The 10th Rhode Island Volunteer Infantry served for three months in the summer 1862. It served, along with its sister units - the 9th Rhode Island Infantry and the 10th Rhode Island Battery, in the defenses of Washington D.C..
Contents
Service
The regiment was mustered info Federal service at Providence on May 26, 1862. It moved to Washington, D. C. from May 27 to 29 and was attached to Sturgis' Command as part of the Military District of Washington. It saw duty at Camp Frieze, Tennallytown until June 26.
It was then assigned to garrison duty in the defences of Washington. Company "A" at Fort Franklin, "B" and "K" at Fort Pennsylvania, "C" at Fort Cameron, "D" at Fort DeRussy. "E" and "I" at Fort Alexander, "F" at Fort Ripley, "G" at Fort Gaines, "H" at Battery Vermond and Battery Martin Scott and "L" near Fort Pennsylvania.
The regiment left for home on August 25 and was mustered out of service on September 1, 1862.
The 10th Rhode Island wore an Americanized Zouave uniform. This uniform consisted of a sky blue Zouave jacket with yellow trimming, a sky blue sash, a red kepi (usually worn with a white havelock over it,) a sky blue zouave vest, and chasseur style red trousers.
Company B
Company B of the 10th Regiment was made up of about 125 students from Brown University and Providence High School. Its captain for three months was Elisha Dyer, the former Governor of Rhode Island. Legend has it that Brown's President Sears only consented to allow his students to enlist on the condition that Gov. Dyer accompany them.
Losses
Regiment lost 3 by disease