It was then disbanded, except one company.
That company, under command of Sergeant Trowbridge, then acting as Captain, but not commissioned, was kept in service, and was sent (August 5, 1862) to garrison St.Simon's Island, on the coast of Georgia.

On this island (made famous by Mrs.Kemble's description) there were then five hundred colored people, and not a single white man.
The black soldiers were sent down on the Ben De Ford, Captain Hallett.
On arriving, Trowbridge was at once informed by Commodore Goldsborough, naval commander at that station, that there was a party of rebel guerillas on the island, and was asked whether he would trust his soldiers in pursuit of them.

Trowbridge gladly assented; and the Commodore added, "If you should capture them, it will be a great thing for you." They accordingly went on shore, and found that the colored men of the island had already undertaken the enterprise.

Twenty-five of them had armed themselves, under the command of one of their own number, whose name was John Brown.

The second in command was Edward Gould, who was afterwards a corporal in my own regiment The rebel party retreated before these men, and drew them into a swamp.