Army National Guard units with campaign credit for the War of 1812
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Nineteen current units of the Army National Guard perpetuate the lineages of militia units mustered into federal service during the War of 1812. Militia units from nine states that were part of the Union by the end of the War of 1812 (Delaware, Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Virginia), plus the District of Columbia, are the predecessors of eighteen units that currently exist in the Army National Guard
. Two of the four units derived from Virginia militias are in the West Virginia National Guard; at the time of the War of 1812
, West Virginia was still part of Virginia. Only one current unit, the 155th Infantry, a component of the Mississippi National Guard derived from miiltia units organized in the Mississippi Territory
, is from a state or territory west of the Appalachians. Unfortunately, no militia units from the states of Kentucky, Louisiana, Ohio or Tennessee, or from the Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Missouri or Louisiana Territories, where militia units played a major role in the fighting, have survived as units in the modern Army National Guard.
The 198th Signal Battalion is derived from the Delaware Regiment, constituted on 9 December 1775 and organized in early 1776 as Col. John Haslet’s Regiment. During the Revolutionary War, the regiment participated in fifteen campaigns.
Three units created from the Delaware Regiment during the last decade of the eighteenth century saw service during the War of 1812: Light Infantry, 1st Infantry, 1st Regiment, 1st Brigade (mustered into federal service 23 May 1813 and mustered out on 31 July 1813, and mustered in again on 28 August 1814 and out between 3 January and 13 March 1815); the Artillery Company, 2nd Brigade (served from 23 May 1814 to 2 September 1814); and the 1st Company, Light Infantry, 8th Regiment, 3rd Brigade (in federal service from 2 March 1813 to 4 May 1813, from 6 May 1813 to 31 July 1813, and from 6 August 1814 to 11 January 1815).
The primary activity of the Delaware militia during the War of 1812 was defending coastal communities from raids by British landing parties during the blockade of the Delaware Bay and Delaware River beginning in early March, 1813, and continuing into 1814. The militia units were continually shifted from one location to another in response to movements of the British ships. On 16 March 1813, the town of Lewes was threatened with destruction by the commander of the British flotilla if it failed to provide the British with supplies. The town refused the demand and was subjected to a twenty-two-hour bombardment beginning on 6 April. A landing party was repulsed on 7 April. The 1st Company, 8th Regiment, 3rd Brigade was present in Lewes from 19 March 1813 through 24 March and from 3 May through 11 May 1813, but not at the time of the British bombardment.; the Artillery Company, 2nd Brigade was deployed to Lewes in early June.
The HHD/372nd Military Police Battalion traces its formation to the First Legion, Columbian Brigade constituted in the District of Columbia on 3 May 1802 and organized during the summer of 1802 from existing volunteer militia companies north of the Potomac River.
The unit was expanded, reorganized and redesignated on 17 April 1813 as the 1st Brigade, Columbian Division, to comprise two regiments. It was mustered into federal service on 15 July 1813 and mustered out on 31 July 1813, then mustered in again on 19 July 1814 and out on 8 October 1814.
During the Battle of Bladensburg
, which culminated on Aug. 24, 1814, the Columbian Division occupied the left portion of the second line of defense against the attacking British. When the first line of defense, which had been badly positioned by its commander, Brig. Gen. Tobias Stansbury, crumbled, the position of the Columbian Division became vulnerable. The division was able to resist the British advance for a while, but was forced to withdraw when its left flank came under attack. In the absence of clear orders from the American commander of the Tenth Military District, Brig. Gen. William Winder, concerning what to do in the event that a retreat was necessary, the defenders fled the field.
The 118th Field Artillery traces its lineage back to four independent volunteer companies, three of foot and one of horse, organized in the Georgia Militia in the District to Savannah on 18 April 1751. The Georgia militia units in Savannah and surrounding Chatham County were reorganized in 1782 as the 1st Battalion, 1st Regiment, 1st Brigade, 1st Division.
