HISTORICAL NOTES:
The 12th Rhode Island Infantry Regiment was organized at Providence and mustered for nine months from October 18, 1862. Left State for Washington, D. C., October 21.
The twelfth was one of the so called 'Nine Month Regiments' though it actually served for ten months. While the regiment's service was comparatively short it earned the appellation of 'the Trotting Twelfth' partly as a result of its incredible march from Nicholasville to Jamestown, Kentucky-some 100 miles under broiling sun-in six days without the loss of a single man. Indeed the regiment's marching abilities became legendary and its name well earned as it pursued the elusive Morgan and his cavalry across Kentucky to prevent him raiding into Ohio. This included a lively affair with the notable Confederate raider horse soldiers at Green River, Kentucky. At Fredericksburg in the closing month of 1862, Burnside had to ferry his army across the Rappahannock River in the face of fire from the enemy on the opposite bank and once across fight through the streets of the town before assaulting well prepared Confederate entrenched positions under Lee on Maryes Heights. The affair was a notable one-sided catastrophe for the Union Army which lost nearly 13,000 men killed, wounded, missing or captured-more than twice that of the enemy. Tillinghast and their Rhode Island comrades, irrespective of their short service, more than earned their right to proclaim themselves seasoned 'veterans.'
The Regiment lost during service 1 Officer and 11 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 2 Officers and 45 Enlisted men by disease. Total 59.
OFFICERS:ASSIGNMENTS:
Attached to 1st Brigade, Casey's Division, Military District of Washington, to December, 1862.
1st Brigade, 2nd Division, 9th Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to April, 1863.
1st Brigade, 2nd Division, Dept. Ohio, to May, 1863.
1st Brigade, 1st Division, 23rd Army Corps, Dept. Ohio, to July, 1863.
SERVICE:
Camped at Arlington Heights and at Fairfax Seminary, Va., Defences of Washington, D. C., until December 1, 1862. Marched to Falmouth, Va., December 1–8. Battle of Fredericksburg, Va., December 12–15. Burnside's second Campaign, "Mud March," January 20–24, 1863. Moved to Newport News, Va., February 9, thence to Lexington, Ky., March 25–31. On duty at Lexington, Winchester, Boonsboro, Richmond, Paint Lick and Lancaster, Ky., until April 23. Moved to Crab Orchard April 23, and duty there until June 3. Marched from Nicholasville to Somerset June 3–9. On duty at Stigall's Ferry, Jamestown and guarded fords of the Cumberland River until July 5. Moved to Somerset July 5, thence to Crab Orchard, and started home July 11. On duty at Cincinnati, Ohio, July 15–19. Moved to Providence July 19–22. Finally mustered out July 29, 1863.
ROSTERS:
The composite rosters of this unit contain the names of 1342 men.
Company I - Captain George C. Almy - Newport County.
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Dyer, Frederick H. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion. Vol. 2. Cartersville, GA: Eastern Digital Resources, 1998. Ref. See p. 1222 (1 photocopied page) for a concise summary of the regiment's service.
HISTORICAL NOTES: