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The 3rd United States Colored Infantry Regiment was organized at Camp William Penn, near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, August 3-10, 1863. After training, the regiment was ordered to the Department of the South, headquartered in South Carolina.
The regiment participated in the siege of Forts Wagner and Gregg, Morris Island, South Carolina from August 20 to September 7, 1863. Action at Forts Wagner and Gregg on August 26 and captured both forts on September 7. Operations in and around Charleston until January, 1864. Moved to Hilton Head and on to Jacksonville, Florida on February 5-7, 1864. Regiment served as Heavy Artillery unit until May, 1865 with one Company stationed in the area of Fernandina, Florida. The regiment performed duty at Tallahassee, Lake City and other locations in Florida from May to October, 1865, and was mustered out on October 31, 1865.
REFERENCE: Dyer’s Compendium