The Texas in the Civil War Message Board

56th colored infantry regt.

I found this capi 10 years ago and I now have the time to research it, but I need help. Brief history, the capi I believe belongs to a soldier from the 56th Colored Infantry Regiment, originally the 3rd Arkansas Infantry Reg. The unit was commanded by a Col. Charles Bentzoni, which I have limited history. The unit was discharged in Sept 1866, while in route to St Louis, to be mustered out of service while on the Mississippi River, a cholera out break killed a large number of the soldiers on board the two steamers transporting them, I'm sure the owner of this capi lived to tell his story, my goal is to find the owner of this capi, and get it to his family where it belongs. My research skills are limited to say the lease, so far my plan, make sure the capi is not a fake or copy. In side the capi is a label from the M C Lilley & Co. also inside the headband of the capi was a folded piece of very old paper, written on the paper was, SCHIMERS LIB VOL 158, I have no idea what it means, other than possibility the Schirmers Music Company?
On top of the capi on the infantry blue background is a diamond emblem I don't recongized, also the words TEXAS. I did find out that there were 50 black men that enlisted from Texas and joined the Union Forces, is this fellow one of them? Next, learn about the unit.
If some one is of help It would be greatly appreciated, not only by me, but his family.