The main role of the Savannah militia during the War of 1812 was as a local defense force that remained under local control. However, three companies from the 1st Battalion were mustered into federal service during the early stages of the war: the Savannah Volunteer Guards (organized in 1802) and the Republican Blues (organized in 1808), mustered into federal service in east Florida in June 1812 as elements of Col. Daniel Newman’s provisional battalion of Georgia Volunteers and mustered out in October 1812; and the Heavy Artillery Company (organized in 1812), mustered in on 19 October 1812 at Fort James Jackson, Georgia, a fort one mile from Savannah, and mustered out on 23 November 1812.
The City Battalion of Savannah was mustered into service on 22 January 1815 as the 1st Regiment, Georgia Volunteers, and mustered out on 23 February 1815. This service came after the signing on 24 December 1814 of the Treaty of Ghent, the peace treaty that ended the war. However, neither the Americans nor the commander of the British fleet operating off the Georgia coast were aware of this event, and so elements of the Georgia militia were federalized to counter the British Cumberland Island Campaign (January-March 1815), during which the British occupied Cumberland Island at the mouth of the St. Mary's River between Georgia and Florida.
The 175th Infantry traces its lineage all the way back to the Baltimore Independent Cadets, a company of sixty “gentlemen of honour, family, and fortune” organized in 1774. In 1776 the Cadets were absorbed into William Smallwood’s Maryland Battalion, which was later expanded and reorganized into the 1st through the 7th Maryland Regiments. These seven regiments earned credit for fourteen campaigns during the Revolutionary War. In 1794 the volunteer militia companies of Baltimore were reorganized as elements of the 5th Regiment of Militia.
The 5th Regiment was in federal service from 19 August 1814 through 18 November 1814. During the Battle of Bladensburg
, which culminated on 24 August 1814, the “Dandy Fifth,” along with other Maryland militia units, provided the first line of defense against the attacking British. As the British advanced, the 5th Maryland counterattacked, but when the 1st and 2nd Regiments on their left broke and fled, the 5th joined the rest of Maryland militia in a disorderly retreat from the field.
The 5th gave a much better account of itself on 12 September 1814 at the Battle of North Point
, which was part of the Battle of Baltimore
. The 5th Regiment held its position against the attacking British, and then conducted a successful fighting retreat that significantly slowed the British advance on Baltimore.
The 181st and 182nd Infantry Regiments are two of the oldest units in the U.S. Army, both tracing their origins all the way back to the North Regiment, organized in 1636 from militia units at Cambridge, Charlestown, Watertown, Dedham and Concord, and redesignated as the Middlesex Regiment in 1643. In 1680 additional companies from other towns were added, and the Middlesex Regiment was split into the 2nd (Upper) Middlesex Regiment, which ultimately became the 181st Infantry, and the 1st (Lower) Middlesex Regiment, which ultimately became the 182nd Infantry.
By the time of the War of 1812, the 2nd Middlesex Regiment had become the 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division in the Massachusetts militia. Flank companies of the 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division served as elements of the Elite Brigade, which was mustered into federal service during September and October, 1814 for service in Boston.
The 181st Infantry also perpetuates the lineage of the 104th Infantry, with which it was consolidated in 2006. The 104th Infantry traces its roots to the Hampshire Regiment, constituted in 1662, which later became the Hampshire and Berkshire County Brigades. By the time of the War of 1812 these two brigades had become the 4th and 9th Divisions, respectively. From these two divisions, five regiments were organized for federal service at Boston from September through November, 1814.
The Massachusetts militia was one of the largest, best equipped and best trained of any of the state militias, but support for the war in New England was lukewarm at best. As a consequence, no Massachusetts units were federalized until 1814, although as state units they were active in guarding the state's coastline. Only after Great Britain burned Washington and generally increased its naval pressure on the East Coast did Massachusetts allow its militias to be mustered into federal service
The Middlesex Regiment, the origin of which is described above in the section on the 181st Infantry, was split into the 1st (Lower) and 2nd (Upper) Middlesex Regiments in 1680. The 1st Middlesex Regiment ultimately became the 182nd Infantry, while the 2nd Middlesex Regiment became the 181st Infantry. By the time of the War of 1812, the 1st Middlesex Regiment had become the 1st Brigade, 3rd Division in the Massachusetts militia. Flank companies of the 1st Brigade, 3rd Division were mustered into federal service as elements of the Elite Brigade, which served at Boston during September and October, 1814.
