Rhode Island 11th United States Heavy Artillery Collection

Allen F. Cameron (1836-?) was a French-Canadian immigrant who enrolled in October 1861 as a sergeant in the 5th Regiment Rhode Island Infantry. By the time he mustered out from the 11th Regiment Rhode Island Heavy Artillery in October 1965, Cameron had served as post headquarters aide-de-camp and attained the rank of 1st lieutenant. The Black regiment under Cameron's command served primarily in the New Orleans area as garrison troops. After the war Cameron returned to his job as a weave room overseer in Rhode Island for a short time and then became a weapons inspector for various firms. The pieces, primarily official correspondence, detail progress of the Civil War, life in the Union Army and treatment of Black troops by White officers.