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Id’d Federal Major’s Coat Worn by Major David Cornwell 5^th United States Colored Heavy Artillery – This finely tailored, original Civil War field grade officer’s frock coat was worn by Major David Cornwell during his service with the 4^th and 5^th United States Colored Heavy Artillery. David Cornwell, a young carpenter, by trade, enlisted, in July of 1861, at the rank of private, in the 8^th Illinois Infantry, then transferred to the 1^st Illinois Light Artillery. During service in the western theater of the war, Cornwell participated in the Battle of Milliken’s Bend, where the courage and combat prowess of USCT soldiers would serve to stifle doubters that Black troops would not participate adequately in combat. During this battle, Cornwell sustained a significant wound to his right shoulder; field surgeons wanted to amputate, but Cornwell refused the operation; he would retain the bullet in his arm for the rest of his life, rendering his right arm essentially useless. After recovering from his wound, Cornwell was commissioned in the 5^th USCAB (United States Colored Artillery Battery or Battalion) or USCHA (United States Colored Heavy Artillery) as a Major. The latter regiment was initially organized, in 1863, from the 1^st Mississippi Heavy Artillery (of African Descent), which in turn, was reassigned as the 4^th United States Colored Heavy Artillery which, in turn, became the 5^th USCHA. Cornwell’s commission as a Major of the Artillery appears on his records as occurring initially, in early December of 1863. Shortly after the war, Major Cornwell authored a book “The Cornwell Chronicles”; these memoirs, published after his death, recount, in great detail, his war service, including his activities as an officer in one of the first Black regiments to serve in the Western Theater of the war.

Major Cornwell’s frock coat remains in overall good condition; it does exhibit some relatively minor, but noticeable insect damage in a small area on the front of the coat. It exhibits the various characteristics that typify an original, Civil War period, Union officer’s frock coat – a substantially high collar, with japanned hook and loop fastener; per Federal regulations – fourteen front, large, Eagle A coat buttons, arranged in two rows of seven buttons per row; four coat size Eagle A buttons, two per tail, on the back skirts of the coat; the skirt and body lengths are approximately equal; the interior of the coat is fully lined, down to the unhemmed skirt bottoms, in a greenish, heavily quilted (in the chest area) and padded satinet; sleeve linings constructed of a high grade, striped linen (blue stripes are all even in size); two hidden coat tail pockets, lined in an off white, coarse cotton; three button cuffs, with two being functional; “ballooned” elbows about 9 inches across when laid flat; exterior of the coat constructed of a fine, deep blue, indigo-dyed, wool; all button holes are hand-whipped; a marked amount of hand sewing in the tailoring of the coat.

The coat exhibits some areas of minor wear, with some seam separations in the lining; of significant interest is a patched, bullet sized hole in the back mid-body area – this hole as repaired, in the period, from the inside of the coat, with a period patch of sky blue, kersey wool – on the interior, the hole and blue patch, was covered with a light brown patch of polished cotton; we firmly believe that this hole is indeed a bullet hole. Major Cornwell’s faux bullion, Smith’s patent, Major of the artillery, shoulder boards were initially found in the tail pockets of the coat; for that reason, both are in superior condition with the velvet fields retaining a vibrant red color.

Both tail pocket linings are stenciled – one with only Major Cornwell’s name:

“D. CORNWELL”

the other states the following:

“D. CORNWELL

MAJ. 4^TH / 5^TH U.S.C.A.B.”

This latter, stenciled enumeration is representative of Major Cornwell’s transition from the 4^th USCAB to the 5^th USCAB – the stenciling seemingly, originally listed the 4^th USCAB (U.S. Colored Artillery Battalion); apparently, Major Cornwell crossed out the 4^th regimental designation and hand wrote a ‘5^th’ above it.

David Cornwell

Residence Cairo IL; a 23 year-old Carpenter.Enlisted on 7/25/1861 at Cairo, IL as a Private.On 7/25/1861 he mustered into “Battery D” Co. IL 1st Light Artillery He was transferred out (date not stated)He also had service in:”K” Co. IL 8th Infantry He was described at enlistment as:5′ 9.5″, light complexion, blue eyes, light hairOther Information:born in New York

1st LA Batty D IL Light Artillery Battery
( 3-years )

