4th Rhode Island Infantry
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4th Rhode Island Infantry Regiment was organized during the
American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861May 26, 1865; also known by Names of the American Civil War, other names) was a civil war in the United States between the Union (American Civil War), Union ("the North") and the Confederate States of A ...
from 1861 and 1864.


History

Organized at
Providence Providence often refers to: * Providentia, the divine personification of foresight in ancient Roman religion * Divine providence, divinely ordained events and outcomes in some religions * Providence, Rhode Island, the capital of Rhode Island in the ...
, 1861, the 4th Rhode Island Infantry Regiment left the state for
Washington, D. C. Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly known as Washington or D.C., is the capital city and federal district of the United States. The city is on the Potomac River, across from Virginia, and shares land borders with ...
, October 2. At Camp Casey till November 28, and at Camp California till December 14. Mustered in October 30, 1861. Attached to Casey's Provisional Division, Army Potomac, October–November, 1861. Howard's Brigade, Sumner's Division, Army of the Potomac, to December, 1861. Parke's 3rd Brigade, Burnside's Expeditionary Corps, to April, 1862. 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, Dept. of North Carolina, to July, 1862. 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, 9th Army Corps, Army Potomac, to January, 1863. 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, 9th Army Corps, to April, 1863. 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, 7th Army Corps, Dept. of Virginia, to July, 1863. 3rd Brigade, Getty's Division, at Portsmouth, Va., Dept. of Virginia and North Carolina, to January, 1864. 3rd Brigade, Heckman's Division, Portsmouth, Va., to March, 1864. Norfolk, Va., to April, 1864. District of St. Mary's Point, Lookout, Md., to July, 1864. 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, 9th Army Corps, Army Potomac, to October, 1864.


Service

* At Edsall's Hill, Defences of
Washington, D. C. Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly known as Washington or D.C., is the capital city and federal district of the United States. The city is on the Potomac River, across from Virginia, and shares land borders with ...
, December 14, 1861, to January 3, 1862. * Moved to Annapolis, Md., January 3, 1862. * Burnside's Expedition to Hatteras Inlet and Roanoke Island, N. C., January 7-February 8, 1862. *
Battle of Roanoke Island The opening phase of what came to be called the Burnside Expedition, the Battle of Roanoke Island was an amphibious operation of the American Civil War, fought on February 7–8, 1862, in the North Carolina Sounds a short distance south of the ...
February 9. * Duty at Roanoke Island till March 11. * Advance on New Berne March 11–13. * Battle of New Bern March 14. * Siege of Fort Macon March 23-April 26. * Bombardment and capture of Fort Macon April 25–26. * Duty at Beaufort and New Berne till July. * Moved to Newport News, Va., July 6–8, thence to Fredericksburg August 3–6, and duty there till August 31. * Moved to Brook's Station, thence to Washington, D. C., August 31-September 3. * Maryland Campaign September–October. * Battles of South Mountain September 14, and Antietam September 16–17. * Duty in Pleasant Valley, Md., till October 30. * Advance to Falmouth, Va., October 30-November 19. * Battle of Fredericksburg, Va., December 12–15. * "Mud March" January 20–24, 1863. * Moved to Newport News, Va., February 8, thence to Suffolk March 13. * Siege of Suffolk April 12-May 4. * Nansemond River May 4. * Reconnaissance to the Chickahominy June 9–13. * Dix's Peninsula Campaign June 24-July 8. * Expedition from White House to South Anna River July 1–7. * Duty at Portsmouth till March l, 1864, and at Norfolk till April 1. * At Point Lookout, Md., guarding prisoners till July. * Ordered to Petersburg, Va., July 16. * Siege of Petersburg July to October. * Mine Explosion, Petersburg, July 30. * Weldon Railroad August 18–21. * Poplar Springs Church September 29-October 2. * Old members mustered out October 15, 1864. Veterans and Recruits consolidated with 7th Rhode Island Infantry.


Losses

During the war the regiment lost 5 Officers and 68 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 67 Enlisted men by disease; for a total of 140.


Commanding officers

* Colonel Justus I. McCarthy - commission revoked * Colonel Isaac P. Rodman - promoted Brigadier General * Colonel William H.P. Steere


Medal of Honor

* Sergeant James H. Burbank
Medal of Honor The Medal of Honor (MOH) is the United States Armed Forces' highest Awards and decorations of the United States Armed Forces, military decoration and is awarded to recognize American United States Army, soldiers, United States Navy, sailors, Un ...
recipient for action at Blackwater on October 3, 1862


Notable members

*
Calixa Lavallée Calixa Lavallée (; December 28, 1842 – January 21, 1891) was a Canadians, Canadian musician and Union Army band musician during the American Civil War. He was born in the Province of Canada. He is best known for composing the music for "O Can ...
, a Canadian-born private and band musician in the regiment, later composed "
O Canada "O Canada" () is the national anthem of Canada. The song was originally commissioned by Lieutenant Governor of Quebec Théodore Robitaille for the 1880 Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day ceremony; Calixa Lavallée composed the music, after which French- ...
," which became the national anthem of Canada


References

{{Reflist Military units and formations established in 1861 Military units and formations disestablished in 1864 Units and formations of the Union army from Rhode Island 1861 establishments in Rhode Island