1st Missouri Colored Infantry Regiment
The 1st Missouri Colored Infantry Regiment was an African-American infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It was redesignated as the 62nd Regiment of U.S. Colored Troops on March 11, 1864.

Service
The 1st Missouri Colored Infantry Regiment was organized at Benton Barracks, in St. Louis, Missouri, December 7–14, 1863. Attached to District of St. Louis, Mo., to January 1864. Designation changed to 62nd Regiment United States Colored Troops March 11, 1864. Ordered to Port Hudson, Louisiana. District of Baton Rouge, La., Dept. of the Gulf, to June 1864. Provisional Brigade, District of Morganza, Dept. of the Gulf, to September 1864. 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, United States Colored Troops, District of Morganza, Dept. of the Gulf, to September 1864. Port Hudson, La., Dept. of the Gulf, to September 1864. Brazos Santiago, Texas, to October, 1864. 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, United States Colored Troops, Dept. of the Gulf, to December 1864. Brazos Santiago, Texas, to June 1865. Dept. of Texas to March 1866.

Detailed Service
Ordered to Baton Rouge, La., March 23, 1864, and duty there till June. Ordered to Morganza, La., and duty there till September. Expedition from Morganza to Bayou Sara September 6–7. Ordered to Brazos Santiago, Texas, September, and duty there till May 1865. Expedition from Brazos Santiago May 11–14. Action at Palmetto Ranch May 12–13, 1865. White's Ranch May 13. Last action of the war. Duty at various points in Texas till March 1866. Ordered to St. Louis via New Orleans, La. Mustered out March 31, 1866.

Founding of Lincoln University
One of the soldiers' most important achievements came at the end of the war. Between duties, and after the termination of hostilities, soldiers of the 62nd and 65th U.S. Colored Troops had been taught to read and write. The troops of these two regiments agreed that they wished to continue their studies as civilians. The soldiers and their officers signed resolutions pledging to work to establish a school "for the special benefit of free blacks". Troops of the 62nd U.S.C.T. were especially energetic in working towards this goal, raising $5,000 to support the establishment of the planned educational institution. This effort eventually lead to the opening of the Lincoln Institute (now Lincoln University) in Jefferson City, Missouri, on September 16, 1866.

Commanders
Colonel Theodore H. Barrett

See also

List of Missouri Civil War Units
List of United States Colored Troops Civil War units
Missouri in the American Civil War
2nd Missouri Regiment of Colored Infantry
3rd Missouri Regiment of Colored Infantry
4th Missouri Regiment of Colored Infantry
18th U.S. Colored Infantry - Raised "at large" in the State of Missouri
Lincoln University of Missouri

Notes

References
 Dyer, Frederick H. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion (Des Moines, IA:  Dyer Pub. Co.), 1908.
 
The Civil War Archive
Web site discussing the organization of Missouri "Colored Infantry", including discussions of conditions at Benton Barracks during the winter of 1863-1864. http://www.usgennet.org/usa/mo/county/stlouis/ct.htm
 Web side discussing participation of veterans of the 62nd U.S. Colored Troops (originally the 1st Missouri Regiment of Colored Infantry) in the founding of Lincoln University. http://www.buffalosoldier.net/62nd65thRegimentsU.S.ColoredInfantry.htm
Lincoln University web site discussing the role of members of the 62nd U.S. Colored Troops (1st Missouri Regt of Colored Infantry) in the establishment of the University. http://www.lincolnu.edu/web/about-lincoln/our-history
Link to waymarking site for the Soldier-Founder's Memorial at Lincoln University. http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM5QWY

Units and formations of the Union Army from Missouri
Missouri Infantry, 001
Military units and formations established in 1863
Military units and formations disestablished in 1866
1863 establishments in Missouri
1866 disestablishments in the United States