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30th USCT Infantry

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Muster In: Organized at Camp Stanton, Md., February 12 to March 18, 1864.1
Muster Out: Mustered out December 10, 1865.2

Commander(s):
Colonel Delavan Bates
Commander Image

Lieutenant Colonel Hiram A. Oakman
Commander Image

Major Arthur J. Smith
Commander Image

Commander 4
Commander Image

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

Second Offensive Order of Battle: First Brigade | Fourth Division | IX Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army6,7

Third Offensive Order of Battle: First Brigade | Fourth Division | IX Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army10,11

  • Commander:
    • Colonel Delavan Bates (July 30, 1864)(wounded July 30, 1864)12
    • Lieutenant Colonel Hiram A. Oakman (July 31, 1864)13
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Fourth Offensive Order of Battle: First Brigade | Fourth Division | IX Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army14

  • Commander: Lieutenant Colonel Hiram A. Oakman (August 31, 1864)15
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Fifth Offensive Order of Battle: First Brigade | Third Division | IX Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army16

  • Commander:
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Sixth Offensive Order of Battle: First Brigade | Third Division | IX Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army17,18

  • Commander: Major Arthur J. Smith (October 31, 1864)19
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Seventh Offensive Order of Battle:

First Brigade | Third Division | IX Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army (November 1-December 3?)20

First Brigade | First Division | XXV Corps | Army of the James | Union Army (December 3-31, 1864)21

  • Commander: Lieutenant Colonel Hiram A. Oakman (November 13 & December 31, 1864)22,23
  • 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)
  • Note: Left the Siege of Petersburg on December 7, 1864.24

Eighth Offensive Order of Battle:

  • No longer at the Siege of Petersburg.25

Ninth Offensive Order of Battle:

  • No longer at the Siege of Petersburg.26

Dyer’s/Sifakis’ Compendium Info:
Siege of Petersburg Battles27:

  • Before Petersburg June 15-18.
  • Siege operations against Petersburg and Richmond June 16 to December 7, 1864.
  • Mine Explosion, Petersburg, July 30.
  • Weldon Railroad August 18-21.
  • Poplar Grove Church September 29-October 1.
  • Boydton Plank Road, Hatcher’s Run, October 27-28.

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); 30th United States Colored Troops Entry, Page 94; 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. 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
    7. 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
    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. Volume 14 (Ordnance Returns for the Second Quarter, April-June, 1864); 30th United States Colored Troops Entry, Page 94; 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.
    10. 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 260
    11. 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
    12. Proctor, D. E. “The Massacre in the Crater.” National Tribune 17 October 1907. 6:3-4: “Later a division staff officer, came up and asked for our brigade commander, and not finding him gave the order to Col. Bates, of our regiment, to advance the brigade. He gave the order, and then sprang upon the earthworks with the command, “Come on! Come on!” He had not gone five paces when he was met by a volley, one of the balls penetrating the left cheek and coming out behind the right ear. We passed him to the rear, thinking him a dying man, but in less than 60 days he was back in command of his brigade with a star, and is now a Medal of Honor man, and all for what he did in that last minute in the Crater. ”
    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 XLII, Part 2 (Serial Number 88), page 617: “Organization of the Army of the Potomac…August 31, 1864”
    15. 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”
    16. 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.
    17. 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)”
    18. 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”
    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. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3)
    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 1126: “Organization of the Union Forces” (December 31, 1864)
    22. Bates, Delavan. “Headquarters, 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, 9th Corps.” Letter to “Father” 13 Nov. 1864. MS. Near Peebles House, Virginia.: “Colonel (Hiram A.) Oakman returned tonight. I am very glad he has come for the regiment has but few officers present for duty.”
    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 1126: “Organization of the Union Forces” (December 31, 1864)
    24. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3)
    25. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3)
    26. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3)
    27. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3)
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