79th US Colored Infantry (new)

This regiment was organized from the 1st Kansas Colored Infantry, in December, of 1864.  The unit was attached to the 2nd Brigade of the District of the Frontier, until January of 1865. The unit was then attached to the Colored Brigade of the 7th Corps of the Dept. of Arkansas till October 1865. 

Many of these soldiers were from Muskogee Creek Nation, and returned to Indian Territory after the war.

The service of this unit after they were reorganized from their past status as the First Kansas Colored.  From a history of having a number of military engagements, and having been the first black unit in combat against the Confederates, their service as the 79th Infantry began primarily with duty at Ft. Smith, Arkansas. On January 8th of 1865 they were involved in a skirmish at Ivey's Ford.  Form there, the unit was ordered to Little Rock on January 16th.  On the 18th they were in another skirmish at Clarksville, Arkansas. The unit served their duty at Little Rock till July and moved to Pine Bluff till October, where they were mustered out of service.  They were finally discharged at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas at the end of October in 1865.

The unit, as the 79th Infantry (new) lost 5 officers and 183 enlisted men, who were killed and 1 officer and 165 enlisted men who died from disease.

Source of Information: The Compendium of the War of the Rebellion, Frederick Dyer