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4th Rhode Island Infantry

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Muster In: Organized at Providence, 1861.1
Muster Out: Old members mustered out October 15, 1864. Veterans and Recruits consolidated with 7th Rhode Island Infantry.2

Commander(s):
Major James T. P. Bucklin
Commander Image

Captain Walter A. Read
Commander Image

Commander 3
Commander Image

First Offensive Order of Battle: Point Lookout, Maryland, guarding prisoners.3

Second Offensive Order of Battle: Point Lookout, Maryland, guarding prisoners.5

Third Offensive Order of Battle:

Point Lookout, MD (July 1-3, 1864)7,8

First Brigade | Second Division | IX Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army (July 3-31, 1864)9,10,11

  • Commander: Major James T. P. Bucklin (July 31, 1864)12
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:
  • Note: The 4th Rhode Island was ordered to Petersburg from Point Lookout, MD and arrived on July 3, 1864.13,14

Fourth Offensive Order of Battle: First Brigade | Second Division | IX Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army15,16

  • Commander: Captain Walter A. Read (August 31, 1864)17
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Fifth Offensive Order of Battle: First Brigade | Second Division | IX Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army18,19

  • Commander:
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Sixth Offensive Order of Battle: First Brigade | Second Division | IX Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army (October 14-15, 1864)20,21

  • Commander:
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:
  • Note: Old members of the 4th Rhode Island mustered out October 15, 1864. Veterans and Recruits consolidated with 7th Rhode Island Infantry.22

Seventh Offensive Order of Battle:

  • No longer an independent command.23

Eighth Offensive Order of Battle:

  • No longer an independent command.24

Ninth Offensive Order of Battle:

  • No longer an independent command.25

Dyer’s/Sifakis’ Compendium Info:
Siege of Petersburg Battles26:

  • Duty at Portsmouth till March 1, 1864, and at Norfolk till April 1.
  • At Point Lookout, Md., guarding prisoners till July.
  • Ordered to Petersburg, Va., July 16.
  • Siege of Petersburg July to October.
  • Mine Explosion, Petersburg, July 30.
  • Weldon Railroad August 18-21.
  • Poplar Springs Church September 29-October 2.
  • Old members mustered out October 15, 1864.
  • Veterans and Recruits consolidated with 7th Rhode Island Infantry.

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. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3) ↩
    4. Volume 14 (Ordnance Returns for the Second Quarter, April-June, 1864); 4th Rhode Island Entry, Page 63; 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. ↩
    5. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3) ↩
    6. Volume 14 (Ordnance Returns for the Second Quarter, April-June, 1864); 4th Rhode Island Entry, Page 63; 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. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3): Dyer’s Compendium mentions that the 4th Rhode Island was at Point Lookout, MD, presumably guarding Confederate prisoners, until July 16, 1864, although the Official Records casualty return for July indicates the regiment joined 1/2/IX/AotP on July 3, 1864.  I am not sure how soon after July 16 the regiment actually joined 1/2/IX/AotP in the field or if Dyer’s Compendium is mistaken.  More research is needed. ↩
    8. 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 259 ↩
    9. 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 259: This casualty return for July 1864 indicates the 4th Rhode Island joined the brigade on July 3, 1864, but this contradicts Dyer’s Compendium.  A regimental history of the 7th Rhode Island mentions the 4th joining 1/2/IX/AotP on July 3, so the Official Records is correct. ↩
    10. Hopkins, William P. The Seventh Regiment Rhode Island Volunteers in the Civil War 1862-1865. Providence, RI: Snow & Farnham, 1903, p. 195: “Sunday, (July) 3d. …The Fourth Rhode Island arrived at ten A. M., and was assigned to our brigade.  It is encamped near General Burnside’s headquarters, and makes a fine appearance.” ↩
    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 734 ↩
    12. 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 734 ↩
    13. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3): Dyer’s Compendium mentions that the 4th Rhode Island was at Point Lookout, MD, presumably guarding Confederate prisoners, until July 16, 1864.  The date is incorrect.  See the regimental history of sister regiment the 7th Rhode Island below for details. ↩
    14. Hopkins, William P. The Seventh Regiment Rhode Island Volunteers in the Civil War 1862-1865. Providence, RI: Snow & Farnham, 1903, p. 195: “Sunday, (July) 3d. …The Fourth Rhode Island arrived at ten A. M., and was assigned to our brigade.  It is encamped near General Burnside’s headquarters, and makes a fine appearance.” ↩
    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. 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 126: “Return of Casualties in the Union Forces (August 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 1 (Serial Number 87), page 142: “Return of Casualties in the Union Forces (September-October 1864)” ↩
    20. 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): The Official Records still show the 4th and 7th Rhode Island as separate units, but the 4th RI had mustered out on October 15, and everyone left joined the 7th Rhode Island. ↩
    21. 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 158: “Return of Casualties in the Union Forces…Boydton Plank Road, Va., October 27-28, 1864”: The Official Records still show the 4th and 7th Rhode Island as separate units, but the 4th RI had mustered out on October 15, and everyone left joined the 7th Rhode Island. ↩
    22. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3) ↩
    23. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3) ↩
    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) ↩

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