Levi Tanner, Private of the 86th Regiment of Colored Infantry

dennmorr

Private
Official Vendor
Joined
Dec 22, 2016
Location
Montour Falls, N.Y.
I had the pleasure and honor to play "Taps" for the dedication of Private Tanner's memorial gravestone in the Spring Forest Cemetery in Binghamton New York. Tanner died in 1875 and his grave was unmarked until this time. The effort was put together by the Mrs. Benjamin Harrison, Tent 2 of the Daughters of Union Veterans. Reenactors of SUV Camp the 137th NY, 7th NY Cavalry and SUV 341 Catlin Camp, also participated in the ceremony.

I had a chance to meet David Cluetz, author of "Fields of Fame and Glory," who was in attendance. Colonel David Ireland of the 137th NY, one of the most under recognized regimental commanders at Gettysburg is buried in the same cemetery.

Levi Tanner.jpg
 
That must indeed have been an honor.

It would be interesting to hear more about his Regiment and his story.

Thank you for sharing.
 

UNITED STATES COLORED TROOPS​

86th Regiment, United States Colored Infantry​

OVERVIEW:Organized April 4, 1864, from 14th Corps de Afrique Infantry. Attached to District of West Florida, Dept. of the Gulf, to October, 1864. 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, United States Colored Troops, Dept. of the Gulf, to November, 1864. 1st Brigade, District of West Florida, to January, 1865. 3rd Brigade, District of West Florida, to March, 1865. 1st Brigade, 1st Division, United States Colored Troops, Steele's Command, to May, 1865. District of West Florida to July, 1865. Dept. of Florida to April, 1866.

SERVICE:-Duty at Barrancas, Fla., till March, 1865. March from Pensacola, Fla., to Blakely, Ala., March 20-April 1. Siege of Fort Blakely April 1-9. Assault and capture of Fort Blakely April 9. Occupation of Mobile April 12. March to Montgomery April 13-25. Duty there and at Mobile till May 19. Garrison at Fort Morgan May 19 to July. Duty at Pensacola and other points in the Dept. of Florida till April, 1866. Mustered out April 10, 1866.

Predecessor unit:

CORPS DE AFRIQUE.-UNITED STATES COLORED VOLUNTEERS.
14th REGIMENT INFANTRY.
Organized at New Orleans, La., August 12, 1863. Attached to Defences of New Orleans, Dept. of the Gulf, to September, 1863. 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, Corps de Afrique, Dept. of the Gulf, to October, 1863. District of West Florida, Dept. of the Gulf, to April, 1864.

SERVICE:-Duty at Port Hudson till October, 1863. Moved to Barrancas, Fla., and duty there till April, 1864. Designation of Regiment changed to 86th U.S. Colored Troops April 4, 1864
 
That must indeed have been an honor.

It would be interesting to hear more about his Regiment and his story.

Thank you for sharing.
Originally from Columbus Ga., he enlisted in the 86th Colored Regiment (formerly the 12th Regiment of the Corps de Afrique) in Barrancas Florida, on October 27, 1864. The 86th participated in the siege and attack on Fort Blakely near Mobile. He was mustered out on April 10, 1866. He later moved to Binghamton, NY and was employed as a teamster and carpenter, and died on Feb. 15th 1875 at age 30.
 
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