Roscius’ experience, physical strength and courage.” Judith notes that there was a Confederate Cavalry of 88 men stationed at the Charles City Courthouse, located just three miles from Sherwood. The escape was dangerous and required extreme care from each person, and Roscius’ documented defiance of an overseer, his attempt to run away after an altercation with John Tyler, Jr., and his decision to join the U.S.C.T. all point to Roscius’ immense resilience and capability. [4]

Roscius had a daughter named Rosa Brown. Rosa had a daughter named Thelma, and both were members of St. Cyprian’s Episcopal Church in Hampton. [5]

[1] Anderson, Leslie. “Roshus Shorts, Company H,” 1st Colored Cavalry, https://1stuscoloredcavalry.wordpress.com/2018/12/24/roshus-shorts-company-h/.

[2] Julia Gardiner Tyler to Juliana Gardiner, 25 Jan. 1856, Transcripts of Tyler Family Papers, Sherwood Forest Plantation Foundation, Charles City County, Virginia.

[3] “A Planter’s Pride In His Slaves,” William & Mary Quarterly, Apr. 1915 (most likely authored by Lyon Gardiner Tyler), pp. 225-226.

[4] Judith Ledbetter, email message to Frances Tyler, 10 Sep. 2020.

[5] Judith Ledbetter, email message to Frances Tyler, 19 Aug. 2022.