1st Kansas Volunteer Colored Infantry
HISTORICAL NOTES:
The 1st Kansas Colored Volunteer Infantry (later the 79th U.S. Colored Infantry) was organized prior to the Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation and without federal authorization, thus becoming the first black unit to see combat alongside white soldiers during the war in October 1862.
OFFICERS:
Captain James M. Williams
Captain H.C. Seaman
ASSIGNMENTS:
79th Regiment, United States Colored Infantry -- New Organization (1st Regiment, Kansas Colored Infantry)
Organized from 1st Kansas Colored Infantry December 13, 1864. Attached to 2nd Brigade, District of the Frontier, 7th Corps, Dept. of Arkansas, to January, 1865. Colored Brigade, 7th Corps, to February, 1865. 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, 7th Corps, to August, 1865. Dept. of Arkansas to October, 1865.
Predecessor unit:
KANSAS VOLUNTEERS.
1st REGIMENT COLORED INFANTRY.
Organized at Fort Scott and mustered in as a Battalion January 13, 1863. Attached to Dept. of Kansas to June, 1863. District of the Frontier, Dept. Missouri, to January, 1864. Unattached, District of the Frontier, 7th Corps, Dept. of Arkansas, to March, 1864. 2nd Brigade, District of the Frontier, 7th Corps, to December, 1864.
SERVICE:
79th Regiment, United States Colored Infantry -- New Organization (1st Regiment, Kansas Colored Infantry)
SERVICE.--Duty at Fort Smith, Ark., till January, 1865. Skirmish at Ivey's Ford January 8. Ordered to Little Rock January 16. Skirmish at Clarksville, Ark., January 18. Duty at Little Rock, Ark., till July, and at Pine Bluff till October. Mustered out at Pine Bluff, Ark., October 1, 1865, and discharged at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, October 30, 1865.
Regiment lost during service 5 Officers and 183 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 1 Officer and 165 Enlisted men by disease. Total 354.
Predecessor unit:
KANSAS VOLUNTEERS.
1st REGIMENT COLORED INFANTRY.
Duty in the Dept. of Kansas October, 1862, to June, 1863. Action at Island Mound, Mo., October 27, 1862. Island Mound, Kansas, October 29. Butler, Mo., November 28. Ordered to Baxter Springs May, 1863. Scout from Creek Agency to Jasper County, Mo., May 16-19 (Detachment). Sherwood, Mo., May 18. Bush Creek May 24. Near Fort Gibson May 28. Shawnee town, Kan., June 6 (Detachment). March to Fort Gibson, C.N., June 27-July 5, with train. Action at Cabin Creek July 1-2. Elk Creek near Honey Springs July 17. At Fort Gibson till September. Lawrence, Kan., July 27 (Detachment). Near Sherwood August 14. Moved to Fort Smith, Ark., October, thence to Roseville December, and duty there till March, 1864. Horse Head Creek February 12, 1864. Roseville Creek March 20. Steele's Camden Expedition March 23-May 3. Prairie D'Ann April 9-12. Poison Springs April 18. Jenkins Ferry April 30. March to Fort Smith, Ark., May 3-16, and duty there till December. Fort Gibson, C.N., September 16. Cabin Creek September 19. Timber Hill November 19. Designation of Regiment changed to 79th U.S. Colored Troops December 13, 1864.
ROSTERS:
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Dyer, Frederick H. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion. Davenport, IA Eastern Digital Resources.
U. S. Government Official Records of the American Civil War. Davenport, IA Eastern Digital Resources.
REFERENCES:
REF: Dyer, Frederick H., A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion
