Trivia #12 Firsts (8/18/2013)

[CivilWarParlor]

The 54th Mass!

 

[sarladaise]

54th Reg. Massachusetts Vols Inf.

 

[Sean Kevin Gabhann]

Tonight's Civil War Trivia Question Value: 10 points, 1 bonus point goes to the player with the first answer.
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View attachment 18740
What was the first African American infantry unit to fight in a Civil War battle?.
Post your answers below. Good Luck!
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[ErnieMac]

1st Regiment Kansas Volunteer Infantry (Colored).

 

[Sean Kevin Gabhann]

First Regiment Kansas Volunteer Infantry (African Descent)

 

[101combatvet]

"The Massachusetts 54th can only be called "the first" -- accurately -- if the claim is at least double-qualified as the earliest black unit from the North (eliminating Louisiana and South Carolina) that was officially recognized (leaping ahead of Kansas). Sometimes a third qualifier is added -- "free," distinguishing the troops mustered in Boston from the runaway slaves in the ranks of the South Carolina and Kansas units."

http://www.theroot.com/views/revising-record-civil-war

Where this honor becomes confusing:

"The National Parks Service, which maintains any number of Civil War monuments and battlefields, puts it this way: "It may be interesting to mention that the 54th Massachusetts Regiment, celebrated for its valiant charge at Fort Wagner, South Carolina, was not the first African-American unit to fight in the Union Army. While the 54th was organized in 1863, other units of African-American soldiers were formed in Kansas, South Carolina and Louisiana as early as 1862."

The honor should go to the 1st Louisiana Native Guard which was the first African American infantry unit to fight in a Civil War battle. Their assault at Port Hudson pre dates the First Kansas Colored Volunteer Infantry first engagement and the 54th Mass's first battle. The
1st South Carolina Volunteers (Union) also fought in several early battles, but as is the case with these units recruited from escaped slaves they are not officially recognized.

'In mid-1863, the 1st Louisiana Native Guard, along with the 3rd Louisiana Native Guard, had its first chance at combat and participated in the first assault at the Siege of Port Hudson on May 27 [1863], as well as the second assault on June 14. Captain Cailloux died heroically in the first assault. His body, as well as those of the other members of the 1st Louisiana Native Guard who fell with him that day, was left on the field of battle until the surrender of Port Hudson on July 9, 1863. Cailloux received a hero's funeral in New Orleans on July 29.'

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1st_Louisiana_Native_Guard_(United_States)

On the 27th of June, 1863, the First Kansas Colored Volunteer Infantry was made a part of the escort of a valuable train of supplies from Fort Scott to Fort Gibson. This train and escort were attacked at Cabin Creek, July 1, 1863, by General Cooper and some Indianforces. The Union troops saved the train and proceeded with them to Fort Gibson, where it arrived on the 5th of July.

http://americancivilwar.com/colored/1st_Kansas_infantry_colored_troops.html

 

[Nayinpa]

First Kansas Colored

 

[reading48]

1st Kansas Inf. regiment??????

 

[CivilWarTalk]

1st Kansas Colored Infantry is correct!