≡ Menu

29th Connecticut Infantry (Colored)

Editor’s Note: Do you have information on this unit’s role at the Siege of Petersburg?  Please contact us using the Contact button in the menu at the top of the screen.  We are happy to exchange information with other researchers.

Muster In: Organized at Fair Haven and mustered in March 8, 1864.1,2
Muster Out: Mustered out October 24, 18653,4

Commander(s):
Colonel William B. Wooster
WilliamBWooster29thCTCol5

Major David Torrance
Commander Image

Captain Frederick E. Camp
Commander Image

Commander 4
Commander Image

Commander 5
Commander Image

First Offensive Order of Battle:

  • Not present at the Siege of Petersburg.6

Second Offensive Order of Battle:

  • Not present at the Siege of Petersburg.7

Third Offensive Order of Battle:

  • Not present at the Siege of Petersburg.8

Fourth Offensive Order of Battle:

Colored Brigade | X Corps | Army of the James | Union Army (August 13-24, 1864)9

First Brigade | Third Division | X Corps | Army of the James | Union Army (August 25-31, 1864)10,11,12

  • Commander: Major David Torrance (August 31, 1864)13
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:
  • Note: Moved from Beaufort, S.C., to Bermuda Hundred, Va., August 8-13, 1864.14

Fifth Offensive Order of Battle:

First Brigade | Third Division | X Corps | Army of the James | Union Army (prior to October 13, 1864)15,16

Second Brigade | Third Division | X Corps | Army of the James | Union Army (definitely October 13, 1864 and later)17

  • Commander:
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Sixth Offensive Order of Battle: Second Brigade | Third Division | X Corps | Army of the James | Union Army18,19

  • Commander: Captain Frederick E. Camp (October 27-28 & 31, 1864)20,21
  • Unit Strength: 584 officers and men taken into battle (October 27, 1864)22
  • Weapons:

Seventh Offensive Order of Battle:

Second Brigade | Third Division | X Corps | Army of the James | Union Army (November 1-December 3, 1864)23

Second Brigade | Third Division | XXV Corps | Army of the James | Union Army (December 3-31, 1864)24

  • Commander: Colonel William B. Wooster (December 31, 1864)25
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:
  • Note: On December 3, 1864, the X Corps and XVIII Corps of the Army of the James were reorganized into the XXIV Corps and the XXV Corps.

Eighth Offensive Order of Battle: Second Brigade | First Division | XXV Corps | Army of the James | Union Army26,27

  • Commander: Colonel William B. Wooster (January 31 & February 28, 1865)28,29
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:
  • Note: At some point, apparently in December and probably due to the First Fort Fisher Expedition, the First and Third divisions of the XXV Corps switched places.  The old First Division under Brigadier General Charles A. Paine became the new Third Division and was mostly sent on the First Fort Fisher Expedition.  The old Third Division, under Brigadier General Edward A. Wild, became the new First Division and remained at the Siege of Petersburg.

Ninth Offensive Order of Battle: Second Brigade | First Division | XXV Corps | Army of the James | Union Army30,31

  • Commander: Colonel William B. Wooster (March 31, 1865)32
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Dyer’s/Sifakis’ Compendium Info:
Siege of Petersburg Battles33:

  • Moved from Beaufort, S.C., to Bermuda Hundred, Va., August 8-13, 1864.
  • Siege operations against Petersburg and Richmond August 13, 1864, to April 2, 1865.
  • Demonstration on North Side of the James August 13-20, 1864.
  • Deep Bottom, Strawberry Plains, August 14-18.
  • Duty in the trenches before Petersburg August 25-September 24.
  • New Market Heights and Fort Harrison September 28-29.
  • Chaffin’s Farm September 29-30.
  • Darbytown Road October 13.
  • Battle of Fair Oaks October 27-28.
  • Duty in trenches before Richmond until April, 1865.
  • Occupation of Richmond April 3. (First Infantry Regiment to enter city.)
  • Moved to City Point April 18, thence to Point Lookout, Md., and duty there guarding prisoners until May 28.

