When the First Louisiana Engineers was split in two after the siege of Port Hudson, two separate engineer regiments were created out of it; the 1st Regiment Engineers, Corps d'Afrique and the 3rd Regiment Engineers, Corps d'Afrique. These subsequently were designated as the 95th and 97th U.S. Colored Infantries by April, 1864. This page focuses on the half of the First Louisiana Engineers that would be the officers and men of the 95th U.S.C.T.. A later consolidation took place while stationed in Texas in the summer of 1864 that combined the 95th and 87th USCTs into the 81st U.S. Colored Infantry (temporary designation). The regiment would be designated as the 87th U.S. Colored Infantry (new) on December 19, 1864. Attached to the United States Forces, Texas, Department of the Gulf, to August 1865. On August 14, 1865, a final consolidation took place with the 84th U.S. Colored Infantry. Attached to the Northern District of Louisiana, Department of the Gulf, the officers and men mustered out in March 1866.
1st Regiment Engineers, Corps d'Afrique
On August 26, 1863, Special Order 218, Department of the Gulf, split the First Louisiana Engineers regiment into two parts. The 1st Regiment Engineers Corps d'Afrique would retain Col. Hodge as its commander. The service record from original muster to the conclusion of the Siege of Port Hudson can be found on the page titled "97th USCT."
After the Siege of Port Hudson, the portion of the regiment retained and not transferred was transported back to Algiers and remained designated as the 1st Regiment Engineers, Corps d'Afrique. Due to splitting the original regiment in half, those men who were originally in Company H had their designation changed to Company D. Arthur F. Wrotnowski, born in France of Polish parents who had moved to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, would be mustered in on September 3, 1863 as a Lt. Col., 1st Regiment Engineers, Corps d'Afrique to fill the vacancy of that position from civil life where he was a civil engineer in New Orleans.
After the Siege of Port Hudson, the portion of the regiment retained and not transferred was transported back to Algiers and remained designated as the 1st Regiment Engineers, Corps d'Afrique. Due to splitting the original regiment in half, those men who were originally in Company H had their designation changed to Company D. Arthur F. Wrotnowski, born in France of Polish parents who had moved to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, would be mustered in on September 3, 1863 as a Lt. Col., 1st Regiment Engineers, Corps d'Afrique to fill the vacancy of that position from civil life where he was a civil engineer in New Orleans.
Brazos Santiago and Fort Brown, Texas
The 1st Regiment Engineers, Corps d'Afrique spent the month of September at Camp Parapet, Carrollton, Louisiana. By the end of October, the regiment was on board the transport Northerner and in transit to the coast of Texas.
The cotton trade was a major economic asset for Texas. Initially cotton was transported to Brazos Santiago Pass at the delta of the Rio Grande and exported from Port Isabel. Union forces captured this port and trade was moved inland to Brownsville, Texas. From Brownsville goods were transported across the border to Matamoros and from there to neutral ports along the Mexican coast.
Another matter of importance was the necessity to show Union presence along the Mexican border since the French army had just invaded Mexico and installed Maximillian as emperor.
Following the Union debacle at the second Battle of Sabine Pass, the U.S. government demanded General Banks, commanding the Department of the Gulf, make another attempt at invading Texas.
Nathaniel Banks assembled 6,000 soldiers from three brigades. The officers and men who remained as the 1st Regiment Engineers, Corps d'Afrique were attached to the XIII Corps, 2nd Division, under Maj. Gen. Napoleon Dana. Unattached, they were grouped with the 16th Infantry, Corps d'Afrique (87th USCT), 15th Maine Infantry, 1st Texas Cavalry, and Captain Jumper's Pioneer Company.
The Confederate forces in the area were commanded by General Hamilton Bee. Made up of only four companies from the 33rd Texas Cavalry and another two companies of three-month volunteers. All other Confederates along the coast had been called elsewhere in the wake of the Union attack at Sabine Pass. The total Confederate force amounted to roughly 150 men stationed at Fort Brown. One company of volunteers under Captain Adrian I. Vidal defected, killing a private and wounding another from the 33rd Texas.