Organized: Cairo, IL on 7/30/61
Mustered Out: 7/28/65 at Chicago, ILOfficers Killed or Mortally Wounded: 1
Officers Died of Disease, Accidents, etc.: 0
Enlisted Men Killed or Mortally Wounded: 7
Enlisted Men Died of Disease, Accidents, etc.: 28
(Source: Fox, Regimental Losses)

From	To	Brigade	Division	Corps	Army	Comment
Oct ’61	Oct ’61			Military Dist Cairo	Army and Dept of the Tennessee	New Organization
Oct ’61	Feb ’62	4		Military Dist Cairo	Army and Dept of the Tennessee
Feb ’62	Feb ’62	2	1	Military Dist Cairo	Army and Dept of the Tennessee
Feb ’62	Mar ’62	3	1		District and Army of West Tennessee
Mar ’62	Jul ’62	Artillery	1		District and Army of West Tennessee
Jul ’62	Nov ’62	Unattached Arty		District of Jackson	District and Army of West Tennessee
Oct ’62	Nov ’62	Artillery		District Jackson, 13	District and Army of West Tennessee
Nov ’62	Dec ’62	Artillery	3	Right Wing, 13	District and Army of West Tennessee
Dec ’62	Nov ’64	Artillery	3	17	Department of the Tennessee
Nov ’64	Mar ’65	Artillery		District Nashville	Military Division of the Mississippi
Mar ’65	Jul ’65		5th Sub District	District Middle TN	Department of Cumberland	Mustered Out

ILLINOIS
1ST LIGHT ARTILLERY
BATTERY D., McALLISTER’S
(Three Years)

First Light Artillery.-Cols., Joseph D. Webster, Ezra

Taylor; Lieut.-Cols., Charles H. Adams, Allen C. Waterhouse;

Majs., Ezra Taylor, Charles C. Campbell, Charles M. Willard,

Charles Houghtaling, Samuel B. Barrett, Allen C. Waterhouse,

John T. Cheney, Raphael G. Rombauer, John A. Fitch.

Battery A of this regiment was called into service by Gov. Yates,

in response to the first call of President Lincoln for troops.

Its first appearance was on Sunday morning, April 2l, 1861,

and at 9 p.m. it moved for Cairo via the Illinois Central

railroad. On its arrival there it was assigned the duty of

bringing to all downward bound boats with the view of

preventing the shipment of contraband goods within the

Confederate lines. The mode adopted for bringing boats to was

to fire a blank shot in their direction, but on April 24, the

steamer Baltic disregarded the blank shot, when a solid shot

was fired across her bow, which had the desired effect. These

shots were fired by squad 1, and they were the first that were

fired across the river. After about a week’s stay at Cairo,

the battery was ordered to take a position 2 miles above on

the Mississippi river bank. The position was christened Camp

Smith and was occupied by the battery nearly five months. The

battery did not muster into the U.S. three months’ service,

but was mustered into the three years’ service on July 16,

1861. On Sept. 6, it moved with Gen Grant to Paducah, where

it remained until Feb. 4, 1862, participating in the various

expeditions from that place, among which was the feint on

Columbus simultaneous with Grant’s attack on Belmont. It

occupied the Confederates, camp at Fort Heiman until Feb. 13,

when it proceeded to Fort Donelson and upon its arrival opened

fire at once, using canister in repelling the last decisive

charges and firing 55 rounds. It took a conspicuous part in

the battle of Shiloh, going into the fight at 8 a.m., of the

first day, and retiring some time after 4 p.m. It was also

engaged in the second day’s fight. In December it moved to

Yazoo and took part in the Chickasaw bayou fight, being under

fire about 4 hours and firing 807 rounds. It was engaged at

Arkansas Post in Jan., 1863, and on May 17, marched to the Big

Black river, to a place called Bridgeport, where it captured a

Confederate lieutenant and 12 men. After the surrender of

Vicksburg it moved with the division to Jackson and during the

siege of that city lost 7 prisoners and 1 killed. It

participated in the Atlanta campaign, first engaging the enemy

at Resaca and then at Dallas. It took part in the engagements

of July 19-21, losing 2 men, and on the 22nd, was attacked from

the front and rear, and being overpowered by superior numbers

was captured, many of the men being taken prisoners, while a

number were killed and wounded. The remaining members of the

battery took part in the grand move to the south of Atlanta,

which culminated in the severe battle of Jonesboro and

compelled the evacuation of Atlanta. The battery was ordered

to Nashville during the campaign against Hood and from there

it was sent to Chattanooga, remaining till the latter part of

June, 1865, when it was ordered home for muster-out, arriving

at Chicago July 3, where it received a royal welcome at the

hands of its friends, who gave it a grand banquet in honor of

its return.

