William F. Fox, Lt. Col. U. S. V., Regimental Losses in the American Civil War, 1861-1865: A Treatise on the extent and nature of the mortuary losses in the Union regiments, with full and exhaustive statistics compiled from the official records on file in the state military bureaus and at Washington

Rhode Island.--The Rhode Island troops became prominent by reason of the fine regiment of light artillery furnished by that State. The light batteries of this command were remarkable for their efficiency, and the conspicuous part assigned them in all the battles of the Army of the Potomac. As a whole they were unsurpassed, and they made a record which reflected credit on their State. A comparison of their losses in action with those of other batteries tells plainly the story of the dangers which they braved. The 1st Infantry was a three-months regiment which was actively engaged at First Bull Run. The 6th and 8th Infantry failed to complete their organizations. The 1st Cavalry contained a battalion of four companies from New Hampshire, which was detached January 7, 1864, and placed in the 1st New Hampshire Cavalry. The 2d Rhode Island Cavalry was organized with eight companies only, and in July, 1863, they were consolidated into a battalion of four companies, and transferred to the 1st Louisiana (Union) Cavalry. The men objected to this transfer, and would not leave camp for their new quarters until surrounded by the Louisiana Cavalry, and forced to go. Two men who were conspicuously reluctant were led out by their new comrades and shot in front of the regiment, without a trial. After serving over a year in the Louisiana regiment, the battalion was re-transferred to the 3d Rhode Island Cavalry.