On January 1, 1867, Adjutant General, Brig.-Gen. Nathaniel B. Baker made his Annual Report to Governor Wm. M. Stone of the State of Iowa. The Report is the official record of Iowa in the final days following the "Late Unpleasantness." The Report is comprised of compilations of state, federal, county and municipal documents; muster rolls; and supporting anecdotal papers that elucidate the political, social and economic climate in Iowa at the close of the War Between The States. At least one entry in the AG's Report is a reprint of an October 1863 communique from the battlefield in Iuka, Mississippi, originally printed in the Dubuque Times, from Lt. Wm. H. Keeling about the role of Iowa's 13th U.S. Infantry Regulars in the Battle of Colliersville, Tennessee. However the Regimental History of the 60th Regiment U.S. COLORED TROOPS has not, to my knowledge, been published before elsewhere. It is my great honor and pleasure to publish here on this site. Let me know if any part of this material is of service to you and your research at DanaTurner@pvthenrycowdenusct.ourfamily.com.
TEXT of the REPORT TO THE ADJUTANT GENERAL ON THE SIXTIETH U.S. INFANTRY (AFRICAN DESCENT) and HISTORY OF THE REGIMENT
Tipton, Missouri, December 20th, 1865 General: Yours of the 4th is at hand and I hasten to comply. I submit the following for your consideration. As to the organization of the First regiment of Iowa Infantry, of African Descent, it was authorized by the Sec'y of War, and rendezvoused at Keokuk, where six companies were recruited, viz: A,B,C,D,E,&F, and mustered into the the United States' service on the 11th day of October, 1863. Companies I & K, and most of Company H, were raised in Missouri, Part of Company H was recruited in Iowa. These were mustered in at St. Louis, Missouri: Company H on the 21st Nov. 1863; Co. I on the 27th Nov. and Co. K on the 4th Dec. We embarked on steamer Ewing for Helena, Arkansas, Dec. 19th, 1863, where we arrived on the 22d. Went into camp for a few days. Co G was detached and assigned to Battery A, fortifications and defenses of Helena; Co K was assigned to Battery B; Co I to Battery F; Co H to Battery C; Co E to Battery D; Co D to Fort Curtis; relieving the 33rd Missouri. In the Fort and battery, every company was required to do heavy and light artillery duty. I was placed in command of the fortifications and defenses of Helena. On the 1st of January, 1864, a detail was made from this regiment for picket duty, the undersigned being field officer of the day. This regiment furnished the first colored troops for this duty in the Dept. of Arkansas; also, the same for interior guard. About the 1st of March Co C was detached and assigned to duty at the head-quarters of the General commanding the district. The other cos. were in constant service with other troops, scouting, &c. On the 25th of July, 1864, Cos. C & F, with officers, and Adjutant T.W. Pratt, joined other troops, under command of Col. W.S. Brooks, and proceeded to Big Creek, 20 mi. w. of Helena, where, on the morning of the 26th, they were engaged by the rebel Col. Dobin's cavalry, losing Adjutant Pratt, and three men from Co F, killed, and a number wounded. The entire command acquitted themselves with honor. Every company has been engaged at different times. As to artillery duty, we have always passed an A No.1 inspection by various inspectors; amongst the most noted of whom are Maj-Gen Q.A. Gilmore, Maj-Gen D.E. Sickles, Col. D.B. Sackets, U.S.A., Maj Dixon, Chief of Artillery to Maj-Gen Barry, of Maj-Gen Sherman's staff, and others. As to our arm proper -infantry - we never passed any but No.1. This command was relieved at Helena April 1st 1865, by the 59th U.S. Colored Infantry, when, on teh 8th, we proceeded to Little Rock, Arkansas, and were assigned to 2d Brigade, 1st Div. 7th Army Corps. The duty here was of our arm proper. For two months the regiment did the escort duty for transports between Little Rock and Fort Smith, Arkansas, and Fort Gibson, Indian Territory. The first detail of colored soldiers placed on duty at the U.S. arsenal at Little Rock, and in the city, also at Division Hdqtrs, was made from this regiment (60th, formerly First Iowa, A.D.); also, the first detachment of colored troops that guarded prisoners to military prison outside the Dept. of Arkansas, was taken from this command, which detachment went to Columbus, Ohio. This was Co E, Capt. G.F. Work. They were the first colored troops in a body at that place, and by request of the Governor they came out on parade on the public square of that city, doing honor to themselves.
The brigade to which we had been assigned had six regiments of colored troops, at first commanded by Brevet-Brig-Gen J.M. Williams, who was relieved soon, for a higher responsibility by myself. I remained in command a few months when the order from the War Dept. came dissolving brigades, divisions and corps, when I closed the records of this brigade, and turned the same over to Maj Gen Reynolds, commanding the Dept. of Arkansas. On the 20th of August 1865, this command was ordered to DuVall's Bluff, Arkansas, to report to Brig-Gen A. Shaler, and were ordered by him to Jacksonport, Arkansas, to relieve the 3rd Minnesota Veteran Volunteers, who were under orders for muster-out. Cos. of this command relieved the same number of companies of the 3rd Minnesota, at the following points of the sub-district of White river: Co A as provost guard, and guard for the Gen commanding at DuVall's Bluff; Co -- [dashes in text] stationed in White county; Co F at Augusta; Co G at Franklin, Fulton county; Co H at Powhatton, on Black river; Co I at Batesville, Ark. The remaining cos. were stationed at Jacksonport,the hdqtrs. of the sub-district, myself in command. Our duties were here light. We were engaged in escort duty and assisting Governor Isaac Murphy in the inforcement of the civil laws of the State. On the 28th of Sept. last I received orders to turn over the fort and assemble my regiment at DuVall's Bluff for the purpose of mustering out of the service, as this regiment came under the orders to muster out all colored trooops from free States. The muster-out was dated the 15th of October. We received our final pay and disbandment on the 2d of November, 1865.
Every officer belonging to this regiment had been in battle before joining it. Some of the officers have never done duty with the regiment, having been detached therefrom. Only a very short time was the whole field and staff serving together. The LtCol and Maj were absent nearly the whole time, and same was true of one of the medical officials. A large percentage of the line officers was absent on duty. For nearly two months in 1865 thirteen officers were detached, and the regiment was under command of Capt. S.F. Work. The last duty before going out of the service performed by the LtCol G.A.A. Deane, was that of Insp-Gen of the Dept. of Arkansas on Maj-Gen Reynold's staff. Capt. Wm.A. Stewart, Co D, Cat. Henry Sweeney, Co G, and 1stLt Wm.A.E. Tisdale, Co D, are retained in the service as superintendents of freedmen, and 1stLt Chas. S. Hussey is retained as Commissary of Musters for the Dept. of Arkansas.
This regiment had a fine reputation, and was considered by inspecting officers one of the best in the department in which it was serving. The regiment was kept from the field of active operations, because of being heavy artillery (which all regretted exceedingly). Once after being ordered to Brazos Santiago, Texas, the order was countermanded, as we could not be spared from heavy artillery duty at Helena. In addition to the regiment a brass band of fifteen instruments was organized, and the members of the same learned by note readily, although most of them could not read or write. This was the first band of the kind in the department in which they served.
Schools were established in each company for reading, writing,&c. with a good result. I cannot say too much in favor of all the commissioned officers. All the non-commissioned officers of companies were colored. The clerks in the Adjutant and Quartermaster offices were detailed colored men.
I am General, very respectfully,&c.
JOHN G. HUDSON,
Late Colonel 60th Colored Infantry.
Photos: (top) Company E, 23rd U.S.C.T. (bottom) 34th U.S.C.T. on parade
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