Civil War
Rhode Island in the Civil War
Years of tension over the issue of slavery finally boiled over into armed conflict with the election of Abraham Lincoln as President in 1860. On April 12, 1861, Confederate forces fired on Fort Sumter and the Civil War began. Rhode Island, a highly industrialized state with a superb pre-war militia system instantly responded. By war’s end nearly 24,000 men would serve from Rhode Island, while at least 2,217 paid the ultimate sacrifice.
Rhode Island sent to the war eight regiments of infantry, three of heavy artillery, three regiments and one battalion of cavalry, ten batteries of light artillery, a company of hospital guards, in addition to hundreds of men who served in the United States Army and Navy. Among the units sent was the Fourteenth Rhode Island Heavy Artillery, an African American regiment which served in Louisiana. Rhode Island troops served in nearly every battle of the war, and the state’s light artillery units were regarded as the best in the Union Army.
The following are a list of notable facts and occurrences related to Rhode Island in the Civil War.
- April 18, 1861, the Providence Marine Corps of Artillery is the first militia unit to leave Rhode Island. As the First Rhode Island Battery they become the first unit in the history of the United States Army to use rifled artillery pieces.
- July 21, 1861, the First and Second Rhode Island Regiments are the first Union infantry engaged at Bull Run. They hold their positions on Matthew’s Hill while losing severely, including Colonel John S. Slocum of the Second. His last words, “Now Show Them What Rhode Island Can Do!” become a rallying cry throughout the war.
- March 14, 1862, under the command of Rhode Islander General Ambrose Burnside, Union forces capture New Berne, North Carolina. The Fourth Rhode Island’s charge won the day for the Union.
- September 17, 1862, Battery D fires the first Union shots of the Battle of Antietam and the Fourth Rhode Island fires some of the last. Brigadier General Isaac Peace Rodman of South Kingstown is killed, the highest-ranking native Rhode Islander to die in the war.
Continuation of The RI Civil War
- December 13, 1862, the largest gathering of Rhode Island soldiers in one place during the war at the Battle of Fredericksburg. It is the bloodiest day in Rhode Island history with units losing eighty dead and over 300 wounded.
- June 18, 1863, Battle of Middleburg, the First Rhode Island Cavalry is surrounded and captured, losing eighty percent of its strength.
- July 1-3, 1863, the First Rhode Island Light Artillery plays a prominent role at Gettysburg.
- May-June 1864, the Second and Seventh Rhode Island Regiments suffer horrible losses during the Overland Campaign at the Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Cold Harbor, and Petersburg.
- April 2, 1865, nine Rhode Islanders, including seven in Battery G earn the Medal of Honor during the Assault on Petersburg.
- June-November 1865, Rhode Island troops return home.
Our Civil War Exhibit