Battery B was organized in April, 1861, and left in June,

for Cairo where it lay for three weeks and then moved to

Bird’s Point, Mo. One section of the battery participated in

the fight at Frederickton in October. The entire battery went

with Grant to Belmont on Nov. 7, going into action with 6 guns

and coming out with 8 completely demolishing the Confederate

battery. At Fort Donelson in W. H. L. Wallace’s brigade, the

battery occupied the extreme right, fighting with scarce any

intermission for 3 days. The day before the battle of Shiloh

it was transferred to Sherman’s division and was ill that

fight. It was also with him on the right at the siege of

Corinth, was at LaGrange, Holly Springs and Memphis with

Sherman, was at Chickasaw bayou, Arkansas Post, the siege of

Vicksburg, Champion’s hill, Mechanicsburg and Richmond, La.,

and on May 1, 1864, moved with Sherman on his Atlanta

campaign, taking part in the fights at Resaca, Dallas,

Kennesaw mountain and many minor engagements. On July 12,

1864, the battery was ordered to Springfield that the men

might be mustered out. It had 219 men altogether on its

muster rolls and lost 16 by death, 6 in battle and 27 wounded.

Battery C, familiarly known as Houghtaling’s battery, was

organized in the summer of 1861. The records of the adjutant-

general’s office give no detailed account of its service, nor

the dates when it was mustered in or mustered out. Its first

service was about Cairo, Paducah and Bird’s point. With

Morgan’s division it took part in the siege of Corinth; was

then with Sheridan’s division in the Tennessee campaign; was

engaged in the operations about Vicksburg; took part in the

Chickamauga and Chattanooga-Ringgold campaigns; was with the

14th corps in the Atlanta campaign, and then formed part of

the army in north Georgia and middle Tennessee. Wherever it

was called into action it rendered a good account of itself,

and of all the batteries from Illinois none achieved greater

distinction than Houghtaling’s.

Battery D was organized at Cairo Sept. 2, 1861, and on

Sept. 18, moved to Fort Holt, Ky. It was engaged in the siege

of Fort Donelson, where 2 of its guns were disabled, and it

also took part in the battle of Shiloh, taking eight positions

during the action. The battery was commanded by Capt. H. A.

Rogers during the campaign of Gen. Grant down the Mississippi,

and back again to Memphis, then to Milliken’s bend and round

to the rear of Vicksburg, during the battles of Raymond and

Champion’s hill, and up to May 29, in the siege of Vicksburg,

when he was shot dead by a minie-ball. During the winter of

1863-64 the battery was reorganized at Camp Fry, Chicago as a

veteran battery. Returning to the scene of war, it left

Vicksburg on April 5, 1864, on the campaign under Sherman

through Georgia, and was in at the final capture of Atlanta.

On July 22, it behaved with a coolness and bravery unsurpassed

in the history of the war. It returned to Nashville, Tenn.,

was there during the last battle, and then went to

Clarksville, where it remained until the order came for its

muster out. The battery was mustered out of service at

Chicago July 28, 1865.

Battery E was organized at Camp Douglas during the fall

of 1861, and was mustered into service on Dec. 19. On Feb.

13, 1862, it was sent to Cairo, where horses, guns and all

other necessary equipments were procured. On March 27, it

took boat to Pittsburg landing arriving on the 30th, and

received its baptism of fire at Shiloh on April 6, its

casualties being 1 killed, 16 wounded and 1 missing. It

participated in the movement on Corinth and then followed the

line of the Memphis & Charleston railroad, skirmishing.

camping, etc., till it reached Memphis, Tenn. On May 2, 1863,

it went to Grand Gulf, Miss., thence to Jackson, and assisted

in the capture of the latter place. Two days later it moved

on Vicksburg, arriving on the 18th, and took an active part in

the siege, losing 2 killed and 6 wounded. On July 5, it

marched back to Jackson and assisted in a nine-days’ siege,

when Johnston evacuated. In Feb., 1864, it had a skirmish at

Wyatt, Tenn., on the Tallahatchie river, and in June, marched

to Guntown Miss. and fought in the disastrous battle of

Brice’s cross-roads, losing 1 killed, 3 wounded and 4 missing.

In July, it marched on Tupelo, and fought at Pontotoc, Miss.

