125th United States Colored Infantry Regiment

125th United States Colored Infantry Regiment 1865–1867 December 20, 1867 United States Union United States Colored Troops Infantry Garrison and guard duties 26 officers and 610 enlisted men Louisville, Kentucky; various forts in New Mexico and Texas Colonel Charles D. Armstrong First Commander Colonel William R. Gerhart Last Commander The 125th United States Colored Infantry Regiment, (USCI) part of the United States Colored Troops (USCT), was an African-American unit formed during the final months of the American Civil War. Organized in Louisville, Kentucky, between February 12 and June 2, 1865,Battle Unit Details - The Civil War (U.S. National Park Service) https://www.nps.gov/civilwar/search-battle-units.htm 2024-06-01 www.nps.gov en the regiment was the last of its type to be formed, thus not participating in active combat during the war itself. The regiment performed garrison and guard duties, initially around Louisville then in New Mexico. It was officially disbanded and paid off in Louisville on December 20, 1867, the last of the USCT units to be mustered out.Kentucky's United States Colored Troops https://ky.ng.mil/News/Article/2943037/kentuckys-united-states-colored-troops/https%3A%2F%2Fky.ng.mil%2FNews%2FArticle%2F2943037%2Fkentuckys-united-states-colored-troops%2F 2024-06-01 Kentucky Guard en-US History During the Civil War, calls for African-American troops by President Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass led to some 23,703 African Americans in the State of Kentucky enlisting into the Union Army, forming a variety of units, including the 125th USCI regiment. Mustered in Louisville, Kentucky, the unit was under the command of Colonel Charles D. Armstrong from 1865 until 1866, with Colonel William R. Gerhart succeeding him afterwards, leading the regiment until its disbandment in 1867.The Last Civil War Volunteers https://blueandgrayeducation.org/pdfs/newsletters/Dispatch_11-Sep-20.pdf After the Civil War ended, the 125th USCI regiment continued serving the Union, performing garrison duties in Louisville. In 1866, eight companies of the regiment125th Infantry · Notable Kentucky African Americans Database https://nkaa.uky.edu/nkaa/items/show/888#:~:text=The%20125th%20Infantry%20was%20one,to%20three%20years%20of%20service. 2024-06-01 nkaa.uky.edu were ordered to New Mexico Territory to replace white volunteer troops leaving service and protect settlers and travelers in the Rio Grande River region from potential bandit and Indian attacks. The unit, consisting of about 26 officers and 610 men, traveled by steamboat to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, then marched along the Santa Fe Trail afterwards. They finally arrived in New Mexico by August 1866. During the journey, some soldiers mutinied in St. Louis upon learning of their destination, and a few deserted. During service in New Mexico, the regiment was stationed at various forts, including Fort Bayard, which they founded on August 21, 1866; Fort Selden, where they were the first African-American troops to occupy the fort;2014-09-08 Old and Abandon Military Fort Comes to Life during Frontier Day Celebration https://www.visitlascruces.com/blog/post/old-and-abandon-military-fort-comes-to-life-during-frontier-day-celebration/ 2024-06-01 www.visitlascruces.com en-us and Fort Bliss in Texas. The unit continued its duties until October 1867, after which they were sent to Fort Riley, Kansas, to be mustered out. The regiment was officially disbanded and paid off in Louisville on December 20, 1867. See also List of United States Colored Troops Civil War units Louisville in the American Civil War References Category:Military units and formations established in 1865 Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1867 Category:United States Colored Troops Civil War units and formations Category:Louisville, Kentucky, in the American Civil War Category:1865 establishments in Kentucky Category:Units and formations of the Union army from Kentucky Category:1867 disestablishments in Kentucky Category:Infantry regiments of the United States Army