As part of my never-ending project, tracking down every thing I can find to expand the records of Arkansas Confederate soldiers, I've lately been looking into the six U.S. volunteer infantry regiments organized for frontier duty, which were manned mostly by Confederate prisoners of war. The regiments were:

1st Regiment U.S. Volunteer infantry—organized at Point Lookout Maryland.
2nd Regiment U.S. Volunteer infantry—organized at Rock Island Barracks, Illinois.
3rd Regiment U.S. Volunteer infantry—organized at Rock Island Barracks, Illinois.
4th Regiment U.S. Volunteer infantry—organized at Point Lookout Maryland.
5th Regiment U.S. Volunteer infantry—organized at Alton and Camp Douglas, Illinois.
6th Regiment U.S. Volunteer infantry—organized at Columbus, Ohio, Camp Morton, Indiana, and Camp Douglas, Illinois.

These regiments served in Dakota Territory, Minnesota, Kansas, Colorado, Nebraska, Utah and in what is now Wyoming, mostly at remote and isolated forts.

One thing I've found very interesting about these regiments is the high esteem in which they were held by Union army generals and state and territorial governors. Just a brief summary of some of the comments I've read --

"The First Regiment U.S. Volunteers numbers 1,000 for duty, and is a first class regiment."

"I have sent a regiment, 1,000 strong, a very excellent regiment, but composed entirely of deserters and prisoners from the rebel army, to General Pope."

"These companies are made up of refugees from the South and rebel deserters. The regiment is thoroughly organized, and will do efficient service."

"The regiment is well organized and officered, and to my great satisfaction (as also somewhat to my surprise) it is in a most excellent state of discipline."

Again and again, the generals remarked on the excellent state of discipline in these regiments, and the absence of disciplinary problems. It should be remembered, that the Confederate prisoners were experienced veterans; and also that the regiments they were intended to replace were notoriously undisciplined Colorado, Kansas and Dakota troops.

A summary of courts-martial in the U.S. armies during the Civil War contains very few adverse remarks about the Galvanized Yanks.

I'll post some reports and other information here from time to time. If anyone else has any letters or articles about these regiments, it would be interesting to see some posts.