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.

On 19 December 1863 the first battalion left Providence and sailed from Newport for New Orleans, Louisiana, to join General Banks, commanding the Department of the Gulf. On 8 January 1864 the second battalion left Providence to join the first battalion in New Orleans.

In March 1864, while units of the 14th Rhode Island United States Colored Heavy Artillery were stationed at Fort Esperanza, Matagorda Island Texas, Companies A, C, and D were placed under arrest for refusing to accept their pay, which was 3 dollars a month less than what regular white troops were receiving. The ringleaders of the protest were tried by general court-martial, and sent to Fort Jefferson, Florida.

On 15 April the third battalion joined the Regiment at New Orleans. The whole Regiment was subsequently transferred to the Department of the Gulf, and its designation was changed by general order, first on 4 April to the 8th United States Heavy Artillery (Colored), and then in May, to the Eleventh United States Heavy Artillery (Colored). On 5 July Colonel Jacob Hale Sypher of the United States Army was appointed by the President to command the Regiment. The bulk of the service of this Regiment consisted of garrison and picket duty in several posts in the Department of the Gulf.

At the close of the War, a reduction of the military force of the Union was taking place almost daily and with the further services of the Regiment being unnecessary, it was mustered out at Camp Parapet, Louisiana, 2 October 1865.

The Regiment returned to Rhode Island and on 21 October attended a ceremony and parade in Providence where the people of Rhode Island paid tribute to the members of this command.

On landing, a salute was fired by the Marine Artillery and the column was formed on South Main Street where they marched to City Hall. There under the direction of Acting Adjutant-General Crandall, L. H. Humphreys prepared and offered to the returning troops a generous collation. As the men filed into City Hall and took their stand at the tables, the band of Morris Brothers, Pell & Trowbridge's minstrels played "Tramp, Tramp, Tramp", which added to the excitiment of the day. After the meal, the column was reformed and marched to Exchange Place, where a dress parade took place in the presence of Governor Smith, his staff, and an large number of spectators.

Afterwards, the Regiment broke into column of companies, and marched up Westminster Street in review before embarking for their encampment at Portsmouth Grove. A few days later, the Regiment was disbanded and the men finally returned to their homes after serving the Union cause for over two years.

From the guide to the Rhode Island 11th United States Heavy Artillery (Colored), 1853-1913, (Phillips Memorial Library, Special and Archival Collections)