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19th USCT Infantry

Editor’s Note: Do you have information on this unit’s role at the Siege of Petersburg?  Please contact us using the Contact button in the menu at the top of the screen.  We are happy to exchange information with other researchers.

Muster In: Organized at Camp Stanton, Md., December 25, 1863, to January 16, 1864.1
Muster Out: Mustered out January 15, 1867.2

Commander(s):
Colonel Joseph G. Perkins
Commander Image

Commander 2
Commander Image

First Offensive Order of Battle: Second Brigade | Fourth Division | IX Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army3,4

Second Offensive Order of Battle: Second Brigade | Fourth Division | IX Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army7,8

Third Offensive Order of Battle: Second Brigade | Fourth Division | IX Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army12,13

  • Commander: Lieutenant Colonel Joseph G. Perkins (July 31, 1864)14
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:
  • Note: The 28th USCT was attached to the 19th USCT temporarily for a period of time in July.  Could this have to do with losses suffered at the Crater?15

Fourth Offensive Order of Battle: Second Brigade | Fourth Division | IX Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army16

  • Commander: Lieutenant Colonel Joseph G. Perkins (August 31, 1864)17
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Fifth Offensive Order of Battle: Second Brigade | Third Division | IX Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army18

  • Commander:
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Sixth Offensive Order of Battle: Second Brigade | Third Division | IX Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army19,20

  • Commander: Lieutenant Colonel Joseph G. Perkins (October 31, 1864)21
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Seventh Offensive Order of Battle:

Second Brigade | Third Division | IX Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army (November 1-December 3, 1864?)22

Third Brigade | Third Division | XXV Corps | Army of the James | Union Army (December 3-31, 1864)23

  • Commander: Lieutenant Colonel Joseph G. Perkins (December 31, 1864)24
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:
  • Note: On December 3, 1864, the X Corps and XVIII Corps of the Army of the James were reorganized into the XXIV Corps and the XXV Corps.
  • Note: This regiment and the other USCT regiments which made up the Third Division, Ninth Corps, Army of the Potomac were transferred from the Army of the Potomac to the Army of the James in late November or early December 1864. (Need source)

Eighth Offensive Order of Battle: Third Brigade | First Division | XXV Corps | Army of the James | Union Army25 ,26

  • Commander: Lieutenant Colonel Joseph G. Perkins (January 31 & February 28, 1865)27,28
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:
  • Note: At some point, apparently in December and probably due to the First Fort Fisher Expedition, the First and Third divisions of the XXV Corps switched places.  The old First Division under Brigadier General Charles A. Paine became the new Third Division and was mostly sent on the First Fort Fisher Expedition.  The old Third Division, under Brigadier General Edward A. Wild, became the new First Division and remained at the Siege of Petersburg.

Ninth Offensive Order of Battle: Third Brigade | First Division | XXV Corps | Army of the James | Union Army29,30

  • Commander: Colonel Joseph G. Perkins (March 31, 1865)31
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Dyer’s/Sifakis’ Compendium Info:
Siege of Petersburg Battles32:

  • Before Petersburg, Va., June 15-18.
  • Siege operations against Petersburg and Richmond, Va., June 16, 1864, to April 2, 1865.
  • Mine Explosion, Petersburg, July 30, 1864.
  • Weldon Railroad August 18-21.
  • Fort Sedgwick September 28.
  • Poplar Grove Church September 29-30.
  • Hatcher’s Run October 27-28.
  • Actions on the Bermuda Hundred front November 17-18.
  • Duty at Bermuda Hundred until March, 1865.
  • Appomattox Campaign March 28-April 9.
  • Hatcher’s Run March 29-31.
  • Assault and capture of Petersburg April 2.
  • Pursuit of Lee April 3-9.
  • Appomattox Court House April 9.
  • Surrender of Lee and his army.33
  • Duty at Petersburg and City Point until June.

