Rhode Island 11th United States Heavy Artillery (Colored), 1863-1865

The Rhode Island 11th United States Colored Heavy Artillery had originally been raised and organized as the Fourteenth Regiment Rhode Island Heavy Artillery. On 28 August 1863 the first company was mustered into Federal Service.

As customary for all black units raised during the Civil War, the officers of this regiment were white, all of whom had seen previous service. They were commissioned by the President of the United States, after having passed a rigid examination before a military board convened at Washington of which Major General Silas Casey of the U.S.Army, presided over.

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