Guide to the Rhode Island 11th United States Heavy Artillery, 1853-1913


Phillips Memorial Library
Archives and Special Collections
1 Cunningham Square
Providence, RI 02918
Tel: 401-865-2578
Fax: 401-865-1578
Email: pcarchives@providence.edu
Website: https://pml.providence.edu/

Published in 2008

Collection Overview

Title: Rhode Island 11th United States Heavy Artillery
Date range: 1853-1913
Creator: Rhode Island 11th United States Heavy Artillery, 1863-1865
Extent: 3 box(es)
Abstract: The collection consists of official records of the Rhode Island 11th United States Heavy Artillery and the the personal correspondence of Lt. Allen F. Cameron, who was one of the regiment's officers. The regimental records consist of materials such as regimental reports, orders, rosters, and courts-martial records detailing activities of the regiment.
Language of materials: English
Repository: Phillips Memorial Library
Collection number: rppc_us11regiment

Scope & content

The records of the Rhode Island 11th United States Heavy Artillery document the regiment's activites that Lt. Allen F. Cameron was personally involved in and consists of his personal correspondence and official materials of the regiment such as reports, orders, rosters, and court martial records.

Access Points

Subject Names Subject Organizations Geographical Names Subject Topics Document Types

Arrangement

The collection is arranged in eight series.

  • Circulars
  • Correspondence
  • Equipage
  • General Courts-Martial
  • General Orders
  • Soldiers
  • Special Orders
  • Subject files

Historical note

The Rhode Island 11th United States Heavy Artillery, a Black regiment in the U.S. Civl War, had originally been raised and organized as the Fourteenth Regiment Rhode Island Heavy Artillery. On 28 August 1863 the first company was mustered into Federal Service.

On 19 December 1863 the first battalion left Providence and sailed from Newport for New Orleans, Louisiana, to join General Banks, commanding the Department of the Gulf. On 8 January 1864 the second battalion left Providence to join the first battalion in New Orleans.

In March 1864, while units of the 14th Rhode Island United States Heavy Artillery were stationed at Fort Esperanza, Matagorda Island Texas, Companies A, C, and D were placed under arrest for refusing to accept their pay, which was 3 dollars a month less than what regular white troops were receiving. The ringleaders of the protest were tried by general court-martial, and sent to Fort Jefferson, Florida.

On 15 April the third battalion joined the Regiment at New Orleans. The whole Regiment was subsequently transferred to the Department of the Gulf, and its designation was changed by general order, first on 4 April to the 8th United States Heavy Artillery, and then in May, to the Eleventh United States Heavy Artillery. On 5 July Colonel Jacob Hale Sypher of the United States Army was appointed by the President to command the Regiment. The bulk of the service of this Regiment consisted of garrison and picket duty in several posts in the Department of the Gulf.

At the close of the War, a reduction of the military force of the Union was taking place almost daily and with the further services of the Regiment being unnecessary, it was mustered out at Camp Parapet, Louisiana, 2 October 1865.

The Regiment returned to Rhode Island and on 21 October attended a ceremony and parade in Providence where the people of Rhode Island paid tribute to the members of this command.

On landing, a salute was fired by the Marine Artillery and the column was formed on South Main Street where they marched to City Hall. There under the direction of Acting Adjutant-General Crandall, L. H. Humphreys prepared and offered to the returning troops a generous collation. As the men filed into City Hall and took their stand at the tables, the band of Morris Brothers, Pell & Trowbridge's minstrels played "Tramp, Tramp, Tramp", which added to the excitiment of the day. After the meal, the column was reformed and marched to Exchange Place, where a dress parade took place in the presence of Governor Smith, his staff, and an large number of spectators.

Afterwards, the Regiment broke into column of companies, and marched up Westminster Street in review before embarking for their encampment at Portsmouth Grove. A few days later, the Regiment was disbanded and the men finally returned to their homes after serving the Union cause for over two years.

Access & Use

Access to the collection: Collection is open for research by appointment. Materials do not circulate. Some materials may be restricted, for further information contact the Archives and Special Collections, Phillips Memorial Library, Providence College.
Use of the materials: Researchers are advised that express written permission to reproduce, quote, or otherwise publish any portion or extract from this collection must be obtained from the Phillips Memorial Library. Although Providence College has physical ownership of the collection and the materials contained therein, it does not claim literary rights. It is up to the researcher to determine the owners of the literary rights and to obtain any necessary permissions from them.
Preferred citation: Rhode Island 11th United States Heavy Artillery, Providence College, Phillips Memorial Library, Archives and Special Collections.
Contact information: Phillips Memorial Library
Archives and Special Collections
1 Cunningham Square
Providence, RI 02918
Tel: 401-865-2578
Fax: 401-865-1578
Email: pcarchives@providence.edu
Website: https://pml.providence.edu/

Administrative Information

ABOUT THE COLLECTION  
Acquisition: In July of 1973 Bernard Geary of Scituate, Rhode Island, donated the papers of his grandfather, Allen F. Cameron, to the Providence College Archives.
ABOUT THE FINDING AID  
Author: Finding aid prepared by Providence College Archives Staff.
Encoding: Finding aid encoded by Russell M. Franks 2008 November 12
Descriptive rules: Finding aid based on Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS)

Additional Information

Related material: There are no known related materials.
Separated material: No materials have been removed from this collection.
Bibliography:

Sources:

  • Barker, Harold R. History of the Rhode Island Combat Units in the Civil War (1861-1865). (n.p., c1964)
  • Chenery, William H. The Fourteenth Regiment Rhode Island Heavy Artillery (colored) in the war to preserve the union, 1861-1865. (Providence: Snow & Farnham, 1898.)
    		•

    Inventory

    Series I. Circulars
    Generally produced by the Adjutant General's Office, circulars were used to distribute official correspondence (except combat orders) relating to personnel and other administrative matters.

    Arrangement:

    The series is arranged alphabetically.

    Container Description Date
    Box 1, Folder 1 Headquarters, Carrollton District
    		 1865 Jan
    Box 1, Folder 2 Headquarters, Gulf, Department of
    		 1865 May-1865 June
    Box 1, Folder 3 Headquarters, Louisiana, Department of
    		 1865 Aug-1865 Sep
    Box 1, Folder 4 Headquarters, Louisiana, Southern Division of
    		 1865 May
    Box 1, Folder 5 Headquarters, Louisiana and Texas, Department of
    		 1865 Aug
    Box 1, Folder 6 Headquarters, U. S. Troops
    		 1864 Sep-1865 Jan
    Box 1, Folder 7 Headquarters, U. S. Forces
    		 1864 Mar-1865 Aug
    Box 1, Folder 8 Headquarters, West Mississippi, Military Division of
    		 1864 Oct-1865 Feb
    Box 1, Folder 9 War Department, Ordnance Office
    		 1863 Nov-1865 Mar

    Series II. Correspondence
    The series is comprised mostly of Cameron family correspondence. It is of particular historical value for the War period from the "off-the-record," human interest viewpoint.
    Allen F. Cameron, born in 1836, in Quebec, Canada, was one of four brothers who served in the Union Army. He enrolled as a sergeant in the Rhode Island Artillery (Heavy) Fifth Regiment in October of 1861. Among the campaigns he participated in was the Burnside Expedition. By the time of his mustering out in October, 1865, Cameron had attained the rank of first lieutenant of the Rhode Island United States Artillery (Heavy) Eleventh Regiment (originally, the Fourteenth Regiment). Other duties Cameron performed as a Lieutentant included serving on a general court-martial and acting as aide-de-camp at post headquarters.

    Upon retiring from the army, Lt. Cameron returned to his previous employment as a weave room overseer in Rockland (Scituate), Rhode Island for approximately one year. He then went to work in the United States Armory at Springfield, Mass. At the time Henry-Martini rifles were being manufactured by the Providence Tool Company and Cameron was appointed a sub-United States inspector assisted to the inspection of seven hundred thousand rifles. He then went to Springfield, Mass., and took in five thousand navy revolvers for the Turkish government. He later was employed by the Winchester Revolver Arms Company of New Haven, Conn.

    Source

    Chenery, William H. The Fourteenth Regiment Rhode Island Heavy Artillery (colored) in the war to preserve the union, 1861-1865. Providence: Snow & Farnham, 1898.


    Arrangement:

    This series is arranged chronologically.

