Macarthur Park in Little Rock in Pulaski County, Arkansas — The American South (West South Central)
U.S. Colored Troops in Arkansas in the Civil War
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1st and 2nd Kansas Colored Infantry Regiments
Photographed by Ashley Sides, February 24, 2025
1. U.S. Colored Troops in Arkansas in the Civil War side of marker
U.S. Colored Troops in Arkansas in the Civil War. The U.S. Army began recruiting Black soldiers in 1863, and 5,526 men served in eight infantry regiments and two artillery batteries raised in the state. These were the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th Arkansas Infantry Regiments (African Descent) that in 1864 were designated the 46th, 54th, 56th, 57th, 112th and 113th U.S. Colored Troops. The 11th and 69th USCT were raised in Arkansas, as were the 1st Arkansas Battery (African Descent) and 3rd Louisiana Light Artillery (African Descent), later Batteries E and H, 2nd U.S. Colored Light Artillery. Other Black troops also served in the state, and Black soldiers fought in 28 battles and skirmishes in Arkansas.
1st and 2nd Kansas Colored Infantry Regiments. The State of Kansas began recruiting the 1st Kansas Colored Infantry in August 1862, and its troops would win their first battle on October 29, 1862, months before the U.S. Army accepted Black troops. The 1st was formally organized January 13, 1863, and the 2nd Kansas Colored Infantry was raised from August to October 1863. Both moved to Fort Smith and took part in the 1864 Camden Expedition, where soldiers of the 1st were killed after the fighting ended at Poison Spring and the 2nd later killed wounded Confederates at Jenkins Ferry. At wars end, the regiments had lost 222 men in combat and 377 to disease.
Erected 2025 by Arkansas
this page online
Topics and series. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Arkansas Heritage series list. A significant historical date for this entry is October 29, 1862.
Location. 34° 44.291′ N, 92° 15.905′ W. Memorial is in Little Rock, Arkansas, in Pulaski County. It is in Macarthur Park. It can be reached from East 9th Street, on the right when traveling south. Marker stands SE of the MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History. It is along the sidewalk adjacent to the parking lot that runs from MacArthur Park Drive south on the east side of the museum. Touch for map. Memorial is at or near this postal address: 503 E 9th Street, Little Rock AR 72202, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this memorial is in the Quapaw Homeland. It is also in the American South and specifically in the Upper South. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, the Louisiana Purchase, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Little Rock Arsenal (here, next to this marker); The Arsenal Crisis (here, next to this marker); United Spanish War Veterans Tribute (within shouting distance of this marker); The Mehlburger Markers (within shouting distance of this marker); 206th Coast Artillery (Anti-Aircraft) Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); The Camden Expedition (within shouting distance of this marker); In Memory of United Spanish War Veterans (within shouting distance
Photographed by Ashley Sides, February 24, 2025
2. 1st and 2nd Kansas Colored Infantry Regiments side of marker
Other markers no longer nearby. The Story of David O. Dodd (was here, next to this marker but has been permanently removed); In Memory of David O. Dodd (was here, next to this marker but has been permanently removed).
Also see . . . Arkansas unveils new historical marker (KATV News, February 23, 2025). Full title: Arkansas unveils new historical marker honoring Black Civil War soldiers in MacArthur Park. Short article plus video clip (1:08). (Submitted on February 25, 2025.)
Photographed by Ashley Sides, February 24, 2025
3. U.S. Colored Troops in Arkansas in the Civil War / 1st and 2nd Kansas Colored Infantry Regiments Mar
Photographed by Ashley Sides, February 24, 2025
4. U.S. Colored Troops in Arkansas in the Civil War / 1st and 2nd Kansas Colored Infantry Regiments Mar
View of marker from the parking lot. The U.S. Colored Troops marker is on the left, adjacent to the Arsenal Crisis marker.
Credits. This page was last revised on October 17, 2025. It was originally submitted on February 25, 2025, by Ashley Sides of Little Rock, Arkansas. This page has been viewed 275 times since then and 30 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on February 25, 2025, by Ashley Sides of Little Rock, Arkansas. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
