During the Civil War, calls for African-American troops by President
Abraham Lincoln and
Frederick Douglass led to some 23,703 African Americans in the State of Kentucky enlisting into the
Union Army, forming a variety of units, including the 125th USCI regiment. Mustered in Louisville, Kentucky, the unit was under the command of Colonel Charles D. Armstrong from 1865 until 1866, with Colonel William R. Gerhart succeeding him afterwards, leading the regiment until its disbandment in 1867. After the Civil War ended, the 125th USCI regiment continued serving the Union, performing garrison duties in Louisville. In 1866, eight companies of the regiment were ordered to New Mexico Territory to replace white volunteer troops leaving service and protect settlers and travelers in the
Rio Grande River region from potential bandit and Indian attacks. The unit, consisting of about 26 officers and 610 men, traveled by steamboat to
Fort Leavenworth,
Kansas, then marched along the
Santa Fe Trail afterwards. They finally arrived in New Mexico by August 1866. During the journey, some soldiers mutinied in
St. Louis upon learning of their destination, and a few deserted. and
Fort Bliss in
Texas. The unit continued its duties until October 1867, after which they were sent to
Fort Riley, Kansas, to be mustered out. The regiment was officially disbanded and paid off in Louisville on December 20, 1867. ==See also==