    Container Description Date
    Box 1, Folder 10 Family correspondence
    1

    		 undated
    Box 1, Folder 11 Gould, Mary E.
    1

    		 1853 Nov 10
    Box 1, Folder 12 Congdon, John
    1

    		 1854 Mar 11
    Box 1, Folder 13 Webster, Parker V.
    1

    		 1857 Mar 3
    Box 1, Folder 14 Clarke, Harrison
    1

    		 1857 Jul 16
    Box 1, Folder 15 Sherman, Alfred
    1

    		 1859 Apr 20
    Box 1, Folder 16 ____, John
    1

    		 1859 Sep7
    Box 1, Folder 17 Cameron, Walter
    1

    		 1859 Nov 6
    Box 1, Folder 18 Chapman, Elizabeth
    1

    		 1860 Sept 23
    Box 1, Folder 19 Hamlin, C. R.
    1

    		 1861 Jul 29
    Box 1, Folder 20 Clarke, Harrison
    1

    		 1863 Mar 6
    Box 1, Folder 21 Alban, S. H. & A. F. Wyatt
    1

    		 1863 May 14
    Box 1, Folder 22 Chapman, Archibald
    1

    		 1863 Nov 30
    Box 1, Folder 23 Porter, Kate
    1

    		 1864 Jun 12
    Box 1, Folder 24 Sypher, J. H. (Jacob Hale)
    1

    		 1865 Apr 29
    Box 1, Folder 25 Allister, A. M.
    1

    		 1865 Sep 23
    Box 1, Folder 26 Guiness, R. W.
    1

    		 1865 Oct 11
    Box 1, Folder 27 Stafford, Chas. L.
    1

    		 1865 Nov 30
    Box 1, Folder 28 Envelope
    1

    		 1865 Dec 4
    Box 1, Folder 29 Porter, Alexander
    1

    		 1866 Feb 6
    Box 1, Folder 30 Park, E.
    2

    		 1866 Apr 14
    Box 1, Folder 31 Aigan, John
    2

    		 1866 May 15
    Box 1, Folder 32 Porter, Kate
    3

    		 1866 Aug 26
    Box 1, Folder 33 Porter, Kate
    4

    		 1866 Sep 9
    Box 1, Folder 34 Porter, Kate
    1

    		 1866 Oct 7
    Box 1, Folder 35 Cameron, Walter
    1

    		 1866 Dec 9
    Box 1, Folder 36 Aigan, John
    6

    		 1866 Jul
    Box 1, Folder 37 Cameron, Walter
    2

    		 1868 Mar 26
    Box 1, Folder 38 Barker, John A.
    1

    		 1868 Jun 14

    Series III. Equipage
    This series contains a broad grouping of equipment lists, muster and descriptive rolls, invoices, and other documents relating to rations, ordnance returns and miscellaneous supplies.

    Arrangement:

    This series is arranged alphabetically.

    Container Description Date
    Box 1, Folder 39 Blank forms
    		 undated
    Box 1, Folder 40 Company receipt for equipment received
    		 1865
    Box 1, Folder 41 Correspondence and memos
    		 1865
    Box 1, Folder 42 Invoice of Clothing, Camp and Garrison Equipage
    		 1865
    Box 1, Folder 43 Invoice of Stores
    		 1865
    Box 1, Folder 44 Material, Ordnance, and Supply lists
    		 1865
    Box 1, Folder 45 Monthly Return of Clothing, Camp, and Garrison Equipage
    		 1865
    Box 1, Folder 46 Statement of Ordnance and Ordnance Stores
    		 1865

    Series IV. General Courts - Martial
    The series consists of the charges, specifications and verdicts of several trials of military personnel.

    Arrangement:

    This series is arranged alphabetically.

    Container Description Date
    Box 1, Folder 47 Adams, Charles
    		 1865
    Box 1, Folder 48 Fields, John A.
    		 1865
    Box 1, Folder 49 Folley, ____
    		 1865
    Box 1, Folder 50 Henderson, George
    		 1865
    Box 1, Folder 51 Horan, Timothy
    		 1865
    Box 1, Folder 52 Lee, Jerome
    		 1865
    Box 1, Folder 53 Loup, Constant
    		 1865
    Box 1, Folder 54 Maher, Patrick
    		 1865
    Box 1, Folder 55 McDonald, William H.
    		 1865
    Box 1, Folder 56 Peters, William
    		 1865
    Box 1, Folder 57 Rine, William B.
    		 1865
    Box 1, Folder 58 Rottaken, H. H.
    		 1864
    Box 1, Folder 59 Smith, Jacob
    		 1865
    Box 1, Folder 60 Sprauer, Heromnus
    		 1865
    Box 1, Folder 61 Van Dusen, Orias
    		 1865
    Box 1, Folder 62 Webster, George H.
    		 1865

    Series V. General Orders
    "General Orders" were permanent directives issued by General Headquarters to all members of a command, concerning policy as well as administrative matters.

