The regiment was composed of African American enlisted men commanded by white officers and was authorized by the Bureau of Colored Troops which was created by the United States War Department on May 22, 1863.
Colored Infantry was organized February 8, 1864 from the 3rd North Carolina Colored Infantry for three-year service under the command of Colonel Nathan Goff, Jr.
1st Brigade, Hincks' Colored Division, XVIII Corps, Army of the James, to June 1864.
3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, Terry's Provisional Corps, Department of North Carolina, to March 1865.
2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, X Corps, Department of North Carolina, to August 1865.
Butler's operations on the south side of the James River and against Petersburg and Richmond May 4-June 15.
Battle of Chaffin's Farm, New Market Heights, September 29–30.
Duty at various points in North Carolina and in the Department of the South until February 1867.