60th United States Colored Infantry Regiment


The 60th United States Colored Infantry was a U.S.C.T. infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War. The regiment was composed of African American enlisted men commanded by white officers and was authorized by the Bureau of Colored Troops which was created by the United States War Department on May 22, 1863.

Service

The 60th U.S. Colored Infantry was organized from the 1st Iowa Infantry in March 1864 and served in various garrison duties in the Department of Arkansas assigned to the VII Corps for its entire service.
On July 26, 1864, near Wallace's Ferry in Arkansas, elements of the 60th and 56th Colored Infantry regiments and Battery E of the 2nd U.S. Colored Artillery were attacked by a superior force of Confederate cavalry commanded by Col. Archibald S. Dobbins. Supported by about 150 men from the 15th Illinois Cavalry the infantry regiments organized a fighting retreat and at a crucial moment in the battle made a counter charge into the enemy line. The Union regiments made their way back to Helena. The 60th Regiment did not report any casualties from the battle but Union casualties in the other units were 19 killed, 40 wounded, and 4 missing. Confederate losses are unknown.
The 60th U.S. Colored Regiment was mustered out of service on October 15, 1865.

Commanders