Bibliography:

    Siege of Petersburg Documents Which Mention This Unit:

    Sources:

    1. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3) ↩
    2. Annual Report of the Adjutant-General of the State of Connecticut, for the Year Ending March 31, 1866 (Hartford, CT: A. N. Clark & Co., State Printers, 1866), p. 227 ↩
    3. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3) ↩
    4. Annual Report of the Adjutant-General of the State of Connecticut, for the Year Ending March 31, 1866 (Hartford, CT: A. N. Clark & Co., State Printers, 1866), p. 227 ↩
    5. William B. Wooster image. MOLLUS-Mass Civil War Photograph Collection, Volume 73, Page L3650.  United States Army Heritage and Education Center, Carlisle, PA. ↩
    6. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3) ↩
    7. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3) ↩
    8. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3) ↩
    9. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 1 (Serial Number 87), page 120: “Return of Casualties in the Union Forces (August 1864)”: This brigade became the First Brigade of Birney’s Third (Colored) Division, Tenth Corps at some point in late August 1864, after Second Deep Bottom. ↩
    10. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 2 (Serial Number 88), page 620: “Organization of the Army of the Potomac…August 31, 1864” ↩
    11.  The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 1 (Serial Number 87), page 109: “Itinerary of the Army of the Potomac and Army of the James”: “August 25.-Brigadier General William Birney assumed command of the Third Division, Tenth Army Corps…” ↩
    12. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 1 (Serial Number 87), page 120: “Return of Casualties in the Union Forces (August 1864)” ↩
    13. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 2 (Serial Number 88), page 620: “Organization of the Army of the Potomac…August 31, 1864” ↩
    14. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3) ↩
    15. Sommers, Richard J. “Grant’s Fifth Offensive at Petersburg: A Study in Strategy, Tactics, and Generalship.  The Battle of Poplar Spring Church, the First Battle of the Darbytown Road, the Second Battle of the Squirrel Level Road, the Second Battle of the Darbytown Road (Ulysses S. Grant, Virginia).” Doctoral Thesis. Rice University, 1970. Print. p. 1303. ↩
    16. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 1 (Serial Number 87), page 134: “Return of Casualties in the Union Forces (September-October 1864)”: The Official Records casualty returns for Chaffin’s Farm still refer to this brigade as the unattached “Colored Brigade”, Tenth Corps, Army of the James. ↩
    17. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 1 (Serial Number 87), page 147: “Return of Casualties in the Union Forces (September-October 1864)” ↩
    18. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 3 (Serial Number 89), page 465: “Organization of the Union Forces” (October 31, 1864)” ↩
    19. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 1 (Serial Number 87), page 150: “Return of Casualties in the Union Forces…Fair Oaks and Darbytown Road, Va., October 27-28, 1864” ↩
    20. “From the Twenty-Ninth Regiment.” Windham County Transcript (Danielsonville, CT). November 17, 1864, p. ? col. ?: “It was not till Oct. 27th, that our men were tried in the extreme front.  Our whole regiment was deployed as skirmishers, covering the front of the whole Division.  Being myself, during the twenty-two hours we held the skirmish line, constantly on the line, moving with orders from one post to another, I can fully endorse the report of Capt. F. E. Camp, who in the illness of Maj. Torrence (sic, Torrance) that day commanded the regiment, which report I will in part quote from hearing.’At 7 A. M., we deployed as skirmishers, through a thick wood and drawing in a strong line of the enemy’s pickets advanced to a position in the edge of the woods, in view of their main line of works, which position we held till dawn of the 28th.  I desire to call attention to the unusual steadiness and bravery of both officers and men.  They did all that was required of them.'” ↩
    21. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 3 (Serial Number 89), page 465: “Organization of the Union Forces” (October 31, 1864)” ↩
    22. “From the Twenty-Ninth Regiment.” Windham County Transcript (Danielsonville, CT). November 17, 1864, p. ? col. ?: “We went into the engagement with thirteen officers and five hundred and seventy-one men.” ↩
    23. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3) ↩
    24. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 3 (Serial Number 89), page 1126: “Organization of the Union Forces” (December 31, 1864) ↩
    25. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 3 (Serial Number 89), page 1126: “Organization of the Union Forces” (December 31, 1864) ↩
    26. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 2 (Serial Number 96), page 336: “Organization of the Union Forces” (January 31, 1865) ↩
    27. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 2 (Serial Number 96), page 750: “Organization of the Union Forces” (February 28, 1865) ↩
    28. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 2 (Serial Number 96), page 336: “Organization of the Union Forces” (January 31, 1865) ↩
    29. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 2 (Serial Number 96), page 750: “Organization of the Union Forces” (February 28, 1865) ↩
    30. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 1 (Serial Number 95), page 579: “Organization of the Union Forces” (March 31, 1865) ↩
    31. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 1 (Serial Number 95), page 596: “Return of casualties in the Union Forces commanded by Lieut. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, March 29-April 9, 1865” ↩
    32. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 1 (Serial Number 95), page 579: “Organization of the Union Forces” (March 31, 1865) ↩
    33. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3) ↩

    Tagged as: , , , ,

    { 0 comments… add one }

    Leave a Reply

    Next post:

    Previous post:

    Search SOPO

    SOPO RSS Feed

    Subscribe to The Siege of Petersburg Online RSS Feed

    Links