The following day it was ambuscaded and lost 1 wounded. On

July 14, it fought and whipped the Confederate Gen. Forrest at

Tupelo, Miss. The time of enlistment of the battery expired

Dec. 19, 1864, but it was not mustered out of service until

the evening of Dec. 24, at Louisville, Ky.

Battery F was recruited at Dixon and was mustered in at

Springfield Feb. 25, 1861. It moved to Benton barracks, Mo.,

March 15, with four 6-pounders. It was engaged in the siege

of Corinth and on June 9, marched for Memphis, arriving on the

18th. It participated in the Vicksburg campaign and after the

surrender of that city marched with Sherman to and

participated in the siege of Jackson, Miss. From Jackson it

returned to Vicksburg, where it remained until October, 1863,

and then accompanied Sherman’s command to Memphis. It was a

part of his army in the Chattanooga campaign, and on the night

of Nov. 23, was one of the batteries placed in position on the

north side of the river to cover the crossing of Sherman’s

forces and prevent a hostile force moving to oppose him until

he had taken position. The exact position of the battery was

on a wooded knob, having a fire to the left and front,

perfectly covering the ground in those directions and intended

to repel any attack in the direction of the tunnel. It did

very effective work in the actions which resulted in the

complete rout of the enemy at Missionary ridge. It next

marched on the Atlanta campaign, fired the first shot at the

Confederate lines at Resaca, and continued to fire

Effectively, advancing as the enemy retired and doing good

service throughout the three-days’ operations. At the battle

of July 22, before Atlanta, it was in the thickest of the

fight, losing its caissons with all their implements and

equipments after the entire support of the battery had been

captured and a withdrawal under the circumstances was simply

impossible. During the campaign beginning in May, and ending

on Sept. 4, 1864, the battery lost 5 killed, 9 wounded and 1

missing. It accompanied the troops that followed Hood into

Tennessee and participated in the campaign that ended in the

complete rout of the enemy at Nashville. On March 7, 1865,

the battery was consolidated with other batteries in the

regiment.

Battery G was organized at Cairo and was mustered in

Sept. 28, 1861. On March 18, 1862, it moved to Columbus, Ky.,

thence to Island No. 10 and New Madrid as garrison and

returned to Cairo April 11. On the 13th, it moved down the

river to Fort Pillow and on the 16th, returned. On April 22,

it moved to Hamburg, Tenn., was engaged in the siege of

Corinth in May, and in the battle of Corinth in October. It

participated in the Vicksburg campaign and after the surrender

of that city engaged in the operations in Mississippi and

Tennessee, being a part of the force that repelled the attack

upon Memphis in Aug. 1864. The battery was mustered out of

service at Camp Butler July 24, 1865.

Battery H was recruited in and about Chicago during Jan.

and Feb., 1862. In March, it was ordered to St. Louis, where

it was equipped with 20-pounder Parrott’s as a 4-gun battery

and was immediately sent down the river to join Gen. Grant’s

command. It arrived at Pittsburg landing April 5, and

participated in the battle of Shiloh the next day forming the

center of that line of artillery which, with the gun-boats on

the Tennessee, repulsed the last charges of the Confederates

on the first day of the battle. The battery participated in

all of the battles in which the 15th corps was engaged and was

one of the working companies of that famous corps at

Vicksburg, Missionary ridge, the Atlanta campaign, the march

to the sea, finally marching in review before the president at

Washington and was mustered out with the rest of the 15th

corps. The guns were captured on July 22, 1864, in front of

Atlanta, but were soon recaptured and turned with good effect

upon the retreating enemy.

Battery I was organized at Camp Douglas and was mustered

in Feb. 10, 1862. 0n March 1, it moved to Benton barracks,

Mo., and in April, was engaged in the battle of Shiloh. In

May, it was in the siege of Corinth and afterward moved to

Memphis. It went on an expedition into Arkansas in October,

and afterward into Mississippi, where it engaged the enemy’s

cavalry. It remained at Memphis until Nov. 28, when it

participated in the Tallahatchie raid, then returned to

LaGrange and Holly Springs, and finally to Moscow, Tenn. It

was engaged in the Vicksburg campaign, then moved with

Sherman’s army and participated in the siege of Jackson, after

which it returned to the Black river. It moved under Gen.

Sherman via Memphis and Corinth to Chattanooga and was engaged

in the battles there in November. It veteranized on March 17,

1864, and went to Illinois on furlough. Returning to the

field it participated in the battle of Nashville, and was

mustered out July 26, 1865.

Battery K was organized at Shawneetown and mustered into

the service Jan. 9, 1862. The first year’s service of this

battery was in chasing guerrillas through Kentucky, chiefly in

and about Perryville. It formed a part of Burnside’s

expedition, participating in all its arduous service in

connection with the 1st cavalry division of the army to which

it had been attached. It was the first battery in East

Tennessee and was foremost in the capture of Knoxville.

During its service in Tennessee it was attached to the brigade

of which the 14th Ill. cavalry formed a part, the history of

which will be found on another page of this volume. A part of

the men were mustered out at Springfield in June, 1865, and

the remainder at Chicago in the month following.

Battery L, “Rourke’s Battery ” like battery C, was never

reported in detail by the adjutant-general. Its service was

chiefly in Virginia with Gen. B. F. Kelley’s command and

Porter’s division, though on Sept. 19, 1862, it was

transferred to the Department of the Ohio for a short time.

It then returned to Virginia and took part in the Mine Run

campaign and the operations in the Shenandoah Valley. It was

frequently engaged with the enemy and always with credit to

itself and the state which sent it forth.

Battery M was organized at Camp Douglas and mustered into

the service Aug. 12, 1862 for three years. On Sept. 27, it

left for Louisville, where it did garrison duty until Nov. 11.

The first real engagement in which it participated was

Chickamauga, where during the second day’s fighting it

repulsed Gen. Longstreet repeatedly, losing 2 men killed, 14

wounded and 16 horses killed. On Sept. 21, the battery was

placed at Ringgold gap of Missionary ridge, whence it shelled

the Confederate cavalry that appeared in the valley beyond.

On Nov. 2, it drove away a lot of Confederates who had begun

to fortify in front of Fort Negley, and on the 25th, it fired

its last shot at Gen. Bragg from its position near the fort.

In May, it started on the Atlanta campaign, and participated

in all the marches, battles and skirmishes until Sept. 5, near

Lovejoy’s Station, where it fired its last shot at the

Nation’s foes. The members of the battery returned to

Atlanta, and being so worn out were sent to Chattanooga Nov.

1, and did garrison duty there, at Cleveland and Charleston,

Tenn., until July 14, 1865, when they started for Chicago,

where they were mustered out July 4, 99 strong. It had 7

commissioned officers, 170 men mustered in, 157 detailed men,

lost 2 killed in battle, 1 detailed man killed, 1 man died of

wounds, 2 killed by accident, 7 died of disease, 1 taken

prisoner, 31 previously discharged, 7 transferred, 22

deserted, 16 wounded and 39 horses killed. It traveled 3,102

miles, fired 7,845 rounds at the enemy, and was under fire 178

days.

David Cornwell

Residence was not listed; Enlisted on 11/1/1863 at Milliken’s Bend, LA as a Private. On 11/1/1863 he mustered into “B” Co. US CT 51st Infantry (date and method of discharge not given) (Estimated date of enlistment)

51st UC Infantry
( 3-years )

Organized: Milliken’s Bend, LA on 11/1/63
Mustered Out: 6/16/66

From	To	Brigade	Division	Corps	Army	Comment
Dec ’64	Feb ’65	1	1st Colored		Department of the Tennessee
Feb ’65	Jun ’65	2	1	Corps de Afrique	Army and Dept of the Gulf
Feb ’65	Jul ’65	2	1	District West FL	Army and Dept of the Gulf

Fifty-first U. S. Colored Infantry

Organized March 11, 1864, from 1st Mississippi Infantry (African Descent). Attached toPost of Goodrich Landing, District of Vicksburg, Miss., to December, 1864. 1st Brigade, 1st Division, United States Colored Troops, District of Vicksburg, Miss., to February, 1865. 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, Steele’s Command, Military District of West Mississippi, to June, 1865. Dept. of the Gulf to June, 1866. SERVICE.-At Lake Providence till May, 1864. Post and garrison duty at Goodrich Landing, La., till December, 1864. Action at Langley’s Plantation, Issaquena County, March 22, 1864. Flod, La., July 2. Waterford August 16-17. Duty at Vicksburg, Miss., till February, 1865. Moved to Algiers, La., February 26; thence to Barrancas, Fla. March from Pensacola,Fla., to Blakely, Ala., March 20-April 1. Siege of Fort Blakely April 1-9. Assault and capture of Fort Blakely April 9. Occupation of Mobile April 12. March to Montgomery April 13-25. Duty there and at Mobile till June. Ordered to New Orleans, thence to Texas. Duty on the Rio Grande and at various points in Texas till June, 1866. Mustered out June 16, 1866.

David Cornwell

Residence was not listed;

Enlisted on 12/1/1863 at Vicksburg, MS as a Major.

On 12/1/1863 he was commissioned into “F” Co. US CT 5th Heavy Artillery

(date and method of discharge not given)

(Estimated date of enlistment)

Intra Regimental Company Transfers:

* from company F to company B

5th UC Heavy Artillery
( 3-years )

Organized: Vicksburg, MS on 12/1/63
Mustered Out: 5/20/66Officers Killed or Mortally Wounded: 4
Officers Died of Disease, Accidents, etc.: 4
Enlisted Men Killed or Mortally Wounded: 124
Enlisted Men Died of Disease, Accidents, etc.: 697
(Source: Fox, Regimental Losses)

From	To	Brigade	Division	Corps	Army	Comment
Mar ’64	Nov ’64	Unattached	1st Colored		Department of the Tennessee

UNITED STATES COLORED TROOPS.
5th REGIMENT HEAVY ARTILLERY.

Organized from 1st Mississippi Heavy Artillery (African Descent). Designated 4th Heavy

Artillery March 11, 1864, and 5th Heavy Artillery April 26, 1864. Attached to 1st

Division, United States Colored Troops, District of Vicksburg, Miss., to February, 1865.

Unattached, Post of Vicksburg, Dept. of Mississippi, and Dept. of the Gulf to May, 1864.

SERVICE.—Garrison duty at Vicksburg, Miss., till May, 1866. Expedition from Vicksburg to

Rodney and Fayette September 29-October 3, 1864. Expedition from Vicksburg to Yazoo City

November 23-December 4, 1864. Mustered out May 20, 1866.

Lost during service 4 Officers and 124 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and

697 Enlisted men by disease. Total 829.

David Cornwell

Residence was not listed;

Enlisted on 11/1/1863 at Milliken’s Bend, LA as a Private.

On 11/1/1863 he mustered into “B” Co. US CT 51st Infantry

(date and method of discharge not given)

(Estimated date of enlistment)

51st UC Infantry
( 3-years )

Organized: Milliken’s Bend, LA on 11/1/63
Mustered Out: 6/16/66

From	To	Brigade	Division	Corps	Army	Comment
Dec ’64	Feb ’65	1	1st Colored		Department of the Tennessee
Feb ’65	Jun ’65	2	1	Corps de Afrique	Army and Dept of the Gulf
Feb ’65	Jul ’65	2	1	District West FL	Army and Dept of the Gulf

Fifty-first U. S. Colored Infantry

Organized March 11, 1864, from 1st Mississippi Infantry (African Descent). Attached to

Post of Goodrich Landing, District of Vicksburg, Miss., to December, 1864. 1st Brigade,

1st Division, United States Colored Troops, District of Vicksburg, Miss., to February,

1865. 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, Steele’s Command, Military District of West Mississippi,

to June, 1865. Dept. of the Gulf to June, 1866.

SERVICE.-At Lake Providence till May, 1864. Post and garrison duty at Goodrich Landing,

La., till December, 1864. Action at Langley’s Plantation, Issaquena County, March 22,

1864. Flod, La., July 2. Waterford August 16-17. Duty at Vicksburg, Miss., till February,

1865. Moved to Algiers, La., February 26; thence to Barrancas, Fla. March from Pensacola,

Fla., to Blakely, Ala., March 20-April 1. Siege of Fort Blakely April 1-9. Assault and

capture of Fort Blakely April 9. Occupation of Mobile April 12. March to Montgomery

April 13-25. Duty there and at Mobile till June. Ordered to New Orleans, thence to Texas.

Duty on the Rio Grande and at various points in Texas till June, 1866.

Mustered out June 16, 1866.

David Cornwell

Residence Cairo IL; a 23 year-old Carpenter.

Enlisted on 7/25/1861 at Cairo, IL as a Private.

