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.
A detachment of the regiment participated in Steele's Camden Expedition, March 23-May 3, 1864, as bridge train guard.
[3] The regiment was involved in a skirmish near Little Rock on April 26, 1864, and conducted operations against Confederate General Joe Shelby north of Arkansas River May 13–31, 1864.
14 Department of Arkansas, dated February 1, 1865, from Little Rock, included the 57th United States Colored Infantry is reported as belonging to the 2nd Brigade of the 1st Division of the 7th Army Corps.
The unit was transferred to Ft. Smith, where they spent the months immediately following the war as guard and provost martial of the city.