On November 1, 1863, the 1st Regt. Engineers, Corps d'Afrique had arrived off the coast of Brazos Island, Texas. Banks landed the expedition at the mouth of the Rio Grande on November 2, 1863. By the next day the engineer regiment landed on the island and proceeded to erect earthworks.
Colonel Dye's brigade led the Union advance on Fort Brown. After chasing off Taylor's Confederate cavalry, Dye's men entered Brownsville around 10:00 am on November 6, 1863. Confederate General Bee evacuated the city and abandoned Fort Brown burning what military supplies and cotton he could. Inside the fort were 8,000 pounds of condemned explosives which caused a great explosion.
General Banks arrived in the city around noon and by 4:00 pm the remaining Union forces arrived. Colonel Dye was put in command of the post and the Union army encamped in the city, the army barracks at Fort Brown having been destroyed.
After the successful capture of Brownsville, the Union army consolidated a garrison there under Major General Napoleon Dana. General Banks then began to set in motion plans to move against Corpus Christi. For this purpose Banks directed Brigadier General Thomas Ransom on an expedition against a Confederate earthen fortification on Mustang Island known as Fort Semmes. The Confederate garrison, of less than 100 men, was composed of detachments from the 3rd Texas State Militia and the 8th Texas Infantry.
Orders were received on November 15th for Company F to report to General Ransom and they soon embarked on board the steamer Bagley. They anchored off of Corpus Christi inlet on the 16th and two days later the steamer wrecked at Aransas Pass. The men successfully got ashore on small boats and then proceeded to construct a three bastioned earthwork and two redoubts on Mustang Island to fortify the Union position.
Ransom’s men made a forced march against Fort Semmes the next day. The Union advance encountered Confederate skirmishers on November 17. Ransom’s men fired one volley causing the Texas skirmishers to retreat back into Fort Semmes. Ransom deployed the 20th Iowa, 13th Maine and 15th Maine Infantry Regiments in line of battle while the USS Monongahela fired into the fort from offshore. The small garrison of Fort Semmes was not prepared for open battle and the fighting was over shortly after the attack commenced. Major Dunaway, commanding the Confederate fort, decided upon an unconditional surrender of the entire garrison rather than making an attempt to fight their way back to the mainland.
The next expedition out of Brownsville was to capture Fort Esperanza Major General Cadwallader Washburn arrived to head the Union expedition on the Texas Coast. Union troops advanced up St. Joseph's Island. Their crossing to Matagorda Island was unsuccessfully challenged, and a battle took place on November 23 at Cedar Bayou, which separates the two islands. After Union forces under Gen. T. E. G. Ransom reached Fort Esperanza on November 27 and dug in, a two-day battle followed. On the night of November 29 the Confederates, outnumbered and outflanked, evacuated the fort after spiking the guns, firing their stores, and blowing up their magazines.
On November 30, 1863, the fort was occupied and repaired by the Union forces, who used it as their base of operations for further campaigns in the area. In the spring of 1864 the Union troops were withdrawn from Matagorda Bay to participate in the proposed invasion of Texas from northeast Louisiana. After the last of the federals left Matagorda Island on June 15, Fort Esperanza was reoccupied by the Confederates and held until the end of the war.
By the end of December, the 1st Regt. Engineers were dispersed across the coast of Texas. Companies A, C and G at Fort Brown, Brownsville, Companies D, H, and I as Point Isabel, Companies B and F at Aransas Pass, Companies E and K at Brazos Santiago Island.
On the third of February, 1864, Company K was ordered from Brazos Santiago Island, Texas five miles south on the coast to Boca Chica Pass, Texas to build a ferry. On the fourteenth of February the company was ordered another four miles south to the mouth of the Rio Grande to build Commissary and Quartermaster barges for storage of and shipment of stores on the river.
Sources:
https://archive.org/details/compiledrecordss0214unit/page/n1531/mode/2up?view=theater
https://www.utrgv.edu/civilwar-trail/civil-war-trail/cameron-county/point-isabel/index.htm
https://www.utrgv.edu/civilwar-trail/civil-war-trail/cameron-county/brazos-island/index.htm
https://www.utrgv.edu/civilwar-trail/civil-war-trail/cameron-county/fort-brown/index.htm
https://www.utrgv.edu/civilwar-trail/civil-war-trail/cameron-county/brownsville/index.htm
https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/fort-esperanza
The cotton trade was a major economic asset for Texas. Initially cotton was transported to Brazos Santiago Pass at the delta of the Rio Grande and exported from Port Isabel. Union forces captured this port and trade was moved inland to Brownsville, Texas. From Brownsville goods were transported across the border to Matamoros and from there to neutral ports along the Mexican coast.
Another matter of importance was the necessity to show Union presence along the Mexican border since the French army had just invaded Mexico and installed Maximillian as emperor.
Following the Union debacle at the second Battle of Sabine Pass, the U.S. government demanded General Banks, commanding the Department of the Gulf, make another attempt at invading Texas.
Nathaniel Banks assembled 6,000 soldiers from three brigades. The officers and men who remained as the 1st Regiment Engineers, Corps d'Afrique were attached to the XIII Corps, 2nd Division, under Maj. Gen. Napoleon Dana. Unattached, they were grouped with the 16th Infantry, Corps d'Afrique (87th USCT), 15th Maine Infantry, 1st Texas Cavalry, and Captain Jumper's Pioneer Company.
The Confederate forces in the area were commanded by General Hamilton Bee. Made up of only four companies from the 33rd Texas Cavalry and another two companies of three-month volunteers. All other Confederates along the coast had been called elsewhere in the wake of the Union attack at Sabine Pass. The total Confederate force amounted to roughly 150 men stationed at Fort Brown. One company of volunteers under Captain Adrian I. Vidal defected, killing a private and wounding another from the 33rd Texas.
On November 1, 1863, the 1st Regt. Engineers, Corps d'Afrique had arrived off the coast of Brazos Island, Texas. Banks landed the expedition at the mouth of the Rio Grande on November 2, 1863. By the next day the engineer regiment landed on the island and proceeded to erect earthworks.
Colonel Dye's brigade led the Union advance on Fort Brown. After chasing off Taylor's Confederate cavalry, Dye's men entered Brownsville around 10:00 am on November 6, 1863. Confederate General Bee evacuated the city and abandoned Fort Brown burning what military supplies and cotton he could. Inside the fort were 8,000 pounds of condemned explosives which caused a great explosion.
General Banks arrived in the city around noon and by 4:00 pm the remaining Union forces arrived. Colonel Dye was put in command of the post and the Union army encamped in the city, the army barracks at Fort Brown having been destroyed.
After the successful capture of Brownsville, the Union army consolidated a garrison there under Major General Napoleon Dana. General Banks then began to set in motion plans to move against Corpus Christi. For this purpose Banks directed Brigadier General Thomas Ransom on an expedition against a Confederate earthen fortification on Mustang Island known as Fort Semmes. The Confederate garrison, of less than 100 men, was composed of detachments from the 3rd Texas State Militia and the 8th Texas Infantry.
Orders were received on November 15th for Company F to report to General Ransom and they soon embarked on board the steamer Bagley. They anchored off of Corpus Christi inlet on the 16th and two days later the steamer wrecked at Aransas Pass. The men successfully got ashore on small boats and then proceeded to construct a three bastioned earthwork and two redoubts on Mustang Island to fortify the Union position.
Ransom’s men made a forced march against Fort Semmes the next day. The Union advance encountered Confederate skirmishers on November 17. Ransom’s men fired one volley causing the Texas skirmishers to retreat back into Fort Semmes. Ransom deployed the 20th Iowa, 13th Maine and 15th Maine Infantry Regiments in line of battle while the USS Monongahela fired into the fort from offshore. The small garrison of Fort Semmes was not prepared for open battle and the fighting was over shortly after the attack commenced. Major Dunaway, commanding the Confederate fort, decided upon an unconditional surrender of the entire garrison rather than making an attempt to fight their way back to the mainland.
The next expedition out of Brownsville was to capture Fort Esperanza Major General Cadwallader Washburn arrived to head the Union expedition on the Texas Coast. Union troops advanced up St. Joseph's Island. Their crossing to Matagorda Island was unsuccessfully challenged, and a battle took place on November 23 at Cedar Bayou, which separates the two islands. After Union forces under Gen. T. E. G. Ransom reached Fort Esperanza on November 27 and dug in, a two-day battle followed. On the night of November 29 the Confederates, outnumbered and outflanked, evacuated the fort after spiking the guns, firing their stores, and blowing up their magazines.
On November 30, 1863, the fort was occupied and repaired by the Union forces, who used it as their base of operations for further campaigns in the area. In the spring of 1864 the Union troops were withdrawn from Matagorda Bay to participate in the proposed invasion of Texas from northeast Louisiana. After the last of the federals left Matagorda Island on June 15, Fort Esperanza was reoccupied by the Confederates and held until the end of the war.
By the end of December, the 1st Regt. Engineers were dispersed across the coast of Texas. Companies A, C and G at Fort Brown, Brownsville, Companies D, H, and I as Point Isabel, Companies B and F at Aransas Pass, Companies E and K at Brazos Santiago Island.
On the third of February, 1864, Company K was ordered from Brazos Santiago Island, Texas five miles south on the coast to Boca Chica Pass, Texas to build a ferry. On the fourteenth of February the company was ordered another four miles south to the mouth of the Rio Grande to build Commissary and Quartermaster barges for storage of and shipment of stores on the river.
Sources:
https://archive.org/details/compiledrecordss0214unit/page/n1531/mode/2up?view=theater
https://www.utrgv.edu/civilwar-trail/civil-war-trail/cameron-county/point-isabel/index.htm
https://www.utrgv.edu/civilwar-trail/civil-war-trail/cameron-county/brazos-island/index.htm
https://www.utrgv.edu/civilwar-trail/civil-war-trail/cameron-county/fort-brown/index.htm
https://www.utrgv.edu/civilwar-trail/civil-war-trail/cameron-county/brownsville/index.htm
https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/fort-esperanza
95th U.S. Colored Infantry
Lt. Col. Wrotnowski is shown as being in command of the regiment in January and February, 1864 and absent with leave in March by Special Order 70 ext 2, HQ US Forces on the Rio Grande. On April 4, 1864 the regiment's designation was changed from 1st Regiment Engineers, Corps d'Afrique to the 95th U.S. Colored Infantry. Later that month, April 28, 1864, the headquarters for the regiment changed from Point Isabel to Brazos Santiago, Texas. Company D had moved to Fort Brown, E, H and I remained at Point Isabel, and Company K was stationed at Brazos Santiago, Texas.
Colonel Justin Hodge summitted his resignation letter dated June 19, 1864 at Brazos Santiago, Texas, Headquarters United States Forces leaving Lt. Col. Arthur F. Wrotnowski commanding the regiment. In this letter to Lieut. Colonel R. B. Irwin, A.A.G., Department of the Gulf, Col. Justin Hodge detailed the changes in the regiment that brought about his resignation. He stated that on March 20, 1863, he was given the task by the Department of the Gulf, Nineteenth Corps, to organize the First Louisiana Engineers. This was completed by 24 May, 1863 and he was mustered as Colonel of the regiment. He served in that capacity until November 14, 1863 and since that time served in command of U.S. Forces at Brazos Santiago, Texas. He stated that he reported to Port Hudson May 26, 1863 with over 1,100 men and on September 2nd, the regiment was divided and another regiment formed out of it called the 3rd Regiment of Engineers, Corps d'Afrique. Further, that on the 4th of April, 1864 an order was received renumbering this Engineer Regiment and calling it Infantry being called the 95th Regiment of U.S. Infantry (colored). 419 men and two Field Officers for duty. As such, he asked to resign and report back to the Chief Quartermaster, Department of the Gulf.
Several weeks later Wrotnowski was in command of the men who were the 95th and 87th USCT as the two regiments were consolidated in obedience to Special Order 200 dated HQ US Forces on Rio Grande July 21, 1864:
"Head Qs U,S, Forces on the Rio Grande
Brownsville, Texas, July 21st, 1864
Special Orders
No. 200 Extract.
4. In obedience to General Orders No. 47. from these Head Qrs. Liet. Col. A. F. Wrotnowski will assume command of the 81st Regiment - c.d.a., Engineers, and will assign the officers to Companies until the report of the Examining Board can be acted upon. In making the consolidation companies of the same letter will be consolidated and will form the corresponding company in the new organization.
By command of Major General Harrow
,signed, William H Clapp.
Captain and a.a. General."
Colonel Justin Hodge summitted his resignation letter dated June 19, 1864 at Brazos Santiago, Texas, Headquarters United States Forces leaving Lt. Col. Arthur F. Wrotnowski commanding the regiment. In this letter to Lieut. Colonel R. B. Irwin, A.A.G., Department of the Gulf, Col. Justin Hodge detailed the changes in the regiment that brought about his resignation. He stated that on March 20, 1863, he was given the task by the Department of the Gulf, Nineteenth Corps, to organize the First Louisiana Engineers. This was completed by 24 May, 1863 and he was mustered as Colonel of the regiment. He served in that capacity until November 14, 1863 and since that time served in command of U.S. Forces at Brazos Santiago, Texas. He stated that he reported to Port Hudson May 26, 1863 with over 1,100 men and on September 2nd, the regiment was divided and another regiment formed out of it called the 3rd Regiment of Engineers, Corps d'Afrique. Further, that on the 4th of April, 1864 an order was received renumbering this Engineer Regiment and calling it Infantry being called the 95th Regiment of U.S. Infantry (colored). 419 men and two Field Officers for duty. As such, he asked to resign and report back to the Chief Quartermaster, Department of the Gulf.
Several weeks later Wrotnowski was in command of the men who were the 95th and 87th USCT as the two regiments were consolidated in obedience to Special Order 200 dated HQ US Forces on Rio Grande July 21, 1864:
"Head Qs U,S, Forces on the Rio Grande
Brownsville, Texas, July 21st, 1864
Special Orders
No. 200 Extract.
4. In obedience to General Orders No. 47. from these Head Qrs. Liet. Col. A. F. Wrotnowski will assume command of the 81st Regiment - c.d.a., Engineers, and will assign the officers to Companies until the report of the Examining Board can be acted upon. In making the consolidation companies of the same letter will be consolidated and will form the corresponding company in the new organization.
By command of Major General Harrow
,signed, William H Clapp.
Captain and a.a. General."
95th USCT (1st Regt Engineers, Corps d’Afrique) Officers
Field and Staff Officers:
Col. Justin Hodge, commanded regiment from muster to August 1864
Lt. Col. Arthur F. Wrotnowski, commanded regiment from August to November 1864
Major Emery Manville Hamilton, in command of the regiment the month of March 1864
Adjutant, 1st Lieut. Charles Hoyt
Adjutant, 1st Lieut. Joseph Baker
