Unassigned US Colored Troops in the American Civil War

Overview

The Unassigned US Colored Troops (Ohio) were African American soldiers recruited in Ohio during the American Civil War for service in the Union Army. These men were enlisted at large across the state and credited by local Provost Marshals to various congressional districts. The recruits assembled at Camp Delaware, Ohio, and were subsequently assigned to different US Colored Troops regiments as needed. This unit is classified as “Unassigned” because its members were not organized into a distinct, numbered regiment for the duration of their service.

Due to the administrative nature of their recruitment and assignment, the Unassigned US Colored Troops (Ohio) did not serve as a cohesive field regiment. Their service reflects the broader efforts to raise African American troops in Ohio and support the Union war effort through the US Colored Troops system.

Organization & Service

The Unassigned US Colored Troops (Ohio) were organized at Camp Delaware, Ohio, during the later years of the Civil War. Recruitment was conducted by Provost Marshals throughout the state, and enlistees were credited to the appropriate congressional districts. Upon arrival at Camp Delaware, these men awaited assignment to active US Colored Troops regiments, which could be from Ohio or other states, depending on the needs of the Union Army at the time.

There are no records indicating that these recruits served together as a single regiment in the field. Instead, they were distributed among various USCT regiments as replacements or to fill new organizations. The Adjutant General’s office in Columbus, Ohio, does not possess muster-out rolls or detailed records of final assignments for these men, making it impossible to provide a comprehensive account of their subsequent service or discharge dates.

Engagements & Campaigns

As the Unassigned US Colored Troops (Ohio) were not organized as a field regiment, they did not participate in campaigns or battles as a distinct unit. Individual soldiers were assigned to various USCT regiments, which may have seen action in different theaters of the war.

Casualties

There are no consolidated casualty figures for the Unassigned US Colored Troops (Ohio), as these men were distributed among other regiments. No official records provide total losses for this group.

Field Officers & Commanders

As an unassigned pool of recruits, this group did not have a designated regimental command structure. Officers and non-commissioned officers were assigned as needed upon transfer to active regiments.

Regimental Roster

The roster for the Unassigned US Colored Troops (Ohio) is incomplete due to the lack of muster-out rolls and assignment records in the Ohio Adjutant General’s office. Some individual names may appear in the records of the regiments to which these men were ultimately assigned. For any available information, please consult the Unassigned US Colored Troops (Ohio) Roster page.

Sources & References

• The Union Army, Federal Publishing Company, 1908, Vol. 2
• Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies
• Ohio Adjutant General’s Reports
• Dyer, Frederick H., A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion