37-year-old George W. Carroll was a slave of Littleton Long, Sr. in Somerset County, Maryland. When Carroll enlisted, Long applied for and received $300 compensation from the government for Carroll's enlistment. Carroll enlisted on January 4, 1864 and mustered into the 19th Regiment on January 16, 1864. 

Private Carroll said "Benedict was the coldest place I ever lived." He suffered for the rest of his life from the effects of exposure at Benedict, and sunstroke during the Battle of the Crater at Petersburg. Carroll was a valued soldier, promoted to Corporal and then to Sergeant. He mustered out on January 15, 1867 at Brownsville, Texas.

George Carroll’s 1895 pension file deposition says:

I served as a Private, Corporal, and Sergeant in Company K, 19 USC Infantry. Enlisted January 4, 1864, and was discharged with my Co. and Regt. January 1867…

I was born in this county and have always lived here except the time I was in the war, and I worked for Capt. Benj. Lankford some prior to the war. I was owned by Mr. Littleton Long's wife (dead) but was hired out first one place and another. I got the name Carroll from my father…

There was nothing the matter with me prior to my enlistment and I could do nearly two men's work. When I was examined I was twice exempted, but the third time the surgeons passed me.

My first disability was the pain or misery in my right side and I believe it was caused by having my belt strapped too tight around me. I first felt it in marching from Benedict to Baltimore, Md. I was off duty on account of it for quite a while in the barracks at Baltimore, and the Dr. was attending me. I was very sick then. Benedict was the coldest place I ever lived.

My belt caused me pain during the rest of my service and I never could have anything tight around me…

My next disability was the sunstroke, which happened on the 30th day of July 1864. That happened immediately after the explosion of the mine at Petersburg, Va. when I was on the retreat.

I fainted and was unconscious for quite a while and when I came to, I could not see. Nothing was done except to wet my head in cold water. I was off duty about a week then and in Texas about one month. Since then I have had a burning over my eyes and sometimes I can't see across this room. My head is never clear of pains over my eyes. It troubles me most in the spring and summer…

My rheumatism came on me in the winter of 1864, and that was caused by exposure at Benedict, Md. I had the measles and caught cold and was in the hospital in the barracks and was attended by the Dr. Don't know his name. I had aches and pains all over me and could not walk and my legs were stiff and the surgeon said I had rheumatism.

All the time I was in Va. I had the rheumatism off and on, and when in Texas, had it so bad I could not walk at all. The Dr. (can't tell his name) came to my tent. After I was sunstruck my head was dizzy and my eyesight failed me right away.