The 182nd Infantry also perpetuates the lineage of the 101st Infantry, with which it was consolidated in 1992. The 101st Infantry traces its roots to the Columbia Artillery in the Legionary Brigade of Boston, organized in 1798. This unit was also assigned to the Elite Brigade during September and October 1814.
The mobilization of militia units in Boston during the fall of 1814 was a response to increased activity of the British navy along the eastern seaboard beginning in the late summer. The British raid on Washington and the attack on Fort McHenry and the attempted occupation of Baltimore had sparked fears of attacks of other Atlantic ports. However, no attack materialized, and in October the British ended their campaign in the Chesapeake Bay.
The 772nd Military Police Company traces its origins to the Cohannet Train Band, Plymouth Colony Militia, organized on 3 March 1638. In 1639 the unit became the Taunton Train Band. The first major military action of the Taunton Train Band was in King Philip’s War (1675-1676), a conflict between the colonists and a confederation of Indian tribes organized by a Wampanoag chief named Metacom, but referred to as King Philip by the colonists, to resist expansion of white settlements in southern New England. By 1703 the Taunton Train Band had assumed the honorific title “First Military Company,” and in 1785 it became the 1st Foot Company, 3rd Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 5th Division.
Under the command of Capt. Joseph Reed, Jr., the 1st Company was mustered into service on 6 September 1814 at a time when an invasion by the British was feared, and served for thirty days. The company was deployed to New Bedford.
Since companies are not issued Distinctive Unit Insignia, the 772nd Military Police Company wears the DUI of the 211th Military Police Battalion, in which it serves.
The 155th Infantry traces its lineage back to the Legions of Militia, Upper and Lower Districts, Mississippi Territory
, constituted on 8 September 1798. On 25 October 1798 the Legion of Militia of the Lower (or Southern) District was organized as the Militia of Adams County, which was reorganized and redesignated as the 1st Regiment, Mississippi Territorial Militia in 1802.
By the late summer of 1812, the 1st Regiment, Mississippi Territorial Militia had become the 1st Regiment, Mississippi Territorial Volunteers. Between early 1813 and mid-1814 the 1st Regiment underwent a number of reorganizations and redesignations, and spent a period of time in federal service between September 1812 and April 1814. But this service did not result in the award of any campaign credits for the War of 1812. The War of 1812 campaign credits awarded to the 155th Infantry were earned by six Mississippi militia units mustered into federal service from September 1814 through January 1815 for service in Maj. Gen. Andrew Jackson’s Coast Campaign: Lt. Col. J. Carson’s Regiment of Volunteer Mounted Gunmen, Lt. Col. D. Neilson’s Infantry Detachment, Lt. Col. T. Hinds’ Squadron of Light Dragoons, Capt. J. C. Wilkins’ Natchez Volunteer Rifle Corps, Capt. Boyle’s Company of Volunteer Mounted Spies, and Maj. J. P. Kennedy’s Company of Choctaw Indians.
Of the six Mississippi militia units in the lineage of the 155th Infantry, Hinds' Dragoons was the one most involved in the Battle of New Orleans
. During the night attack on 23 December the Dragoons provided valuable reconnaissance that located the British encampment on LaCoste's Plantation, and during the major battle on 8 January they were in reseve just one mile behind the breastworks that comprised Jackson's front line. The Dragoons also participated in the last land fighting of the battle during a skirminsh with the British rear guard near the mouth of Bayou Bienvenue on 25 January.
The cross in the chief (the upper third) of Distinctive Unit Insignia symbolizes service in the War of 1812.
The 113th Infantry traces its history back to the 1st New Jersey Regiment, which was organized in the Continental Army in part from existing militia companies from Essex County between 26 October and 15 December 1775. The regiment was assigned to the New Jersey Brigade for sersvice in the American Revolution, during which it participated in ten campaigns. The regiment was reorganized and redesignated as the New Jersey Regiment on 1 March 1783, furloughed on 6 June 1783, and disbanded on 15 November 1783. In 1793 it was reorganized again in the New Jersey militia and expanded to form the Essex Brigade. Elements of the Essex Brigade were mustered into federal service during 1814.
Essex County is in northeastern New Jersey. Because of the proximity of this part of New Jersey to New York City, the New Jersey militia was an integral part of the force that defended New York Harbor against invasion by British warships. In addition to serving at stratetically located fortifications along the New Jersey shore, such as Sandy Hook, Paulus Hook and the Highlands of Navesink, some New Jersey militia units were also posted to forts in New York, and a few were deployed on Delaware Bay. When not mustered into United States service, elements of the New Jersey were often deployed as independent militia by the governor to locations on the New Jersey coast.
The 53rd Support Detachment traces its origin to four companies of artillery, commanded by Capts. Henry Morgan, James Hewitt, John Fleming and John Forbes, organized during May and June 1806 in New York City. The formation of these four companies was a impassioned reaction by the residents of New York City to the arrival in April off Sandy Hook of three British warships, which proceeded to board and search all American vessels entering New York Harbor. On 25 April over twenty American vessels entered the Harbor, whereupon the British fired over a hundred shots at the Americans before boarding and searching as many as they could. The shelling caused the death of one sailor.
On 26 July 1806 these four artillery companies were assigned to the Battalion of Artillery, 1st Artillery Brigade, which was expanded and redesignated on 5 April 1807 as the 3rd Regiment of Artillery. The four aforementioned companies were reorganized and redesignated on 25 August 1808 as the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Regiment of Artillery, which was reorganized and redesignated as the 2nd Battalion, 11th Regiment of Artillery on 13 June 1812. This regiment was mustered into federal service twice during the War of 1812: 15 September 1812 through 15 December 1812 and 2 September 1814 through 2 December 1814.
During its first period of federal service, the 2nd Battalion, 11th Regiment was stationed on Ellis Island and Bedloe Island (later renamed Liberty Island); during its second stint, at the North Battery, a fort in New York City. The mobilization during the fall of 1814 was a response to increased activity of the British fleet along the eastern seaboard during the summer, followed by the raid on Washington and the attacks on Fort McHenry and Baltimore. These actions by the British stoked fears of attacks or invasions at other important ports on the East Coast. Following their decisive defeat at Baltimore, however, the British cut back on their activities in the Chesapeake Bay, with much of the fleet withdrawing to Jamaica and refitting for action along the Gulf Coast.
The "7" in the Distinctive Unit Insignia refers to the Seventh Regiment of New York
, which is in the lineage of the 53rd Support Detachment. The 7th Regiment is one of the National Guard's most storied regiments. Indeed, it was the first militia unit to refer to itself as the "National Guard." This occurred in August 1825 when the 2nd Battalion, 2nd Regiment of Artillery, to honor the Marquis de Lafayette on the day of his departure from New York, adopted the name "National Guards" in honor of the Garde Nationale de Paris, which was at one time commanded by Lafayette. The "s" was soon dropped. In 1847 the unit was redesignated the 7th Regiment, and in 1862 the term "National Guard" was appropriated by the state for the uniformed militia.
The 258th Field Artillery traces its lineage back to the 4th Regiment of Artillery, which was organized in the New York militia from existing units in New York City on 9 October 1809. On 13 June 1812 the 4th Regiment of Artillery was redesignated as the 3rd Regiment of Artillery. The 3rd Regiment of Artillery was mustered into federal service between 15 September 1812 and 15 December 1812 and again between 2 September 1814 and 3 December 1814.
The primary mission of the New York City militia units was to prevent the British from entering New York Harbor and possibly occupying the city. The defense of New York Harbor was organized around a series of forts constructed on islands in the harbor, including Bedloe Island and Governors Island, and a number of forts in the city. In addition, the defense of New York Harbor was augmented by several fortification constructed at strategic locations on the New Jersey shore. The batteries of the 3rd Regiment of Artillery were assigned to several of the New York forts during the course of the war.
The 103rd Engineer Battalion traces its origins to 7 December 1747 when the Military Association of the City of Philadelphia, founded on 21 November 1747 by Benjamin Franklin, was officially recognized. The artillery companies of the Associators were combined to form the Train of Artillery of Philadelphia on 29 December 1747. The Train of Artillery of Philadelphia was reorganized as the Philadelphia Artillery Battalion in 1775, units of which earned credit for participation in thirteen campaigns during the Revolutionary War.
In 1794 the Philadelphia Artillery Battalion was expanded as the Regiment of Artillery of the City of Philadelphia, which was mustered into federal service from August 1814 through January 1815 as the Regiment of Artillery, consisting of six companies: the Junior Artillerists, the Company of Independent Artillerists, the 2nd Company of Independent Artillerists, the Northern Liberty Artillerists, the Frakford Volunteer Artillerists and Capt. Landis's Company of Volunteer Artillerists.
The red lion in the Distinctive Unit Insignia denotes service in the War of 1812.
The 104th Cavalry traces its beginnings to 30 June 1874 when it was constituted as the 8th Infantry Regiment, and organized in August of that same year in south-central Pennsylvania. However, the Headquarters and Headquarters Troop of the 2nd Squadron has a much earlier origin. The HHT/2-104th Cavalry traces its lineage back to the Reading Union Volunteers, organized on 23 March 1794. The Reading Union Volunteer served in the Whiskey Rebellion
. During the War of 1812 the Reading Union Volunteers were mustered into federal service on 12 September 1814 as the Reading Washington (Guards) Blues, in respone to the British attack on Fort McHenry and Baltimore, and mustered out on 8 February 1815.
The last four months of 1814 was a period of time when the British navy was very active all along the Atlantic coast, especially in the Chesapeake Bay, and the Americans feared attacks on its coastal cities. The Guards were initially ordered to Philadelphia to defend the city against a possible attack by the British that never materialized, after which they were attached to the Advance Light Brigade, 1st Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry and deployed along the Delaware River.
The 111th Infantry traces its origins to the Associators, founded in 1747 in Philadelphia by Benjamin Franklin. The Associators were created as a volunteer militia unit to defend Philadelphia against French privateers operating on the Delaware River. In 1747 the Associators were reorganized, minus the artillery companies (which became the Train of Artillery of Philadelphia and ultimately the 103rd Engineer Battalion - see above), as the Associated Regiment of Foot of Philadelphia. In 1775 the Associated Regiment of Foot became the Associators of the City and Liberties of Philadelphia; and in 1777, the Philadelphia Brigade of Militia, which participated in four campaigns during the American Revolution. On 11 April 1793 the Philadelphia Brigade was reorganized as the 1st Brigade, 1st Division, which was mustered into federal service as the 1st Regiment on 24 August 1814 at Philadelphia and mustered out on 4 January 1815.
The period from mid-August 1814 until the end of the war was a time when the British naval forces on the Chesapeake Bay and Delaware Bay were very active, conducting the successful raid on Washington and the unsuccessful attack on Baltimore. The Pennsylvania miitia units from the Philadaelphia area that were federalized at this time were used to augment the defense of Baltimore and the Delaware River, but did not see action.
The 263rd Air Defense Artillery traces its roots to the Artillery Company of Charles Town, organized in 1756 and chartered by the colony of South Carolina on 31 July 1760. In 1775 the Artillery Company was expanded, reorganized and redesignated as the Charles Town Battalion of Artillery, which served in the American Revolution until Charleston was surrender to British forces on 12 May 1780. It was reconstituted in 1783 as the Charleston Battalion of Artillery. In 1794 the Charleston Battalion of Artillery became the 1st Regiment of Artillery. During the War of 1812 the Provisional Battalion, 1st Regiment of Artillery was mustered into federal service at Charleston on 6 November 1814 and mustered out on 3 March 1815, by which time the war had ended.
The mission of the Charleston militia was to defend the important port of Charleston from attack by British ships. At the time when the Provisional Battalion, 1st Regiment of Artillery was mustered into federal service late in 1814, there had been an increase in activity of the British fleet along the eastern seaboard, and a possible invasion was feared. However, Charleston was not attacked, and the Provisional Battery did not participate in any combat.