    Arrangement:

    The series is arranged alphabetically.

    Container Description Date
    Box 2, Folder 63 Headquarters, Gulf, Department of
    1

    		 1865 May-1865 Jul
    Box 2, Folder 64 Headquarters, Louisiana, Department of
    1

    		 1865 Aug-1865 Sep
    Box 2, Folder 65 Headquarters, Louisiana, Eastern District of
    1

    		 1865 Jul-1865 Sep
    Box 2, Folder 66 Headquarters, Louisiana, Southern Division of
    1

    		 1865 Feb-1865 Jul
    Box 2, Folder 67 Headquarters, Louisiana and Texas, Department of
    1

    		 1865 Jul-1865 Aug
    Box 2, Folder 68 Headquarters, New Orleans, Defenses of
    1

    		 1864 Jul-1865 Feb
    Box 2, Folder 69 Headquarters, U.S. Artillery (Heavy) 11th Regiment
    1

    		 1865 Sep
    Box 2, Folder 70 Headquarters, U.S. Artillery (Heavy) 11th Regiment 3rd Battalion
    1

    		 1864 Nov-1865 Aug
    Box 2, Folder 71 Headquarters, U.S. Troops
    1

    		 1864 Oct-1865 Jan
    Box 2, Folder 72 Headquarters, U.S. Troops, 3rd Division
    1

    		 1864 Nov
    Box 2, Folder 73 Headquarters, U. S. Forces
    1

    		 1864 Mar
    Box 2, Folder 74 Headquarters, West Mississippi, Military Division of
    1

    		 1864 Sep-1865 Jun
    Box 2, Folder 75 War Department
    1

    		 1864 Nov-1864 Dec

    Series VI. Soldiers
    This series is comprised of lists and forms regarding deceased, deserted, discharged and volunteer soldiers. Included in this series are files relating to individual soldiers' target practice scores.

    Arrangement:

    This series is arranged alphabetically.

    Container Description Date
    Box 2, Folder 76 Farnum, Captain
    		 undated
    Box 2, Folder 77 Deceased
    1

    		 1864
    Box 2, Folder 78 Descriptive Lists of Deserters
    1

    		 1864-1865
    Box 2, Folder 79 Discharged
    1

    		 1864-1865
    Box 2, Folder 80 Target Practice Lists
    1

    		 1865
    Box 2, Folder 81 Volunteer Decriptive Lists
    		 1864

    Series VII. Special Orders
    Special Orders, as compared to "General Orders," primarily affected individual soldiers or smaller units within the regiment.

    Arrangement:

    This series is arranged alphabetically.

    Container Description Date
    Box 2, Folder 82 Headquarters, Carrollton District
    		 1865 Jan-1865 Mar
    Box 2, Folder 83 Headquarters, Gulf, Department of
    		 1865 Jan-1865 Mar
    Box 2, Folder 84 Headquarters, Louisiana, Southern Division of
    		 1865 May-1865 Jun
    Box 2, Folder 85 Headquarters, Louisiana and Texas, Department of
    		 1865 Jul
    Box 2, Folder 86 Headquarters, New Orleans, Defenses of
    		 1865 Feb
    Box 2, Folder 87 Headquarters, U.S. Artillery (Heavy) 8th Regiment
    		 1864 Aug
    Box 2, Folder 88 Headquarters, U.S. Artillery (Heavy) 11th Regiment
    		 1865 May-1865 Oct
    Box 2, Folder 89 Headquarters, U.S. Artillery (Heavy) 11th Regiment 3rd Battalion
    		 1865 Jan-1865 Sep
    Box 2, Folder 90 Headquarters, U. S. Forces
    1

    		 1865 Jun-1865 Jul

    Series VIII. Subject Files
    This small series contains miscellaneous items related to Allen F. Cameron, but unrelated to the Eleventh United States Heavy Artillery.

    Arrangement:

    This series is arranged alphabetically.

    Container Description Date
    Box 2, Folder 91 Business receipts
    4

    		 1868-1910
    Box 2, Folder 92 Descriptive Catalog
    		 1868 Oct 16
    Box 2, Folder 93 Notes, Flyers, and Calling Cards
    		 undated
    Box 2, Folder 94 Providence Sunday Journal
    		 1913 Oct 12
    Box 2, Folder 95 Warranty Deed
    1

    		 1875 Apr 9