November 19, 1863 The 13th US Colored Infantry Mustered

#OTD1863 On November 19, 1863, the 13th US Colored Infantry was mustered in at Fortress Rosecrans in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. At that point, the regiment was fully staffed with officers and 1,000 enlisted men. According to one account, on that day, the regiment was:

“presented with a fine silk flag by the colored ladies of Murfreesboro. The presentation was deeply impressive. The officers, all in front with heads uncovered, and the entire regiment kneeling received the “Star Spangled Banner” they had just sworn to support and defend. The mustering officer who presented the flag in the course of his address said, “though that flag had hitherto been borne by the red, the white and the blue, he rejoiced to think that henceforth it would be borne by the Black also.”

A recreated image of the flag of the 13th US Colored Infantry

Of all the Black regiments organized in Middle Tennessee during the Civil War, perhaps the most notable - and rightfully so - is the 13th US Colored Infantry.  The formation of this regiment was begun in July 1863 from laborers working in Middle Tennessee cities and towns - including Franklin. At least 64 men with ties to Williamson County, Tennessee, served in the 13th USCI.  Almost 17% of Williamson County’s USCT soldiers served in the 13th. Twenty-two of them enlisted at Franklin during the late summer and fall of 1863. They were then sent to Murfreesboro where they were mustered in on today’s date 1863.

The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Picture Collection, The New York Public Library. "Negro recruits taking the cars for Murfreesboro', Tenn., to join the Federal Army" The New York Public Library Digital Collections. 1893. https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47e1-3fb5-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99

For roughly the first six months of service, the regiment was utilized as laborers to finish the construction of the crucial Nashville and Northwestern (N&NW) rail line from Nashville to the Tennessee River. After the railroad was completed in May 1864, the regiment guarded the rail line against guerillas and the enemy.  During this time, the men were learning to read and write. According to one officer, “they carry [spelling books and readers] constantly in their pockets and every spare moment they may be seen pouring over them.”  

Nearly one year after mustering in, on November 4-5, 1864, part of the regiment was at Johnsonville when they fought an attack by Confederate General Nathan B. Forrest’s forces. Colonel Mussey of the 100th USCI wrote in a report of the day:

The behavior of the colored troops at Johnsonville, Tenn., during the recent attack upon that place was, I am informed by several eye-witnesses, excellent. . . . . Some of the Thirteenth U. S. Colored Infantry, who were at Johnsonville, were upon the river-bank as sharpshooters, and armed with the Enfield rifle, and did good execution. The affair was slight, but it has gained credit for the colored troops.  

Later that month, following the Battle of Franklin on November 30, 1864, the 13th USCI and several other regiments of USCT were sent to Nashville to help fortify the city. On December 15 and 16, 1864, the 13th USCI distinguished themselves at the Battle of Nashville. Colonel Hottenstein, leading the 13th USCI, reported the regiment went into action with 556 men. Of the enlisted men, 51 were killed, and 161  were wounded. This was a casualty rate of nearly 40%. Of those, five of the dead men and six of the wounded were from Williamson County. The regiment then participated in the pursuit of Hood's troops through Franklin and Williamson County to Alabama. Following the Confederate surrender, the 13th US Colored Infantry returned to the N&NW railroad until they mustered out in January 1866.

Many veterans of the 13th USCI returned to Williamson County and the surrounding area, where they reunited with loved ones, married, and raised families. A few have headstones that have been identified. Others have left no permanent marker of their lives or their service to this country. During this time of Thanksgiving, please consider sponsoring a brick paver in their honor through the Slaves To Soldiers project. You can learn more here: https://www.slavestosoldiers.org/home/how-to-donate

You can learn more about the Williamson County men who served in the 13th US Colored Infantry here https://www.slavestosoldiers.org/us-colored-troop-veterans/infantry-regiments/13th-us-colored-infantry