United States Colored Troops (USCT) were Union Army regiments during the American Civil War that primarily comprised African Americans, with soldiers from other ethnic groups also serving in USCT units. Established in response to a demand for more units from Union Army commanders, USCT regiments, which numbered 175 in total by the end of the war in 1865, constituted about one-tenth of the manpower of the army, according to historian Kelly Mezurek, author of For Their Own Cause: The 27th United States Colored Troops. "They served in infantry, artillery, and cavalry." Approximately 20 percent of USCT soldiers were killed in action or died of disease and other causes, a rate about 35 percent higher than that of white Union troops. Numerous USCT soldiers fought with distinction, with 16 receiving the Medal of Honor. The USCT regiments were precursors to the Buffalo Soldier units which fought in the American Indian Wars.
The 3rd Wisconsin Cavalry Regiment was a volunteer cavalry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.
The Skirmish at Island Mound was a skirmish of the American Civil War, occurring on October 29, 1862, in Bates County, Missouri. The Union victory is notable as the first known event in which an African-American regiment engaged in combat against Confederate forces during the war.
The 2nd Kansas Colored Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.
The 1st Kansas Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. On August 10, 1861, at the Battle of Wilson's Creek, Missouri, the regiment suffered 106 soldiers killed in action or mortally wounded, one of the highest numbers of fatalities suffered by any Union infantry regiment in a single engagement during the American Civil War.
The 8th Kansas Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.
The 10th Kansas Infantry Regiment served in the Union Army between April 3, 1862, and September 20, 1865, during the American Civil War.
The 12th Kansas Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.
The 6th Kansas Cavalry Regiment was a cavalry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.
The 9th Kansas Cavalry Regiment was a cavalry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.
1st Independent Battery Kansas Light Artillery was an artillery battery that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.
2nd Independent Battery Kansas Light Artillery was an artillery battery that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.
3rd Independent Battery Kansas Light Artillery was an artillery battery that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.
The 79th United States Colored Infantry was an all-black infantry regiment which fought for the Union Army during the Civil War. "... in August, 1862, recruiting for a colored regiment was commenced in Kansas, and over 600 men were soon mustered in. The regiment, however, was not mustered into the United States service until January 13, 1863. It was then designated the 1st Kansas Colored Infantry Regiment, but its name was changed, in December, 1864, to the 79th United States Colored Infantry."
The 42nd Ohio Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War.
The 46th Regiment Indiana Infantry was a regiment of the Union Army during the American Civil War.
2nd Indiana Battery Light Artillery was an artillery battery that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.
The 55th United States Colored Infantry Regiment was a United States Colored Troops infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It was first organized as the 1st Alabama Volunteer Infantry Regiment (African Descent) in May 1863, serving on garrison duty at Corinth, Mississippi and Memphis, Tennessee. It was redesignated as the 55th United States Colored Infantry in March 1864, continuing its garrison service in Tennessee and fighting at the Battle of Brices Cross Roads. After the end of the war, the regiment was mustered out in late 1865 after garrison duty in Louisiana.
The 54th United States Colored Infantry was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. The regiment was composed of African American enlisted men commanded by white officers and was authorized by the Bureau of Colored Troops which was created by the United States War Department on May 22, 1863.
James Monroe Williams was an American lawyer, soldier, and merchant. He served both as a cavalry and as an infantry officer in the Union Army within the Trans-Mississippi Theater during the American Civil War, and was breveted a brigadier general near the end of the conflict.