Regimental Quartermaster, 1st Lieut. Willard S. Wetmore
Surgeon, John Chubbuck
Assistant Surgeon, 1st Lieut Byron W. Pease
Assistant Surgeon, 1st Lieut. Charles E. Warren
Chaplain, Francis Steele Chubbuck
Detached to the Asst. Engineer, Dept. of the Gulf: Major Walter Sully Long
Company Officers:
A: Captain George Deming, 1st Lt. Horace Morse, 2nd Lt. Lenard McKoven
B: Captain Frederick Blanchard, 1st Lt. James Ives, 1st Lt. Eugene Ward, 2nd Lt Augustus H Young
C: Captain Edward L. Jones, 1st Lt. Edwin E. Hewitt, 1st Lt. John C. Meserve, 2nd Lt. Daniel Bruce
D: 1st Lt. George F. Robison, 1st Lieut. Timmothy Whittlesey, 2nd Lieut. Washigton J. Emery
E: 1st Lt. J. Baker, 1st Lt. Joseph McField, 2nd Lt. J.B. Butler (KIA Port Hudson), 2nd Lt. Hiram P. Sagendorf, 2nd Lt. William H. Shepard,
F: Capt. William W. Bliss, Capt. Samuel H. Everett, 1st Lt Lawrence Wachter, 2nd Lt Lunnel P Storms
G: Capt. C Hector Durward, 1st Lt. John W. Chase, 2nd Lt. Cornelius Engleburt, 2nd Lt. Edwin G Sanborn
H: Capt. John S Chapman, 1st Lt./Capt. Kosky Hodge, 1st Lt. Frank E Orcutt
I: Capt. Augustus L Goule, 1st Lt John R Clough,
K: Capt. Albert J Perry,
Col. Justin Hodge, commanded regiment from muster to August 1864
Lt. Col. Arthur F. Wrotnowski, commanded regiment from August to November 1864
Major Emery Manville Hamilton, in command of the regiment the month of March 1864
Adjutant, 1st Lieut. Charles Hoyt
Adjutant, 1st Lieut. Joseph Baker
Regimental Quartermaster, 1st Lieut. Willard S. Wetmore
Surgeon, John Chubbuck
Assistant Surgeon, 1st Lieut Byron W. Pease
Assistant Surgeon, 1st Lieut. Charles E. Warren
Chaplain, Francis Steele Chubbuck
Detached to the Asst. Engineer, Dept. of the Gulf: Major Walter Sully Long
Company Officers:
A: Captain George Deming, 1st Lt. Horace Morse, 2nd Lt. Lenard McKoven
B: Captain Frederick Blanchard, 1st Lt. James Ives, 1st Lt. Eugene Ward, 2nd Lt Augustus H Young
C: Captain Edward L. Jones, 1st Lt. Edwin E. Hewitt, 1st Lt. John C. Meserve, 2nd Lt. Daniel Bruce
D: 1st Lt. George F. Robison, 1st Lieut. Timmothy Whittlesey, 2nd Lieut. Washigton J. Emery
E: 1st Lt. J. Baker, 1st Lt. Joseph McField, 2nd Lt. J.B. Butler (KIA Port Hudson), 2nd Lt. Hiram P. Sagendorf, 2nd Lt. William H. Shepard,
F: Capt. William W. Bliss, Capt. Samuel H. Everett, 1st Lt Lawrence Wachter, 2nd Lt Lunnel P Storms
G: Capt. C Hector Durward, 1st Lt. John W. Chase, 2nd Lt. Cornelius Engleburt, 2nd Lt. Edwin G Sanborn
H: Capt. John S Chapman, 1st Lt./Capt. Kosky Hodge, 1st Lt. Frank E Orcutt
I: Capt. Augustus L Goule, 1st Lt John R Clough,
K: Capt. Albert J Perry,
87th U.S. Colored Infantry (New)
On September 3, 1864, when the 95th and 87th USCTs were consolidated, he was shown as in command of the regiment's new, yet only temporary, designation as the "81st Corps d'Afrique Engineers" (81st USCT). per Special Order 159 dated HQ US Forces Texas October 24, 1864.