Links:

Bibliography:

    Siege of Petersburg Documents Which Mention This Unit:

    Sources:

    1. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3)
    2. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3)
    3. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 1 (Serial Number 80), p. 231
    4. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 2 (Serial Number 81), p. 550
    5. Volume 14 (Ordnance Returns for the Second Quarter, April-June, 1864); 19th United States Colored Troops Entry, Page 92; Summary Statements of Quarterly Returns of Ordnance and Ordnance Stores on Hand in Regular and Volunteer Army Organizations, 1862-1867, 1870-1876. (National Archives Microfilm Publication M1281, Roll 7); Records of the Office of the Chief of Ordnance, 1797-1969, Record Group 156; National Archives Building, Washington, D.C.
    6. Volume 14 (Ordnance Returns for the Second Quarter, April-June, 1864); 19th United States Colored Troops Entry, Page 92; Summary Statements of Quarterly Returns of Ordnance and Ordnance Stores on Hand in Regular and Volunteer Army Organizations, 1862-1867, 1870-1876. (National Archives Microfilm Publication M1281, Roll 7); Records of the Office of the Chief of Ordnance, 1797-1969, Record Group 156; National Archives Building, Washington, D.C.
    7. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 1 (Serial Number 80), p. 231
    8. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 2 (Serial Number 81), p. 550
    9. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 2 (Serial Number 81), p. 550
    10. Volume 14 (Ordnance Returns for the Second Quarter, April-June, 1864); 19th United States Colored Troops Entry, Page 92; Summary Statements of Quarterly Returns of Ordnance and Ordnance Stores on Hand in Regular and Volunteer Army Organizations, 1862-1867, 1870-1876. (National Archives Microfilm Publication M1281, Roll 7); Records of the Office of the Chief of Ordnance, 1797-1969, Record Group 156; National Archives Building, Washington, D.C.
    11. Volume 14 (Ordnance Returns for the Second Quarter, April-June, 1864); 19th United States Colored Troops Entry, Page 92; Summary Statements of Quarterly Returns of Ordnance and Ordnance Stores on Hand in Regular and Volunteer Army Organizations, 1862-1867, 1870-1876. (National Archives Microfilm Publication M1281, Roll 7); Records of the Office of the Chief of Ordnance, 1797-1969, Record Group 156; National Archives Building, Washington, D.C.
    12. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 1 (Serial Number 80), page 261
    13. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 3 (Serial Number 82), page 735
    14. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 3 (Serial Number 82), page 735
    15. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 3 (Serial Number 82), page 735
    16. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 2 (Serial Number 88), page 617: “Organization of the Army of the Potomac…August 31, 1864”
    17. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 2 (Serial Number 88), page 617: “Organization of the Army of the Potomac…August 31, 1864”
    18. Sommers, Richard J. “Grant’s Fifth Offensive at Petersburg: A Study in Strategy, Tactics, and Generalship.  The Battle of Poplar Spring Church, the First Battle of the Darbytown Road, the Second Battle of the Squirrel Level Road, the Second Battle of the Darbytown Road (Ulysses S. Grant, Virginia).” Doctoral Thesis. Rice University, 1970. Print. p. 1301.
    19. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 3 (Serial Number 89), page 463: “Organization of the Union Forces” (October 31, 1864)”
    20. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 1 (Serial Number 87), page 159: “Return of Casualties in the Union Forces…Boydton Plank Road, Va., October 27-28, 1864”
    21. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 3 (Serial Number 89), page 463: “Organization of the Union Forces” (October 31, 1864)”
    22. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3)
    23. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 3 (Serial Number 89), page 1127: “Organization of the Union Forces” (December 31, 1864)
    24. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 3 (Serial Number 89), page 1127: “Organization of the Union Forces” (December 31, 1864)
    25. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 2 (Serial Number 96), page 336: “Organization of the Union Forces” (January 31, 1865)
    26. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 2 (Serial Number 96), page 750: “Organization of the Union Forces” (February 28, 1865)
    27. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 2 (Serial Number 96), page 336: “Organization of the Union Forces” (January 31, 1865)
    28. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 2 (Serial Number 96), page 750: “Organization of the Union Forces” (February 28, 1865)
    29. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 1 (Serial Number 95), page 579: “Organization of the Union Forces” (March 31, 1865)
    30. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 1 (Serial Number 95), page 596: “Return of casualties in the Union Forces commanded by Lieut. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, March 29-April 9, 1865”
    31. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 1 (Serial Number 95), page 579: “Organization of the Union Forces” (March 31, 1865)
    32. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3)
    33. Robert K. Summers, author of a new book on the 19th USCT entitled 19th Regiment, U.S. Colored Troops: Profiles in Courage, recently wrote to me and assured me the 19th USCT didn’t leave the Richmond-Petersburg area after the fall of Richmond: “Unfortunately, 19 USCT did not pursue Lee, and was not at Appomattox. They entered Richmond on April 3, 1865, and stayed there. I read every company’s record book at the U.S. National Archives and was disappointed to find that they all stayed in Richmond, and did not go to Appomattox.”
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