13th US Colored Infantry Regiment and Chaffin’s Farm Battle Report (Assessment)

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Introduction

Several United States Colored Troops were organized during the civil war. As it becomes obvious from the name of the military groups, they consisted only of black men who were treated like slaves back in the 1860’s. The following paper will discuss the history of the 13th U.S.C.T. and highlight all the armed events at the Chaffin’s Farm Battle in 1864.

History of the Troop

The 13th U.S.C.T. was formed in the city of Tennessee, Nashville, on the 19th of November, 1863 (Bearss and Suderow 35). It would be proper to mention that all the colored troops were participating in the Civil War under the command of white officers. In this case, the unit that consisted only of black soldiers was controlled and navigated by Colonel John Hottenstein. The troop’s main goal was to defend the Northwestern Railroad in the state of Nashville (Horn 125). However, the objects changed several times. For instance, in 1965, the soldiers were obliged to protect the District of Etowah until 1965, whereas in 1866, they stood for the Middle District of Tennessee.

During the 13th U.S.C.T.’s military service at their first location (the Northwestern Railroad in Nashville), they repulsed several attacks of American soldiers who attacked the city of Johnsonville that was situated nearby (Lovett 41). The most significant event that the group of soldiers was involved in is considered to be the Battle of Nashville that lasted only two days (December 15th – 16th, 1864). In several days, the troop took part in the Pursuit of Hood to the Tennessee River (17th – 19th of the same month). It would be proper to mention that approximately 355 soldiers (including 90 killed militaries and 265 participants who died because of various diseases and mortal infections) from the 13th U.S.C.T. were lost during the battles mentioned above.

African Americans in the Civil War

It is a well-known fact that many troops that consisted only of black men were participating in different military conflicts and events during the Civil War. The following section of the essay will discuss the Battle of Chaffin’s Farm (New Market Heights and Fort Harrison) that happened in 1864 in the state of Virginia. It would be proper to mention that the manner of the entire war changed before the battle as it was not as maneuver as at the beginning – the soldiers preferred to stay in their trenches.

There were only two events that happened during the military conflict mentioned in the previous paragraph. The first one was at New Market Heights. Although the USA forces lost approximately 850 people against 50 soldiers from the CSA side, they had a chance to occupy the enemies’ positions at Fort Gregg (Lang 568). In general, the USA army that was under the command of contemporary general David Bell Birney had winning tactics, despite the tremendous losses that occurred during the battle.

The second event of the Battle of Chaffin’s Farm was at Fort Harrison. At the same time, the American troop commanded by another general (George Stannard), attacked the location of Fort Harrison (Thompson 364). The soldiers crossed the field and waited for the perfect moment to attack, after which they rushed ahead and occupied the location. Unfortunately, approximately 3300 soldiers from the winning side died.

Conclusion

Many U.S.C.T.s were involved in different military conflicts between the two armies of CSA and USA. Unfortunately, the majority of black soldiers did not survive the war due to various diseases. The battle of Chaffin’s Farm was lost because the enemy’s army exceeded in the number of its soldiers.

Works Cited

Bearss, Edwin C., and Bryce A. Suderow. The Petersburg Campaign: The Western Front Battles, September 1864-April 1865. 2nd ed., Savas Beatie, 2014.

Horn, John. The Siege of Petersburg: The Battles for the Weldon Railroad, August 1864. Savas Beatie, 2015.

Lang, Andrew F. “Republicanism, Race, and Reconstruction: The Ethos of Military Occupation in Civil War America.” The Journal of the Civil War Era, vol. 4, no. 4, 2014, pp. 559–589.

Lovett, Bobby L. “The Negros Civil War in Tennessee, 1861-1865.” The Journal of Negro History, vol. 61, no. 1, 1976, pp. 36–44.

Thompson, Lauren K. “Escaping the Mechanism: Soldier Fraternization During the Siege at Petersburg.” Civil War History, vol. 63, no. 4, 2017, pp. 349–376.

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