4th Missouri Colored Infantry Regiment explained

Unit Name:	4th Missouri Colored Infantry Regiment 68th U.S. Colored Troops Regiment
Dates:	December 1863 to February 5, 1866
Country:	United States
Allegiance:	United States of America Union
Branch:	Infantry
Battles:	Battle of Tupelo Battle of Old Town Creek Siege of Fort Blakeley Assault on Fort Blakeley Occupation of Mobile

The 4th Missouri Colored Infantry Regiment was an African-American infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Redesignated as the 68th U.S. Colored Troops Regiment on March 11, 1864.

Service

The 4th Missouri Colored Infantry Regiment was organized at Benton Barracks, in St. Louis, Missouri, in the winter of 1863-1864. The regiment's designation was changed to the 68th United States Colored Troops Regiment on March 11, 1864. Attached to District of Memphis, Tennessee, 16th Corps, Dept. of the Tennessee, to June 1864. 1st Colored Brigade, Memphis, Tenn., District of West Tennessee, to December 1864. Fort Pickering, Defenses of Memphis, Tenn., District of West Tennessee, to February 1865. 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, United States Colored Troops, Military Division West Mississippi, to May 1865. 1st Brigade, 1st Division, United States Colored Troops, District of West Florida, to June 1865. Dept. of Texas to February 1866.

Detailed Service

At St. Louis, Mo., till April 27, 1864. Ordered to Memphis, Tenn., and duty in the Defenses of that city till February 1865. Smith's Expedition to Tupelo, Miss., July 5–21, 1864. Camargo's Cross Roads, near Harrisburg, July 13. Tupelo July 14–15. Old Town Creek July 15.^[1] At Fort Pickering, Defenses of Memphis, Tenn., till February 1865. Ordered to New Orleans, La., thence to Barrancas, Florida. March from Pensacola, Fla., to Blakeley, Ala., March 20-April 1. Siege of Fort Blakeley Fort April 1–9. Assault and capture of Fort Blakeley April 9.^[2] ^[3] Occupation of Mobile April 12. March to Montgomery April 13–25. Duty there and at Mobile till June. Moved to New Orleans, La., thence to Texas. Duty on the Rio Grande and at various points in Texas till February 1866. Mustered out February 5, 1866.

Commanders

Colonel Joseph Blackburn Jones
Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Densmore

References

Dyer, Frederick H. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion (Des Moines, IA: Dyer Pub. Co.), 1908.
- The Civil War Archive
Web site discussing the organization of Missouri "Colored Infantry", including discussions of conditions at Benton Barracks during the winter of 1863-1864. http://www.usgennet.org/usa/mo/county/stlouis/ct.htm
Web site of Historic Blakeley State Park: https://web.archive.org/web/20120124030256/http://www.blakeleypark.com/civilwar.asp

Notes and References

The regiment's operations and combat actions of July 12–16, 1864 are covered in the report of Colonel Edward Nouton, Commanding First Brigade U.S. Colored Troops.Official Reports of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series 1, Volume XXXIX, Part 1, Washington, Government Printing Office, 1892, pp300-303
Detailed information on the 68th U.S.C.T.'s operations and combat actions in the period of April 1–9, 1865 including the Siege of and successful assault on Fort Blakeley are covered in the report of Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Densmore, commanding officer of the regiment. Official Reports of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series 1, Volume XLIX, Part 1, Washington, Government Printing Office, 1897, pp297-299
Additional information about the regiment's operations and combat actions from April 1–9, 1865 (including the Siege of and assault on Fort Blakeley) can be found in the report of Colonel Charles W. Drew, commanding Third Brigade, First Division, U.S. Colored Troops. Official Reports of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series 1, Volume XLIX, Part 1, Washington, Government Printing Office, 1897, pp295-296