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|nickname=3rd Regiment Arkansas Volunteer Infantry (African Descent) |
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The '''56th United States Colored Infantry''' was an [[infantry]] [[regiment]] that served in the [[Union Army]] during the [[American Civil War]]. The regiment was composed of [[African American]] enlisted men commanded by white officers and was authorized by the [[Bureau of Colored Troops]] which was created by the [[United States War Department]] on May 22, 1863. |
The '''56th United States Colored Infantry''' was an [[infantry]] [[regiment]] that served in the [[Union Army]] during the [[American Civil War]]. The regiment was composed of [[African American]] enlisted men commanded by white officers and was authorized by the [[Bureau of Colored Troops]] which was created by the [[United States War Department]] on May 22, 1863. |
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==Service== |
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The regiment was organized at [[Helena, Arkansas]] in March of 1864 and was a reorganization of the [[3rd Regiment Arkansas Volunteer Infantry (African Descent)]] assigned to the [[VII Corps (Union Army)]].<ref>[http://www.civilwararchive.com/Unreghst/uncolinf3.htm#56 The Civil War Archive]</ref> |
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==Organization== |
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The regiment was organized at [[St. Louis, Missouri|St. Louis]] in August 1863 as the [[3rd Regiment Arkansas Volunteer Infantry (African Descent)]] and assigned to the [[VII Corps (Union Army)]]. The regiment was dispatched to [[Helena, Arkansas]] where it was initially utilized for garrison and guard duty. The regiment was re-organized at [[Helena, Arkansas]] March 11, 1864 and re-designated 56th United States Colored Infantry.<ref name="The Civil War Archive"/> The 56th was commanded by Col. Carl Bentzoni, a Prussian born officer who trained the troops for combat.<ref>Fletcher p. 72</ref> |
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== |
==Service== |
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The |
The 3rd Regiment Arkansas Volunteer Infantry (African Descent) participated in the Expedition from Helena up White River February 4-8, 1864, and up St. Francis River February 13-14.<ref name="The Civil War Archive">The Civil War Archive, Union Regimental Histories, Arkansas, Accessed 3 September 2013, http://www.civilwararchive.com/Unreghst/unartr.htm#4thinfad</ref> |
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⚫ | On July 26, 1864 near Wallace’s Ferry in Arkansas, the unit, now re-designated as the 56th United States Colored Infantry Regiment and the [[60th United States Colored Infantry Regiment|60th Colored Infantry]] regiments and [[2nd Regiment Light Artillery U.S. Colored Troops, Battery "E"|Battery E of the 2nd U.S. Colored Artillery]] were attacked by a superior force of [[Confederate States of America|Confederate]] cavalry commanded by Col. [[Archibald S. Dobbins]]. Supported by about 150 men from the [[15th Regiment Illinois Volunteer Cavalry|15th Illinois Cavalry]] the infantry regiments organized a fighting retreat and at a crucial moment in the battle made a counter charge into the enemy line. The Union regiments made their way back to Helena. Union casualties in the battle were 19 killed, 40 wounded, and 4 missing. Confederate losses are unknown.<ref>[http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=1138 Encyclopedia of Arkansas History]</ref> |
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⚫ | The vast majority of the deaths due to disease occurred during to a cholera epidemic that struck in August of 1866 while the regiment was waiting to muster out at [[Jefferson Barracks Military Post]] near [[St. Louis, Missouri|St. Louis]]. One hundred seventy-five African American enlisted men of the 56th U.S. Colored Infantry are buried together in a mass grave at [[Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery]].<ref>[http://www.cem.va.gov/cems/nchp/jeffersonbarracks.asp U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs]</ref> |
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⚫ | The 56th Colored Regiment lost during service 4 officers and 21 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded, and 2 officers and 647 enlisted men by disease for a total of 674 fatalities. <ref>[http://www.civilwararchive.com/Unreghst/uncolinf3.htm#56 The Civil War Archive]</ref> The vast majority of the deaths due to disease occurred during to a cholera epidemic that struck in August of 1866 while the regiment was waiting to muster out at [[Jefferson Barracks Military Post]] near [[St. Louis, Missouri|St. Louis]]. One hundred seventy-five African American enlisted men of the 56th U.S. Colored Infantry are buried together in a mass grave at [[Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery]].<ref>[http://www.cem.va.gov/cems/nchp/jeffersonbarracks.asp U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs]</ref> |
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== Mustered out of service == |
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.<ref name="The Civil War Archive"/> |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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{{portal|American Civil War}} |
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*[[Book:Arkansas Civil War Union units]] |
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*[[List of United States Colored Troops Civil War Units]] |
*[[List of United States Colored Troops Civil War Units]] |
