Country United States Branch Infantry | Allegiance Union Size Regiment | |
Active August 11, 1864 – January 30, 1866 Nickname(s) 1st Arkansas Infantry Regiment (African Descent) | ||
The 46th 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.
Contents
Organization
Following the issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation, an organization of African-American troops was commenced in the Mississippi River Valley under the personal supervision of the adjutant-general of the army, Lorenzo Thomas. His first regiment was mustered into service on May 1, 1863, as the 1st Arkansas Volunteers of African Descent, The 1st Arkansas was one of four regiments of African Americans that was raised in Helena, Phillips County, an important Union held fortified city and naval port on the Mississippi River.
Twenty-one-year-old Minos Miller of the Thirty-sixth Iowa Infantry, stationed at Helena Arkansas wrote in January 1863:
"[W]e are rejoicing today over Brags [sic] defeat [at Murfreesboro, Tennessee] and Old Abe's [Emancipation] Proclamation. We got the news last night at 8 o'clock that all the negros was free and them that was able for servis [sic] was to be armed and set to guarding foarts [sic]. I think the Union is safe and all will be over by the forth [sic] of July."
On April 7, Miller attended a speech by Adjutant General of the Army Lorenzo Thomas, who was promoting the raising of black regiments for service in the Union army (under white officers). Reaction to Thomas's address was so favorable that three companies of a hundred soldiers each were recruited immediately, forming the nucleus of the 1st Arkansas Volunteer Infantry Regiment (African Descent).
The regiment was organized Arkansas at large May 1, 1863 as the 1st Regiment Arkansas Volunteer Infantry (African Descent). The designation of the regiment was changed to 46th U.S. Colored Troops May 11, 1864. The 1st Arkansas soon left Helena for service in Louisiana.
Service
The unit moved to Lake Providence, La., May 8-10, 1863, and then to Goodrich Landing and was on duty there until January, 1864. The regiment was attached to Post of Goodrich Landing, District of Northeast Louisiana, Dept. Tennessee, until January, 1864. The unit was involved in the following engagements while stationed at Goodrich Landing:
The unit was then attached to the 1st Colored Brigade, District of Vicksburg, Miss., until May, 1864. The unit was then attached to 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, U. S. Colored Troops, District of Vicksburg, Miss., till January, 1865.
The unit was attached to the Post and Defenses of Memphis, Tenn., District West Tennessee, until February, 1865. The regiment was ordered to Memphis, Tenn., in January, 1865, and assigned garrison duty there until February, 1865.
The regiment was included in a list of regiment serving on the Mississippi River sent by Major General Edward R. S. Canby to Lieutenant General U.S. Grant on March 7, 1865. The unit, still under the command of Colonel Wood had 609 effectives of an aggragate strength of 728..
The regiment was next ordered to New Orleans, La., on February 23 1865, and was on duty there till May 4, 1865. The unit was assigned to New Orleans, La., Dept. of the Gulf, until May, 1865.
Finally the regiment was ordered to Brazos Santiago, Texas, May 4, 1865. The regiment pulled duty at Clarksville and Brownsville on the Rio Grande, Texas, until January, 1866. The regiment assisted in attempting to prevent Confederate forces from avoiding surrender by entering Mexico. The unit was reported as being at Brazos, Texas with 490 men on June 10, 1865.
The 1st Arkansas (African Descent) had its own marching song written by Captain Lindley Miller of the 1st Arkansas. The song was sung to the tune of “John Brown’s Body” and was published in 1864. The opening stanza ran:
Mustered out of service
Mustered out January 30, 1866.