This
regiment was organized at Camp Delaware, Ohio, from
January 16th to August 6th, 1864, to serve three
years. Shortly after being mustered into the
service of the United States the regiment was
ordered to Camp Casey, Washington, D. C, where it
was stationed awhile, doing garrison duty.
Thence the regiment went to City Point and
Petersburg, Va., it being at the latter place that
it distinguished itself for unsurpassed gallantry
and good conduct upon the battlefield. The
bravery of this regiment was also displayed at
Chapin's Farm and at Weldon Railroad.
The regiment was sent down into North Carolina, where
it was engaged a part of the time in doing garrison
duty, and the other part of the time in taking part
in the operations, including the skirmishes in and
around Fort Fisher, Wilmington, Goldsboro and
Raleigh. It did heroic service, won the confidence
and approval of its superior officers, and after as
honorable service as any of the regiments, it was
mustered out of the U. S. service September 21st,
1865, at Smithville, N. C. The Roll of Honor
of this regiment will show eighteen killed in action
and one hundred and forty-nine died in hospital of
disease or wounds received in battle.
Joseph Butcher of Jerome Township served
in this regiment with nine other soldiers who
enlisted in Union County.
Wherever colored troops were engaged in battle during
the Civil War they acquitted themselves in a manner
which
Pg. 160 -
fully justified the Government in enlisting their
services. The first colored regiment organized
during the war was recruited in New Orleans, was
mustered into the service September 27th, 1862, and
was known as the First Louisiana Native Guard.
The first colored regiment organized in Northern
States was the 54th Massachusetts, recruited in the
spring of 1863.
The total number of colored troops enlisted during the
Civil War was 178,975, and the losses by death were
36,847. |