Headstone of an Arkansas Black Union Soldier
Buried at National Cemetery, Ft. Smith, Arkansas
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Though they are not often mentioned, there were10 regiments that were part of the United States Colored Troops organized in the state of Arkansas. Since finding a good number of soldiers from my hometown that are buried in the National cemetery, in Ft. Smith, my interest in the local history of the Arkansas USCTs has grown. I have studied the histories and movements of many of these regiments, and feel that they should be mentioned on this anniversary of one of the battles that took place on Arkansas soil.
Several of the regiments were organized as Regiments of African Descent, and were later re-designated with US Colored designations. It is common to sometimes see the older regiments described with the letters "A. D" meaning that these are soldiers of African Descent. (To the south, in neighboring Louisiana, a similar designation was made for the early companies organized there. They were identified as Corps d'Afrique in the traditional French.)
Also not often mentioned is the fact that Arkansas had some strong abolitionist sentiments in the NW portion of the state where plantation style slavery was not practiced the way it was in the counties that were part of the Mississippi Delta in the southeast portion of the state. Though slavery did exist in the northwest counties, it was not as large and the numbers of slaves did not match the numbers in central and southeastern Arkansas.
Nevertheless, those enslaved in northwest Arkansas yearned for freedom just as much. When the word spread throughout the enslaved community that the 11th US Colored Infantry was organizing in that part of the state, a good number of slaves from Sebastian and Crawford counties enlisted, as did able bodied men from nearby Indian Territory, where both the Cherokee and Choctaw Nations had a good number of their slaves to escape and enlist.
Later as the 11th US Colored Infantry moved east towards central Arkansas, there were opportunities later to enlist when units such as the 83, and later 57th Colored Infantries were sent to western Arkansas. Wherever the Union army encamped, there were opportunities for escape to Freedom.
As a result, it is important to take note of the regiments that come from this state. By knowing where these units organized and where they served, might help researchers to connect with possible ancestors who may have been recruited and possibly served in the Federal army.
This is a list of the regiments that were organized in the state of Arkansas.
113th U.S. Colored Infantry (New)-
Several of the regiments were organized as Regiments of African Descent, and were later re-designated with US Colored designations. It is common to sometimes see the older regiments described with the letters "A. D" meaning that these are soldiers of African Descent. (To the south, in neighboring Louisiana, a similar designation was made for the early companies organized there. They were identified as Corps d'Afrique in the traditional French.)
Also not often mentioned is the fact that Arkansas had some strong abolitionist sentiments in the NW portion of the state where plantation style slavery was not practiced the way it was in the counties that were part of the Mississippi Delta in the southeast portion of the state. Though slavery did exist in the northwest counties, it was not as large and the numbers of slaves did not match the numbers in central and southeastern Arkansas.
Nevertheless, those enslaved in northwest Arkansas yearned for freedom just as much. When the word spread throughout the enslaved community that the 11th US Colored Infantry was organizing in that part of the state, a good number of slaves from Sebastian and Crawford counties enlisted, as did able bodied men from nearby Indian Territory, where both the Cherokee and Choctaw Nations had a good number of their slaves to escape and enlist.
Later as the 11th US Colored Infantry moved east towards central Arkansas, there were opportunities later to enlist when units such as the 83, and later 57th Colored Infantries were sent to western Arkansas. Wherever the Union army encamped, there were opportunities for escape to Freedom.
As a result, it is important to take note of the regiments that come from this state. By knowing where these units organized and where they served, might help researchers to connect with possible ancestors who may have been recruited and possibly served in the Federal army.
This is a list of the regiments that were organized in the state of Arkansas.
Battery H. 2nd Regiment Light Artillery -
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11th U.S. Colored Infantry (Old) -
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46th Regiment Infantry-
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54th U.S. Colored Infantry -
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56th U.S. Colored Infantry-
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57th U.S. Colored Infantry-
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69th U.S. Colored Infantry-
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112 U.S. Colored Infantry-
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113th U.S. Colored Infantry (Old) Organized June 25, 1864, from 6th Arkansas Colored Infantry. Attached to 1st Division, 7th Corps, Dept. of Arkansas, to January, 1865. Colored Brigade, 7th Corps, to February, 1865. 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, 7th Corps, to April, 1865. SERVICE-
113th U.S. Colored Infantry (New)-
I'm a Black Oklahoman.... your blog listing was new on geneablogger... great quick read this time of am. I'll follow you. I've been blog posting several years...Have you visited our new OK History Center. Will host your visit if need be. take care.
ReplyDeleteHow many blacks fought for the South in the Civil war and why?Did blacks have the same interest as whites?How many blacks owned slaves in Charleston, South Carolina during the Civil war? Why?
ReplyDeleteregards,
hvac school in AR
Hello Bella,
ReplyDeleteDo you mean fought as soldiers in regiments? Very few. In spite of what some revisionists say talking about so called "thousands" not one list of these imaginary thousands of soldiers can be found. The south did not even approve using black soldiers until the end of the war. When Lee surrendered at Appomattox 36 blacks were paroled and they were not soldiers but servants, teamsters, cooks, and blacksmiths. Of this tiny number NONE were soldiers.
Regarding black slaveholders---many people, free Blacks frequently purchased family members, and keeping them "on the books" as slaves, thus preventing white slaveholders from selling their wives, children, and parents, as was continually done for decades, ripping families apart.