The 2nd United States Colored Infantry was an

infantry Infantry, or infantryman are a type of soldier who specialize in ground combat, typically fighting dismounted. Historically the term was used to describe foot soldiers, i.e. those who march and fight on foot. In modern usage, the term broadl ...

regiment A regiment is a military unit. Its role and size varies markedly, depending on the country, military service, service, or administrative corps, specialisation. In Middle Ages, Medieval Europe, the term "regiment" denoted any large body of l ...

that served in the Union Army during the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861May 26, 1865; also known by Names of the American Civil War, other names) was a civil war in the United States between the Union (American Civil War), Union ("the North") and the Confederate States of A ...

. The regiment was composed of

African American African Americans, also known as Black Americans and formerly also called Afro-Americans, are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, American racial and ethnic group that consists of Americans who have total or partial ancestry from an ...

enlisted men commanded by white officers and was authorized by the

Bureau of Colored Troops The Bureau of Colored Troops was created by the United States War Department on May 22, 1863, under General Order No. 143, during the Civil War, to handle "all matters relating to the organization of colored troops." Major Charles Warren Foster ...

which was created by the

United States War Department The United States Department of War, also called the War Department (and occasionally War Office in the early years), was the United States Cabinet department originally responsible for the operation and maintenance of the United States Army, als ...

on May 22, 1863.

Service history

The 2nd U.S. Colored Infantry was organized in

Arlington Arlington most often refers to: *Arlington, Virginia **Arlington National Cemetery, a United States military cemetery *Arlington, Texas Arlington may also refer to: Places Australia *Arlington light rail station, on the Inner West Light Rail in S ...

Virginia Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States between the East Coast of the United States ...

June 20 through November 11, 1863 and mustered in for three-year service. The regiment of around 900 men arrived in Key West on February 22, 1864 as replacements for the 47th Pennsylvania Volunteers, where they encountered hostility from many of the locals. The unit established a regimental headquarters and was encamped at

Fort Taylor The Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park, also known simply as Fort Taylor, is a Florida State Park and National Historic Landmark centered on a Civil War-era fort located near the southern tip of Key West, Florida. History 1845–1900 Co ...

, under the jurisdiction of the

Department of the Gulf The Department of the Gulf was a command of the United States Army in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries and of the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War, Civil War. History United States Army (Civil War) Creation The ...

. The unit was then assigned to the

Department of Florida Department of Florida, was the military administrative department established by the Union Army. The Department of Florida was established on April 13, 1861 to defend and administer the few remaining Federal installations remaining in Florida. ...

until January 1866. The 2nd U.S. Colored Infantry mustered out of service January 5, 1866.

Detailed service

Ordered to the Department of the Gulf December 1863. Duty at New Orleans, La., and Ship Island, Miss., until February 13, 1864. Ordered to Key West, Fla., February 13. Affair at Tampa, Fla., May 5. Operations on the west coast of Florida July 1–31. Expedition from Fort Myers to Bayport July 1–4. Expedition from Cedar Key to St. Andrew's Bay July 20–29. Fort Taylor August 21. Station Four February 13, 1865. Attack on Fort Myers February 20. Operations in the vicinity of St. Mark's February 21-March 7. East River Bridge March 4–5. Newport Bridge March 5–6. Natural Bridge March 6. Duty in District of Florida until January 1866.

Casualties

The regiment lost a total of 173 men during service; 3 officers and 24 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded, 11 officers and 135 enlisted men died of disease.

References

Bibliography

* Dyer, Frederick H. (1959). ''A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion''. Sagamore Press Inc. Thomas Yoseloff, Publisher, New York, New York. {{LCCN, 5912963. * Tarbox, Increase N. ''Missionary Patriots: Memoirs of James H. Schneider and Edward M. Schneider'' (Boston: Massachusetts Sabbath School Society), 1867. United States Colored Troops Civil War units and formations Military units and formations established in 1863 Military units and formations disestablished in 1866

Service history

Detailed service

Casualties

See also

References

Bibliography