On 7/25/1861 he mustered into “Battery D” Co. IL 1st Light Artillery

He was transferred out (date not stated)

He also had service in:

“K” Co. IL 8th Infantry

He was described at enlistment as:

5′ 9.5″, light complexion, blue eyes, light hair

Other Information:

born in New York

1st LA Batty D IL Light Artillery Battery
( 3-years )

From	To	Brigade	Division	Corps	Army	Comment
Oct ’61	Oct ’61			Military Dist Cairo	Army and Dept of the Tennessee	New Organization
Oct ’61	Feb ’62	4		Military Dist Cairo	Army and Dept of the Tennessee
Feb ’62	Feb ’62	2	1	Military Dist Cairo	Army and Dept of the Tennessee
Feb ’62	Mar ’62	3	1		District and Army of West Tennessee
Mar ’62	Jul ’62	Artillery	1		District and Army of West Tennessee
Jul ’62	Nov ’62	Unattached Arty		District of Jackson	District and Army of West Tennessee
Oct ’62	Nov ’62	Artillery		District Jackson, 13	District and Army of West Tennessee
Nov ’62	Dec ’62	Artillery	3	Right Wing, 13	District and Army of West Tennessee
Dec ’62	Nov ’64	Artillery	3	17	Department of the Tennessee
Nov ’64	Mar ’65	Artillery		District Nashville	Military Division of the Mississippi
Mar ’65	Jul ’65		5th Sub District	District Middle TN	Department of Cumberland	Mustered Out

5th United States Colored Heavy Artillery Regiment

9th Regiment, Louisiana Infantry (African Descent) 1st Regiment, Mississippi Colored Heavy Artillery 5th Regiment, U.S. Colored Heavy Artillery

Active	May 1, 1863 – May 20, 1866
Country	United States of America
Allegiance	Union
Branch	Union Army
Type	Infantry Heavy Artillery
Size	Regiment
Engagements	American Civil War · Vicksburg Campaign o Siege of Vicksburg o Battle of Milliken’s Bend o Battle of Young’s Point · Expedition to Rodney and Fayette · Yazoo City Expedition
Commanders
Notable commanders	Col. Hermann Lieb

The 9th Louisiana Infantry (African Descent), later reorganized as 1st Mississippi Colored Heavy Artillery and then renamed 5th U.S. Colored Heavy Artillery, was an African-American regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It famously fought in the Battle of Milliken’s Bend; one of the earliest Civil War battles with African-American troops involved.

Original regimental organization and service

The creation of the regiment was authorized by Adjutant General Lorenzo Thomas, who had gone west to recruit colored troops, on April 14, 1863; and it was organized on May 1 at Vicksburg, Mississippi. Because of the irregular practice to establish all 10 companies at once and to divide new recruits equally among them, none of the companies had the needed strength to be mustered according to the regulations.^[1] The 9th had an all-white officer corps that, with the exception of the regimental command staff, was entirely composed of former enlisted volunteer soldiers.^[2]

The original regimental command and staff officers were:^[2]^[3]

Colonel: Hermann Lieb(Major, 8th Illinois Infantry)
Lieutenant Colonel: Charles L. Page (Captain, 20th Illinois Infantry)
Major: Erastus N. Owen (1st Lt., 20th Ohio Infantry)
Adjutant: 1st Lt. Russell B. Neal (2nd Lt., 20th Ohio Infantry)
Quartermaster: 1st Lt. Charles M. Clark (Quartermaster Sergeant, 8th Illinois Infantry)

While participating in the Vicksburg Campaign Colonel Lieb, in overall command, led his 285 men^[4] into the Battle of Milliken’s Bend. In the close-combat battle the regiment lost some 62 killed and 130 wounded, the number of missing men not being given. Its 67% total losses makes it among the highest of any unit during the Civil War.^[5] On the same day the unit fought in the follow-up Battle of Young’s Point. Afterwards the companies were restructured and finally, on August 7, 1863, the regiment was formally mustered into Federal service.^[6]

Jack Jackson

One early recruit to join the regiment was named Jack Jackson. Jackson was said to be very large and strong-willed and quickly became a Sergeant in Company B. At some point Jackson joined the regimental recruiting parties; the officers were having trouble with convincing local field hands to join. Jackson’s recruiting method was described as very forceful but ultimately successful.^[7] At the Battle of Milliken’s Bend one of Jackson’s superior officers, Lieutenant David Cornwell, described the attack; saying that the 23rd Iowa was not behaving courageously but the three black infantry regiments offered great resistance. He said that Jackson, “Laid into a group of Texans… smashing in every head he could reach”, and that, “Big Jack Jackson passed me like a rocket. With the fury of a tiger he sprang into that gang and crushed everything before him. There was nothing left of Jack’s gun except the barrel and he was smashing everything he could reach. On the other side of the levee, they were yelling ‘Shoot that big [soldier]!’ while Jack was daring the whole gang to come up and fight him. Then a bullet reached his head and he fell full on the levee.”^[8]^[9]

