Thomas Brunk was a resident of Mansfield on January 13, 1864 when he enlisted as a Private in Co. B of the 31^st Regiment United States Colored Troops. He was sick in the hospital from at least June 10, 1864 through the end of his enlistment.

The descriptive muster roll for the 31^st Regiment United States Colored Troops lists his age as 64 and his occupation as laborer.  He is described as 5’7” tall with a black complexion and black hair and eyes.  His marital status is married.

He was born about 1800 in Cooks Island, New York and he was not living in Mansfield in the 1860 U.S. census. The maximum enlistment age in the Civil War was 44; many soldiers were older than that but the enlistment age on the application is usually not over 44. Thomas Brunk’s application stated that he was 64. He spent the majority of his enlistment in the hospital. His wife was named Catherine and she resided in Coxsackie, New York. No further information is known.