The 183rd Cavalry dates back only to 2005, when it was organized from former elements of the 111th Air Defense Artillery. However, the Headquarters and Headquarters Troop/2-183rd Cavalry is much older, having been derived from the Headquarters and Headquarters Battery/3-111th Air Defense Artillery, which has a lineage that goes back to 1792, when the Portsmouth Rifles was organized in Norfolk County as a company in the 7th Regiment, Virginia Militia.
Militia companies in the Norfolk area, including companies from the 7th Regiment, were mobilized in February and June 1813 for local defense, and again between August 1814 and February 1815 in anticipation of a British attempt to occupy Norfolk. In an action preliminary to the invasion of Norfolk, the British attempted a landing on Craney Island, a low-lying point of land near the mouth of the Elizabeth River, on 22 June 1813, where they were soundly defeated. Following their repulse at Craney Island, the British abandoned their plans to attack Norfolk and turned their attention to Portsmouth instead. When not mobilized, the Norfolk County units continued to serve as local defense units under county regimental authority.
The 276th Engineers trace their origin to the Richmond City Regiment organized in May 1791 from existing elements of the Virginia Militia. The Richmond City Regiment was reorganized and redesignated as the 19th Regiment on 31 December 1791. While remaining in state service, the 19th Regiment formed the First Corps d'Elite Brigade of Virginia Militia (Col. Thomas Mann Randolph commanding), which was mustered into federal service in 1813 and mustered out in 1814. The First Corps d'Elite Brigade consisted of the Richmond Volunteers, the Flying Artillery (Capt. William Wirt commanding), the Rifle Company (Capt. William H. Richardson commanding) and the Richmond Light Infantry Blues.
The First Corps d'Elite Brigade, along with other Virginia militia units from Chesterfield and Henrico Counties, was federalized in March and June 1813, at a time when the British seemed to be preparing an invasion of Virginia along the James River and possibly even attacking Richmond. The invasion along the James never materialized, but the British did threaten Norfolk and Portsmouth. The threat to Norfolk ended when the British attempt to occupy Craney Island in June was soundly defeated (see HHT/2-183 Cavalry above). Some elements of the Richmond militia were mobilized again during the summer of 1814 and sent to Richmond and Norfolk, at a time when increased activity of the British fleet along the eastern seaboard had stoked invasion fears in coastal cities.
The 150th Cavalry traces its formation back to the Militia of Greenbrier County, Virginia, constituted in 1778 from Minutemen companies organized for frontier defense in 1777. Drafts from these companies provided Virginia regiments for the Continental Line during the period 1777 through 1782. In 1792 Greenbrier and Kanawha County militia units were reorganized as volunteer companies in the 13th Brigade, Virginia Militia.
In September 1812 five companies from the 13th Brigade from the part of Virginia that would later become Cabell, Greenbrier, Kanawha and Mason Counties in present-day southern West Virginia were consolidated with seven companies from the area that is currently northern West Virginia to form the 2nd Regiment, Virginia Volunteer Militia. These companies were separated again in 1863 when the new state of West Virginia reorganized its forces, and units from the southern counties (Cabell, Greenbrier, Kanawha and Mason Counties) became part of the 2nd Division (150th Cavalry lineage), while those from the northern part of the state (Hampshire, Harrison, Monongalia and Randolph Counties) were assigned to the 1st Division (201st Field Artillery lineage - see below).
During the War of 1812, companies from the 2nd Regiment served at Richmond and Norfolk and in Ohio and the Indiana Territory
with the Army of the Northwest. Virginia companies aided in the construction of Fort Meigs
near the Maumee Rapids, but were not present when the fort was attacked by Indians and the British in the spring of 1813. War of 1812 campaign credit for the 150th Cavalry was awarded for service in the Indiana Territory.
One of the five stars in the Distinctive Unit Insignia commemorates service during the War of 1812.
The 201st Field Artillery traces its origin to militia companies formed in the northern and western part of the Virginia Colony, the earliest of which was Captain Morgan Morgan’s Company of Volunteer Militia of Orange Country, Virginia, organized on 17 February 1735. During the Revolutionary War several militia companies from this part of Virginia were organized for frontier defense and for service in Virginia regiments of the Continental Line. One such company, Capt. Hugh Stephenson’s Company of Virginia Riflemen, which was organized in 1775, became a part of the 1st Virginia Regiment, American Continental Troops and earned credit for participation in the Boston and New York (1776) campaigns. In 1792 the militia companies from this part of Virginia were reorganized as companies in the 1oth and 16th Brigades, Virginia Militia, which served in the Whiskey Rebellion
in 1794.
In September 1812 seven companies from the 10th and 16th Brigades, from counties in nothern Virginia that would later become Hampshire, Harrison, Monongalia and Randolph Counties in West Virginia, were combined with five from what is now southern West Virginia (see 150th Armor above) to form the 2nd Regiment, Virginia Volunteer Militia, thereby combining the lineages of the 150th Cavalry and 201st Field Artillery. The lineages of the 150th Cavalry and 201st Field Artillery were separated again in 1863 when companies from the northern part of the new state of West Virginia were reorganized as companies in the 1st Division, West Virginia Militia (201st Field Artillery lineage), while those from the southern part of the state were assigned to the 2nd Division (150th Cavalry lineage).
During the War of 1812 most of the troops from companies in the lineages of the 201st Field Artillery served in the Army of the Northwest in 1812 and 1813, but some also served at Richmond and Norfolk.
The two lions in the Distinctive Unit Insignia represent service in the American Revolution and the War of 1812.
National Guard
The term National Guard originally referred to a French citizen militia . The term is now used in many countries. Depending on the country in question, "national guard" may refer to an organized militia, a military force, a paramilitary force, a gendarmerie, or a police force:- Americas :* National...
. Two of the four units derived from Virginia militias are in the West Virginia National Guard; at the time of the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
, West Virginia was still part of Virginia. Only one current unit, the 155th Infantry, a component of the Mississippi National Guard derived from miiltia units organized in the Mississippi Territory
Mississippi Territory
The Territory of Mississippi was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from April 7, 1798, until December 10, 1817, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the state of Mississippi....
, is from a state or territory west of the Appalachians. Unfortunately, no militia units from the states of Kentucky, Louisiana, Ohio or Tennessee, or from the Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Missouri or Louisiana Territories, where militia units played a major role in the fighting, have survived as units in the modern Army National Guard.
198th Signal Battalion (ARNG DE)
Campaigns: Delaware 1812, Delaware 1813, Delaware 1814The 198th Signal Battalion is derived from the Delaware Regiment, constituted on 9 December 1775 and organized in early 1776 as Col. John Haslet’s Regiment. During the Revolutionary War, the regiment participated in fifteen campaigns.
Three units created from the Delaware Regiment during the last decade of the eighteenth century saw service during the War of 1812: Light Infantry, 1st Infantry, 1st Regiment, 1st Brigade (mustered into federal service 23 May 1813 and mustered out on 31 July 1813, and mustered in again on 28 August 1814 and out between 3 January and 13 March 1815); the Artillery Company, 2nd Brigade (served from 23 May 1814 to 2 September 1814); and the 1st Company, Light Infantry, 8th Regiment, 3rd Brigade (in federal service from 2 March 1813 to 4 May 1813, from 6 May 1813 to 31 July 1813, and from 6 August 1814 to 11 January 1815).
The primary activity of the Delaware militia during the War of 1812 was defending coastal communities from raids by British landing parties during the blockade of the Delaware Bay and Delaware River beginning in early March, 1813, and continuing into 1814. The militia units were continually shifted from one location to another in response to movements of the British ships. On 16 March 1813, the town of Lewes was threatened with destruction by the commander of the British flotilla if it failed to provide the British with supplies. The town refused the demand and was subjected to a twenty-two-hour bombardment beginning on 6 April. A landing party was repulsed on 7 April. The 1st Company, 8th Regiment, 3rd Brigade was present in Lewes from 19 March 1813 through 24 March and from 3 May through 11 May 1813, but not at the time of the British bombardment.; the Artillery Company, 2nd Brigade was deployed to Lewes in early June.
HHD/372nd Military Police Battalion (ARNG DC)
Campaigns: Fort Washington 1813, BladensburgThe HHD/372nd Military Police Battalion traces its formation to the First Legion, Columbian Brigade constituted in the District of Columbia on 3 May 1802 and organized during the summer of 1802 from existing volunteer militia companies north of the Potomac River.