Later reorganizations

In September 1863, still at Vicksburg, the regiment began a reorganization process owed to the formal establishment and enlargement of the United States Colored Troops. On September 26 it was converted into an artillery unit, becoming the 1st Regiment, Mississippi Heavy Artillery (African Descent). Still commanded by Colonel Lieb, it was designated 4th U.S. Colored Heavy Artillery in March 1864 before finally becoming the 5th U.S. Colored Heavy Artillery a month later.^[10] Under that designation it participated in the Expedition to Rodney and Fayette and the Yazoo City Expedition.

The 5th was mustered out on May 20, 1866.^[11] Its losses were given as 4 officers and 124 enlisted men killed and mortally wounded; 4 officers and 697 enlisted men dead by disease for a total of 829.^[12]^[13]^[14]

Meanwhile, when the regiment received the Mississippi designation a new 9th Louisiana Infantry (African Descent) was formed. Like the old 9th, it was renamed with the formalization of the USCT; it became the 63rd U.S. Colored Infantry Regiment on March 11, 1864. That unit, commanded by Colonel John Eaton, served in Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Tennessee, and was mustered out on January 9, 1866.^[15]

NAME:	David Cornwell
ENLISTMENT AGE:	23
BIRTH DATE:	1838
BIRTH PLACE:	New York
ENLISTMENT DATE:	25 Jul 1861
ENLISTMENT PLACE:	Cairo, Illinois
ENLISTMENT RANK:	Private
MUSTER PLACE:	Illinois
MUSTER COMPANY:	K
MUSTER REGIMENT:	8th Infantry
MUSTER REGIMENT TYPE:	Infantry
MUSTER INFORMATION:	Transferred
SIDE OF WAR:	Union
SURVIVED WAR?:	Yes
COMPLEXION:	Light
EYE COLOR:	Blue
HAIR COLOR:	Light
HEIGHT:	5 ft, 9 1/2 inches
RESIDENCE PLACE:	Cairo, Illinois
OCCUPATION:	Carpenter
ADDITIONAL NOTES 2:	Muster 2 Date: 25 Jul 1861; Muster 2 Place: Illinois; Muster 2 Unit: 440; Muster 2 Company: Battery D; Muster 2 Regiment: 1st LA; Muster 2 Regiment Type: Artillery; Muster 2 Information: Enlisted;

NAME:	David Cornwell
RANK:	Private
COMPANY:	D
UNIT:	1st Illinois Light Artillery
HEIGHT:	5′ 9 1/2
HAIR:	LIGHT
EYES:	BLUE
COMPLEXION:	LIGHT
OCCUPATION:	Carpenter
BIRTH DATE:	Abt 1838
BIRTH PLACE:	NY
WAR:	Civil War
WAR YEARS:	1861-1865
SERVICE ENTRY AGE:	23
SERVICE ENTRY DATE:	25 Jul 1861
PERIOD:	3 YRS
REMARKS:	TRANS FROM CO K 8 ILL INF
NAME:	David Cornwell
GENDER:	Male
BIRTH DATE:	19 Dec 1838
BIRTH PLACE:	Watertown, Jefferson County, New York, United States of America
DEATH DATE:	1 May 1911
DEATH PLACE:	Allegan, Allegan County, Michigan, United States of America
CEMETERY:	Oakwood Cemetery
BURIAL OR CREMATION PLACE:	Allegan, Allegan County, Michigan, United States of America
HAS BIO?:	Y
FATHER:	Joshua Cornwell
MOTHER:	Charity L Cornwell
SPOUSE:	Sarah Anna Cornwell; Frances Felicia Cornwell
CHILDREN:	Edith Cornwell

David Cornwell

BIRTH

19 Dec 1838

Watertown, Jefferson County, New York, USA

DEATH

1 May 1911 (aged 72)

Allegan, Allegan County, Michigan, USA

BURIAL

Oakwood Cemetery

Allegan, Allegan County, Michigan, USA

Id’d Federal Major’s Coat Worn by Major David Cornwell 5th United States Colored Heavy Artillery

David Cornwell

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Id’d Federal Major’s Coat Worn by Major David Cornwell 5th United States Colored Heavy Artillery

David Cornwell

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