The XXV Corps was a formation of the United States Army during the American Civil War, organized under the Union Army in December 1864. It was the first corps-level unit composed predominantly of African American soldiers, consisting mainly of United States Colored Troops (USCT) drawn from the former X Corps and other units of the Army of the James.
Formation and Organization
- Date of creation: 3 December 1864, by order of Major General Ulysses S. Grant.
- Parent army: Army of the James, operating in the Department of Virginia.
- Initial commander: Major General Godfrey Weitzel, who had previously commanded the XVIII Corps.
- Structure: Initially comprised three divisions (the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Divisions), each formed from USCT brigades. The corps also included artillery, engineers, and support units.
Commanders
- Maj. Gen. Godfrey Weitzel (December 1864 – May 1865)
- Maj. Gen. Charles A. Heckman (temporary command, May 1865)
- Maj. Gen. John G. Foster (June 1865 – disbandment)
Operational History
Siege of Petersburg
The XXV Corps entered combat during the final phase of the Siege of Petersburg. Its divisions participated in the assaults on Confederate entrenchments on the north side of the James River, notably at the Battle of the Hatcher’s Run (30 October 1864) and the Battle of Farmville (6 December 1864).
Appomattox Campaign
In the spring of 1865, the corps was transferred to the Army of the James’ right wing and took part in the closing operations against General Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia. On 9 April 1865, elements of the XXV Corps, under the command of Brigadier General Alfred H. Terry, were the first Union troops to reach the Confederate capital of Richmond after its evacuation. Later that day, the corps was among the forces that entered Appomattox Court House and accepted Lee’s surrender.
Post‑war Service
Following the cessation of hostilities, the XXV Corps performed occupation duties in Virginia. It was officially disbanded on 30 July 1865, with its personnel either mustered out of service or transferred to other regular‑army units.
Legacy
The XXV Corps is historically notable for being the first Union corps composed primarily of African American soldiers to see major combat and to play a decisive role in the war’s concluding operations. Its participation in the capture of Richmond and the Appomattox surrender underscored the contributions of USCT units to the Union victory.
References
- U.S. War Department, The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies (Series I, Volume 46).
- Boatner, Mark M. The Civil War Dictionary. New York: McKay, 1959.
- Kennedy, Frances H. The Civil War Battlefield Guide. New York: Houghton Mifflin, 1998.
Note: All information presented is based on established historical records and standard reference works on the American Civil War.