"GENERAL ORDERS, HDQRS. DIVISION OF WEST MISSISSIPPI, Numbers 17. New Orleans, La., July 7, 1864. The colored regiments of the Corps d'Afrique in the Department of the Gulf will be consolidated and reorganized as follows: … the Eighty-first to be formed by consolidation of the Eighty-seventh and Ninety-fifth; …the Eighty-first at Brazos Santiago. …The organization of the consolidated regiments will be the minimum prescribed by law. The officers to be retained will be determined by the reports of the examining boards appointed for that purposed and the supernumerary officers mustered out of service. The examining may be made will not only determine the fitness of the officer for the grade for which he has been examined, but also the order of precedence in that grade. Supernumerary officers who are approved by the boards will be recommended to the Adjutant-General of the Army for appointment in regiments that are now being organized in other departments. By order of Major General E. R. S. Canby: C. T. CHRISTENSEN, Major and Assistant Adjutant-General." The temporarily designated 81st was attached to the Engineer Brigade, Department of the Gulf through September 1864 as an 81st USCT was still in existence, the regiment's designation became the 87th USCT (new). On the date of consolidation the headquarters of the regiment was at Brazos Santiago and companies A, C, D, H, K were at Boca Chica. By October just Company H was stationed at Boca Chica Pass and by December the entire regiments was at Brazos Santiago, Texas. Company C reported that the company had been on duty as follows: "...three days per week fatigue duty on fortifications. On the 14th, 21st, and 31st was detailed for guard duty and the balance of time was employed in drilling. On the 28th accompanied General W. A. Pimm on a reconnaissance." Company returns show that in January and February 1865 the various companies were engaged in fatigue duty on fortifications while Company H was detailed as Heavy Artillery at Brozos Santiago, Texas as per Special Order No. 106 dated August 31, 1864. The regiment left the Texas coast on May 16 and arrived at Camp Parapet, Louisiana on the 21st. Companies A and H continued to Carrollton. On June 1st, Company D was placed on outpost and garrison duty at Ponchatoula, Louisiana, north of New Orleans. The 87th USCT (new) was then consolidated into the 84th USCT August 31, 1865 by Special Order dated Department of Louisiana, HQ District of Louisiana, August 14, 1865. The regiment was filled up to the maximum by consolidating the 87th into it. The consolidation was completed by the end of August at Monroe, Louisiana. |
84th U.S. Colored Infantry
As per Special Order 159 dated HQ US Forces Texas October 24, 1864 Lt. Col. Wrotnowski was mustered out of the 87th USCT by reason of having been rendered supernumerary by the consolidation of the 87th into the 84th Regiment USCT.
Originally organized as the 12th Regiment Infantry, Corps d’Afrique at Port Hudson September 24, 1863 months after the siege of Port Hudson. It was designated as the 84th US Colored Infantry on April 4, 1864. On garrison duty at Port Hudson to December, 1863 as part of the 1st Brigade, 1st Division, Corps de Afrique under command of William Dickey. It participated in the Red River Campaign in central Louisiana during the spring of 1864. The regiment saw action at Mansura on May 16th and at Yellow Bayou two days later. At the end of the campaign the regiment was on garrison duty at Morganza until May, 1865. The regiment again saw action near Morganza on November 23, 1864. Part of the 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, United States Colored Troops in the spring of 1865. When the 87th USCT (new) was consolidated into it, the 84th was on duty as part of the Northern District of Louisiana, Department of the Gulf. The enlisted men of the 87th were dispersed into the different companies at Monroe, Louisiana as follows: A: 3 corporals, 1 musician, 48 privates B: 1 sergeant, 4 corporals, 1 musician, 45 privates C: 2 corporals, 48 privates D: 5 corporals, 1 musician, 45 privates E: 3 corporals, 1 musician, 44 privates F: 4 corporals, 1 wagoner, 47 privates G: 3 corporals, 32 privates H: 2 sergeants, 3 corporals, 47 privates I: 2 sergeant, 4 corporals, 1 musician, 47 privates K: 3 corporals, I musician, 50 privates On November 18, 1865 the regiment left Monroe and marched to Harrisonburg where they were transferred by steamer to Port Hudson, where they arrived on November 29th. In January 1866, Companies C, E, H, and I remained on garrison duty at Port Hudson while companies A, B, D, F, G, and K moved to New Orleans where they were assigned to fatigue duty at the Quartermasters Department. January 8th the headquarters of the regiment was ordered to New Orleans by Special Order No. 4 dated Headquarters Eastern District of Louisiana. In February, Company C reported also participating in police duties in addition to fatigue. The 84th USCT mustered out March 14, 1866 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The flag of the 84th USCT has battle honors on it that came from regiments consolidated into it; the 1st Louisiana Engineers, 1st Regiment Engineers, Corps d'Afrique, 95th USCT, 87th USCT and 84th USCT. |
If you live in Texas...Contact Allen Mack with The Living History Foundation. They represent the other half of the First Louisiana Engineers; the 95th U.S.C.T. with a regimental service record that includes service in Texas during the U.S. Civil War. The group also provides living history for the Buffalo Soldiers, Spanish-American War, and the First World War. You can connect with them through this link:
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