4th US Colored Heavy Artillery

OVERVIEW: Organized from 2nd Tennessee Heavy Artillery (African Descent). Designated 3rd Heavy Artillery March 11, 1864, and 4th Heavy Artillery April 26, 1864. Attached to District of Columbus, 16th Corps, Dept. of Tennessee, to August, 1864. District of Columbus, Dept. of Ohio, to June, 1865. Dept. of Arkansas to February, 1866.

SERVICE: Garrison duty at Fort Halleck, Columbus, Ky., till June, 1865. Union City, Tenn., September 2, 1864. Near Fort Donelson, Tenn., October 11. Moved to Arkansas June, 1865, and duty at Pine Bluff, Ark., till February, 1866. Mustered out February 25, 1866.

Predecessor unit: TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS. 2nd REGIMENT HEAVY ARTILLERY (AFRICAN DESCENT).

Organized at Columbus, Ky., June, 1863. Attached to District of Columbus, Ky., 6th Division, 16th Army Corps, Dept. of the Tennessee, to April, 1864. Post and garrison duty at Union City, Tenn., and Columbus, Ky., till April, 1864. Designation of Regiment changed to 4th United States Colored Heavy Artillery April 26, 1864.

 Skirmish at Fort Donelson, October 11, 1864. A force of Confederate cavalry attacked a USCT recruiting detachment of the 4th USCHA located near Fort Donelson. After a short skirmish, the Confederates were driven off. An officer of the 110th USCI, who was in command, reported that,

“As for the soldiers they behaved nobly. There was not a single instance in which they did not surpass my expectations of them….the One hundred and nineteenth Colored Infantry, Company I who accompanied the expedition, were conspicuous during the entire fight, and did their whole duty.”  OR, Ser. I, Vol. 39, pt. I, pp. 857-858.

Nine men from Williamson County enlisted in the 4th US Colored Heavy Battery. They all enlisted in Columbus, Kentucky. Several of their enlistment papers included the names of their former enslavers.

• Pvt. Samuel Barnes enlisted in Company A on August 6, 1863 in Columbus, Kentucky. He was born around 1843 in Williamson County. According to his enlistment papers he was enslaved by "Barnes" from Haywood, Tennessee.  Other men with the last name of Barnes enlisted in the same regiment. Their papers clarified that they were enslaved by Thomas Barnes. He mustered out Feb 26, 1866 Pine Bluff, Arkansas. His paver was sponsored by Dale T. Smith.

• Pvt. Caswell Pascall [Paschall?] enlisted in Company B on October 26, 1864 in Columbus, Kentucky. He was born around 1820 in Williamson County.  He mustered out Feb 26, 1866 Pine Bluff, Arkansas. After the War he moved to the Woodlands area of Bourbon County, Kansas. He was active in veterans organizations and received a pension. He died there in 1892 but his grave has not been located. His paver was sponsored by Kristin O'Donnell Tubb.

  • Approved Pension File for Celia Pascall, Widow of Private Caswell Pascall, Company B, 4th U.S. Colored Troops Heavy Artillery Regiment (WC-351050)

• Pvt. William A. Irwing enlisted in Company C on June 21, 1863 in Columbus, Kentucky. He was born around 1835 in Williamson County. He died of dysentery on August 25, 1863 at a hospital in Columbus.  No grave or headstone has been located.

• Pvt. William Henry enlisted in Company F on September 10, 1863 in Columbus, Kentucky. He was born around 1844 in Williamson County. He mustered out Feb 26, 1866 Pine Bluff, Arkansas. 

• Pvt. William Giles enlisted in Company F on August 24, 1863 in Columbus, Kentucky. He was born around 1838 in Williamson County. According to his enlistment papers he was enslaved by George Giles of Weakley, Tennessee.  He mustered out Feb 26, 1866 Pine Bluff, Arkansas. 

• Pvt. Davie Sharp enlisted in Company K on December 19, 1863 in Columbus, Kentucky. He was born around 1831 in Williamson County. He was enslaved by Johnny Sharp of Fulton, Kentucky. He mustered out Feb 26, 1866 Pine Bluff, Arkansas. 

• Pvt. Albert Hawkins enlisted in Company L on January 10, 1864 in Columbus, Kentucky. He was born around 1845 in Williamson County. He was enslaved by "Hawkins" in Hardin County, Tennessee. He mustered out Feb 26, 1866 Pine Bluff, Arkansas. 

• Cpl. George Halfacre enlisted in Company L on January 25, 1864 in Columbus, Kentucky. He was born around 1834 in Williamson County. He was enslaved by Federic Halfacre in Lauderdale County, Tennessee. He was sentenced to be dishonorably discharged for robbery Oct. 19, 1865.

• Pvt. Anthony Stevens enlisted in Company L on March 14, 1864 in Columbus, Kentucky. He was born around 1834 in Williamson County. He was enslaved by "Carter Residence" near Oxford County, Mississippi. He deserted on April 25, 1864  from Fort Halleck, Columbus, Kentucky. 

Resources:

• Battle Unit Details, NPS

• Regimental and Company Books of the 4th U.S. Colored Troops Heavy Artillery Regiment

• Muster Roll for the 4th/5th Regiment, United States Colored Heavy Artillery, and an Attached Letter. NAID 12388513

• Approved Pension Files

  • Approved Pension File for Private Enoch Bonds, Company I, 4th U.S. Colored Troops Heavy Artillery Regiment - note, Enoch Bonds (aka Enoch Barnes) was enslaved by Thomas Barness of Haywood County, Tennessee who also enslaved Samuel Barnes (see above) who was born in Williamson County. Both men enlisted in the 4th US Colored Heavy Artillery in Columbus, Kentucky

  • Approved Pension File for Celia Pascall, Widow of Private Caswell Pascall, Company B, 4th U.S. Colored Troops Heavy Artillery Regiment (WC-351050)

  • Approved Pension File for Bettie Austin, Widow of Private Isaac Austin, Company C, 4th U.S. Colored Troops Heavy Artillery Regiment (WC-816739)

  • Approved Pension File for Ann Elder, Widow of Private William Elder, Company H, 4th U.S. Colored Troops Heavy Artillery Regiment (WC-483498)

• Black Artillerymen from the Civil War Through WW1

• Civil War Colored Troops, Columbus, KY