Stood Their Ground Through Three Charges

The 11^th United States Colored Infantry was in action on January 24^th 1865 at Boggs’ Mill in Arkansas.

The 11^th Regiment of the United States Colored Troops was recruited in the autumn of 1863 in Fort Smith, Arkansas.  It was made up mostly of former slaves that lived in the area, as well as a few slaves from the Choctaw Nation.  They were attached to the 2^nd Brigade of the District of the Frontier in the 7^th Corps of the Union Department of Arkansas.  The unit was at first assigned to garrison duty at Fort Smith.

Their first action came in the summer of 1864 when the 265 effectives of the 11^th were sent into the Indian Territory to guard stock and hay at Gunther’s Prairie.  On August 24^th 1864 the 11^th were attacked by about 350 Confederate Cavalry.  There was a hard fight that lasted over two hours with the Confederates making three charges, before they were forced to retreat.  The 11^th lost 3 men killed and 14 missing or wounded.

Returning to Fort Smith until November 1864 when they were ordered east into Conway County, Arkansas.  On January 24^th 1864 they confronted a detachment of the 10^th Arkansas Cavalry at Boggs’ Mill.  The Confederates under the command of Colonel Robert C Newton had taken the mill a few miles from Dardanelle, Arkansas.  The 11^th surprised the Confederates, capturing 18 horses, arms and Newton’s official papers.

After this the 11^th was placed on garrison duty in both Little Rock and Lewisburg, Arkansas through April 1865.  As the Civil War was wrapping up the 11^th was merged with the 112^th and 113^th becoming the 113^th United States Colored Infantry on April 22^nd 1865.

African American Artillery

The First Alabama Siege Artillery made up of African American was raised in Tennessee and Mississippi and was mustered into service June 20^th 1863.

The First Siege Artillery a regiment made up of men of African American descent was raised in Corinth, Mississippi, LaFayette, LaGrange and Memphis, Tennessee.  They were mustered into Union service on June 20^th 1863.  The regiment renamed on March 11^th 1864 as the 6^th United States Colored Heavy Artillery.  They were placed under the command of Major Lionel F Booth on March 18^th 1864.

The 6^th were sent to Fort Pillow.  The fort was attacked on April 12^th 1864 by about 3,000 Confederate troops.  Booth was shot by a sniper and killed early in the fighting.  Command of the 6^th fell to Captain Charles Epeneter who was also wounded.  The 6^th’s guns weren’t effective as the Confederates stormed the fort as the guns couldn’t be depressed enough to fire on them.

Following the Battle of Fort Pillow, those members of the 6^th who survived were moved into the 11^th United States Colored Troops.

For more information look at 1st Alabama Siege Artillery (African Descent)