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*[[United States Colored Troops]] |
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* [[Lists of American Civil War Regiments by State]] |
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* [[Arkansas in the American Civil War]] |
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==Notes== |
==Notes== |
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<references/> |
<references/> |
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==References== |
==References== |
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*{{Cite book |
*{{Cite book |
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|last = Fletcher |
|last = Fletcher |
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|isbn = 1609494245}} |
|isbn = 1609494245}} |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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* [http://www.couchgenweb.com/civilwar/ Edward G. Gerdes Civil War Home Page] |
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* [http://digital.library.cornell.edu/m/moawar/waro.html The War of the Rebellion: a Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies] |
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* [http://arkansascivilwar.com/ The Arkansas History Commission, State Archives, Civil War in Arkansas] |
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* {{US government|sourceURL=[http://www.civilwar.nps.gov/cwss/regiments.cfm Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System], ''National Park Service''}}}} |
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[[Category:United States Colored Troops Civil War regiments]] |
[[Category:United States Colored Troops Civil War regiments]] |
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[[Category:African-American military units and formations of the American Civil War]] |
[[Category:African-American military units and formations of the American Civil War]] |
Revision as of 19:54, 4 September 2013
56th U.S. Colored Infantry | |
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Active | March 11, 1864 to September 15, 1866 |
Country | United States |
Allegiance | Union |
Branch | Infantry |
Size | Regiment |
Nickname(s) | 3rd Regiment Arkansas Volunteer Infantry (African Descent) |
Engagements | American Civil War |
Commanders | |
Current commander | Col. Carl Bentzoni |
The 56th United States Colored Infantry was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. The regiment was composed of African American enlisted men commanded by white officers and was authorized by the Bureau of Colored Troops which was created by the United States War Department on May 22, 1863.
Organization
The regiment was organized at St. Louis in August 1863 as the 3rd Regiment Arkansas Volunteer Infantry (African Descent) and assigned to the VII Corps (Union Army). The regiment was dispatched to Helena, Arkansas where it was initially utilized for garrison and guard duty. The regiment was re-organized at Helena, Arkansas March 11, 1864 and re-designated 56th United States Colored Infantry.[1] The 56th was commanded by Col. Carl Bentzoni, a Prussian born officer who trained the troops for combat.[2]
Service
The 3rd Regiment Arkansas Volunteer Infantry (African Descent) participated in the Expedition from Helena up White River February 4-8, 1864, and up St. Francis River February 13-14.[1]
On July 26, 1864 near Wallace’s Ferry in Arkansas, the unit, now re-designated as the 56th United States Colored Infantry Regiment and the 60th Colored Infantry regiments and Battery E of the 2nd U.S. Colored Artillery were attacked by a superior force of Confederate cavalry commanded by Col. Archibald S. Dobbins. Supported by about 150 men from the 15th Illinois Cavalry the infantry regiments organized a fighting retreat and at a crucial moment in the battle made a counter charge into the enemy line. The Union regiments made their way back to Helena. Union casualties in the battle were 19 killed, 40 wounded, and 4 missing. Confederate losses are unknown.[3]
The 56th Colored Regiment lost during service 4 officers and 21 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded, and 2 officers and 647 enlisted men by disease for a total of 674 fatalities. [4] The vast majority of the deaths due to disease occurred during to a cholera epidemic that struck in August of 1866 while the regiment was waiting to muster out at Jefferson Barracks Military Post near St. Louis. One hundred seventy-five African American enlisted men of the 56th U.S. Colored Infantry are buried together in a mass grave at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery.[5]
Mustered out of service
.[1]
See also
- Book:Arkansas Civil War Union units
- List of United States Colored Troops Civil War Units
- United States Colored Troops
- Lists of American Civil War Regiments by State
- Arkansas in the American Civil War
Notes
- ^ a b c The Civil War Archive, Union Regimental Histories, Arkansas, Accessed 3 September 2013, http://www.civilwararchive.com/Unreghst/unartr.htm#4thinfad
- ^ Fletcher p. 72
- ^ Encyclopedia of Arkansas History
- ^ The Civil War Archive
- ^ U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs
References
- Fletcher, Randol B. (2011). Hidden History of Civil War Oregon. Charleston, South Carolina: The History Press. ISBN 1609494245.
External links
- The Civil War Archive
- Encyclopedia of Arkansas History
- Edward G. Gerdes Civil War Home Page
- The War of the Rebellion: a Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies
- The Arkansas History Commission, State Archives, Civil War in Arkansas
- This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, National Park Service}}