1st United States Colored Cavalry Regiment

1st United States Colored Cavalry Regiment 1863–1866 United States United States 1863 Union CavalryUnited States Colored Troops Regiment American Civil War Bermuda Hundred Campaign Overland Campaign Siege of Petersburg The 1st United States Colored Cavalry Regiment was a regiment of the Union army composed of African-American troops that served in Virginia during the American Civil War. Unit history The 1st Colored Cavalry was formed at Camp Hamilton, Virginia on December 22, 1863.8 141 Many of the men were escaped slaves from Virginia, the United States Colored Troops was established in May, 1863 to allow both free people of color and former slaves to enlist in the army. In August, 1864, the regiment was assigned to duty working in Virginia military hospitals, guarding quartermaster and commissary stores, and serving as provost guard.United States War Department 1895 The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Vol. 42 Serial 88 Washington DC Government Printing Office 25 https://ehistory.osu.edu/books/official-records/088/0025United States War Department 1895 The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Vol. 42 Serial 88 Washington DC Government Printing Office 100 https://ehistory.osu.edu/books/official-records/088/0100 Black troops were often used for manual labor or guard duty due to the attitude of white officers who felt they weren't fit for combat.Dobak William A. Freedom by the Sword: The U.S. Colored Troops 1862-1867 2011 Center of Military History, US Army 355 https://books.google.com/books?id=q2WCDwAAQBAJ Despite primarily serving in non-combat duties, the 1st Colored Cavalry fought 6 engagements in Virginia.Dobak William A. Freedom by the Sword: The U.S. Colored Troops 1862-1867 2011 Center of Military History, US Army 445 https://books.google.com/books?id=q2WCDwAAQBAJ Casualties included 2 killed and 1 wounded at Bermuda Hundred, 3 missing at Smithfield, 2 killed at Wilson's Landing, 2 killed at Fort Pocahontas, 2 killed at Cabin Point, 3 killed, 16 wounded at Powhatan. Often the companies of the 1st Colored Cavalry regiment were deployed at different points separately, operating as dismounted infantry.United States War Department 1895 The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Vol. 42 Serial 88 Washington DC Government Printing Office 623 https://ehistory.osu.edu/books/official-records/088/0623 The 1st Colored Cavalry was assigned to XXV Corps, commanded by General Godfrey Weitzel. In May, 1865, following the fall of the Confederate capital and the surrender of Robert E. Lee's army in Virginia, the XXV Corps was dispatched to guard the Mexican border in South Texas.United States War Department 1895 The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Vol. 46 Serial 97 Washington DC Government Printing Office 1168 https://ehistory.osu.edu/books/official-records/097/1168Dobak William A. Freedom by the Sword: The U.S. Colored Troops 1862-1867 2011 Center of Military History, US Army 434 https://books.google.com/books?id=q2WCDwAAQBAJ Following the end of the war, the government began downsizing the army, and the 1st Colored Cavalry was mustered out of service on February 4, 1866. Commanders All officers of the United States Colored Troops during the Civil War were white; Black soldiers would not be commissioned as officers in the US Army until after the war. Commanding officers of the 1st US Colored Cavalry: Col. Jeptha GarrardUnited States War Department 1895 The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Vol. 60 Serial 33 Washington DC Government Printing Office 1057 https://ehistory.osu.edu/books/official-records/060/1057 Lt. Col. William H. Seip Maj. Archibald McIntyre See also American Civil War List of United States Colored Troops Civil War Units United States Colored Troops References Category:United States Colored Troops Civil War units and formations Category:Military units and formations established in 1863 Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1866 Category:1863 establishments in Virginia Category:1866 disestablishments in Virginia Category:Units and formations of the Union army from Virginia Category:Cavalry regiments of the United States Army