Alfred Gales was a runaway enslaved man in 1863 when he encountered the Third Minnesota in Arkansas. He joined the regiment as a soldier, and after the war, returned with his fellow soldiers to Minnesota. He changed his name to Alfred Miller and lived in Minnesota for the rest of his life. This article tells the story of Alfred's life by piecing together a variety of historical documents.

Most Minnesota History articles are written at a higher reading level, making them more approriate for adults.