[
422]
Seventy-Ninth U. S. Colored Infantry.
Adams's Brigade —
Thayer's Division--Seventh Corps.
Colonel James M. Williams;
Bvt. Brig.-Gen.
| companies. | killed and died of wounds. | died of disease, accidents, in Prison, &c. | Total Enrollment. |
| Officers. | Men. | Total. | Officers. | Men. | Total. |
| Field and Staff | | | | | | | 17 |
| Company | A | | 16 | 16 | | 22 | 22 | 111 |
| | B | 1 | 11 | 12 | | 21 | 21 | 130 |
| | C | 1 | 17 | 18 | | 17 | 17 | 108 |
| | D | | 12 | 12 | | 23 | 23 | 109 |
| | E | 1 | 15 | 16 | | 17 | 17 | 116 |
| | F | | 21 | 21 | 1 | 17 | 18 | 129 |
| | G | | 13 | 13 | | 19 | 19 | 136 |
| | H | 1 | 14 | 15 | | 15 | 15 | 128 |
| | I | | 16 | 16 | | 7 | 7 | 121 |
| | K | 1 | 48 | 49 | | 7 | 7 | 144 |
| Totals | 5 | 183 | 188 | 1 | 165 | 166 | 1,249 |
188 killed == 15 per cent.
| battles. | K. & M. W. | battles. | K. & M. W. |
| Island Mounds, Mo. | 10 | Horse Head Creek, Ark. | 1 |
| Sherwood, Mo. | 16 | Poison Springs, Ark. | 111 |
| Cabin Creek, C. N. | 1 | Flat Rock, C. N. | 36 |
| Honey Springs, C. N. | 5 | Timber Hills, C. N. | 2 |
| Fort Gibson, C. N. | 1 | Ivy Ford, Ark. | 1 |
| Lawrence, Kan. | 1 | Roseville, Ark. | 2 |
| Baxter Springs, C. N. | 1 | | |
Present, also, at
Bush Creek; Prairie d'ann; Jenkins's Ferry; Joy's Ford.
notes.--Organized originally as the First Kansas Colored Volunteers, its designation being changed to the Seventy-ninth United States Colored Infantry, December 13, 1864.
Recruiting commenced in August, 1862, and within sixty days 500 men were enlisted and placed in camp, although not without the usual difficulty and opposition arising from the prejudice against colored troops.
On the 28th of October, 1862, a detachment of recruits numbering about 225 men, under
Captain H. C. Seaman, encamped near
Butler, Mo. (Island Mounds), where it was attacked by a superior force under
Colonel Cockrell; the enemy were repulsed and driven off,--Seaman's detachment losing 10 killed and 12 wounded,
Captain A. J. Crew being among the killed.
This affair is noteworthy as the first fight in the war in which colored troops were engaged.
A regimental organization was not effected until January, 1863, when six companies were mustered in; the other four companies were organized by May, 1863.
At
Poison Springs, Ark., April, 1864, the regiment while on a forage expedition in company with the Eighteenth Iowa, one section of artillery, and a small detachment of cavalry, was attacked by a large force under
Generals Marcy and
Fagan.
The Union troops were completely surrounded, but cut their way out, the regiment losing 189 killed and wounded, besides the missing.
Colonel Williams was in command of the party.
In the affair at
Flat Rock, only one company (K), numbering 42 men, was engaged; it was surprised and attacked by
General Gano, the company being nearly annihilated.
In May, 1864,
Colonel Williams was placed in command of the Second Brigade, Frontier Division, Seventh Corps, the regiment being included in that brigade.
Mustered out October 1, 1865.
