Next Prev Next Enter Your Search Terms Below Putting your search in quotes will search on the entire phrase - like "15th New Jersey". Limit to the first 10 20 50All results. Fox's Regimental Losses ItKCKUITINtl OF COLOKKD ItKUlMKNTS. . ;; was mustered in, Octolx»r 12, IS<52 ; the Third, on NovemlxT 24, 1SIJ2. The other regiments of the Guard, or Corps d'Afriquo as it was called, completed their organizations within a few months later. At this time, also, in August, ist'.2, recruiting for a colored regiment was commenced in Kansas, and over 000 men were soon mustered in. The regiment, however, was not mustered into the United States service until January i:{, is<»3. It was then.designated the. First Kansas Colored Volunteers, hut its name was changed, in December, 1804, to the 79th United States Colored Infantrv. */ Recruiting for a black regiment had, also, been undertaken in South Carolina by General Hunter, and an officer, Sergeant C. T. Trowbridge, had IMHMI detailed for that pur]>ose as early as May 7, 18t»2. The recruiting progressed slowly, and was attended with so many difficulties and discouragements that a complete regimental organization was not effected until Jan. 31, 1SG3. Some of the companies, however, were organized at an earlier date. Colonel T. W. Higginson was assigned to the command of this regiment, his commission dating back to November 10, 18<>2. Trowbridge was made Captain of the first company organized, and sub sequently promoted to the Lieutenant-Colonelcy. This regiment, First South Carolina, was the first slave regiment organized, the Louisiana Native Guard having been recruited largely from free blacks. The designation of the First South Carolina was changed by the War Depart ment, in February, 1S»;4, to Thirty-third United States Colored Infantry. Recruiting for the Fifty-fourth Massachusetts commenced in February, 1S<>3, and its ten companies were full by May. It was the first colored regiment raised in a Northern State, the First Kansas having been recruited largely in Missouri, and partly from enslaved blacks. The Fifty-fourth was composed mostly of free men, and its recruits came from all the North ern States, it being their first opportunity to enlist. By this time the movement had become general, and before the war closed the colored troops embraced 14."> regiments of infantry, 7 of cavalry, 12 of heavy artillery, 1 of light artillery, and 1 of engineers ; total, H'5i{. Of these, about »>o were brought into action on the battle field, the others having been assigned to post or garrison duty. Of the regiments brought into action, only a few were engaged in more than one battle ; the war was half over, and so the total of killed does not ap]>caras great as it otherwise would have done. The total number killed or mortally wounded in the colored troops was 143 officers, and -2,751 men. The officers were whites. Though participating only in the latter campaigns of the war, the black regiments made a noble record, and if, at times, they failed to win victories, it was through no fault of theirs. The first action in which colored troops were engaged was an affair at Island Mounds, Mo., October 2S, 1S02, in which a detachment of the First Kansas was attacked by a superior mimlxn- of Confederates under command of Colonel Cockerel. Although outnuml>ered, they made a successful resistance and scored a victory. Their lost was K» killed, including a Cap tain, and 12 wounded. The First Kansas, also, lost 16 men killed on May 18, 18C.3, in a minor engagement at Sherwood, Mo. In the Assault on Port Hudson, La., May 27, 1863, colored troops were used for the firs time in a general engagement. The Nineteenth Army Corps, during its l>esiegement of that stronghold, included several colored regiments in its organization. There were the First and Third Louisiana Native Guawls; The First Louisiana Engineers, Corps d'Afrique ; and, Sixth, Seventh, Eighth, Ninth and Tenth Infantry, Corps d'Afrique. During the siege the First Louisiana Native Guards lost 2 officers and 32 men killed, and : J officers and 92 men wounded (including the mortally wounded); total, 129. But few regiments in the Nineteenth Corps sustained a greater loss. The other regiments of the Corps d'Afrique were actively engaged, but with fewer casualties. The Fii-st Louisiana Native Guard was attached to _02701
