[1] It was organized in New Orleans and was tasked with defending the city until being redeployed to Ship Island in Mississippi.

An exception was Major Francis E. Dumas, a wealthy creole from Louisiana who had enlisted a company of his own slaves.

The remaining black officers of the regiment were all purged by Major General Nathaniel P. Banks in early 1863.

The Regiment designation was changed to 74th United States Colored Troops on April 4, 1864[3] and it was attached to defenses of New Orleans until October 1864.

The regiment participated in an expedition from Fort Pike to Pearl River from September 9–12, 1864.