The unit was expanded, reorganized and redesignated on 17 April 1813 as the 1st Brigade, Columbian Division, to comprise two regiments. It was mustered into federal service on 15 July 1813 and mustered out on 31 July 1813, then mustered in again on 19 July 1814 and out on 8 October 1814.
During the Battle of Bladensburg
Battle of Bladensburg
The Battle of Bladensburg took place during the War of 1812. The defeat of the American forces there allowed the British to capture and burn the public buildings of Washington, D.C...
, which culminated on Aug. 24, 1814, the Columbian Division occupied the left portion of the second line of defense against the attacking British. When the first line of defense, which had been badly positioned by its commander, Brig. Gen. Tobias Stansbury, crumbled, the position of the Columbian Division became vulnerable. The division was able to resist the British advance for a while, but was forced to withdraw when its left flank came under attack. In the absence of clear orders from the American commander of the Tenth Military District, Brig. Gen. William Winder, concerning what to do in the event that a retreat was necessary, the defenders fled the field.
118th Field Artillery (ARNG GA)
Campaigns: Streamer without inscriptionThe 118th Field Artillery traces its lineage back to four independent volunteer companies, three of foot and one of horse, organized in the Georgia Militia in the District to Savannah on 18 April 1751. The Georgia militia units in Savannah and surrounding Chatham County were reorganized in 1782 as the 1st Battalion, 1st Regiment, 1st Brigade, 1st Division.
The main role of the Savannah militia during the War of 1812 was as a local defense force that remained under local control. However, three companies from the 1st Battalion were mustered into federal service during the early stages of the war: the Savannah Volunteer Guards (organized in 1802) and the Republican Blues (organized in 1808), mustered into federal service in east Florida in June 1812 as elements of Col. Daniel Newman’s provisional battalion of Georgia Volunteers and mustered out in October 1812; and the Heavy Artillery Company (organized in 1812), mustered in on 19 October 1812 at Fort James Jackson, Georgia, a fort one mile from Savannah, and mustered out on 23 November 1812.
The City Battalion of Savannah was mustered into service on 22 January 1815 as the 1st Regiment, Georgia Volunteers, and mustered out on 23 February 1815. This service came after the signing on 24 December 1814 of the Treaty of Ghent, the peace treaty that ended the war. However, neither the Americans nor the commander of the British fleet operating off the Georgia coast were aware of this event, and so elements of the Georgia militia were federalized to counter the British Cumberland Island Campaign (January-March 1815), during which the British occupied Cumberland Island at the mouth of the St. Mary's River between Georgia and Florida.
175th Infantry (ARNG MD)
Campaigns: Bladensburg, Maryland 1814The 175th Infantry traces its lineage all the way back to the Baltimore Independent Cadets, a company of sixty “gentlemen of honour, family, and fortune” organized in 1774. In 1776 the Cadets were absorbed into William Smallwood’s Maryland Battalion, which was later expanded and reorganized into the 1st through the 7th Maryland Regiments. These seven regiments earned credit for fourteen campaigns during the Revolutionary War. In 1794 the volunteer militia companies of Baltimore were reorganized as elements of the 5th Regiment of Militia.
The 5th Regiment was in federal service from 19 August 1814 through 18 November 1814. During the Battle of Bladensburg
Battle of Bladensburg
The Battle of Bladensburg took place during the War of 1812. The defeat of the American forces there allowed the British to capture and burn the public buildings of Washington, D.C...
, which culminated on 24 August 1814, the “Dandy Fifth,” along with other Maryland militia units, provided the first line of defense against the attacking British. As the British advanced, the 5th Maryland counterattacked, but when the 1st and 2nd Regiments on their left broke and fled, the 5th joined the rest of Maryland militia in a disorderly retreat from the field.
The 5th gave a much better account of itself on 12 September 1814 at the Battle of North Point
Battle of North Point
The Battle of North Point was fought on September 12, 1814, between General John Stricker's Maryland Militia and a British force led by Major General Robert Ross. Although tactically a British victory, the battle delayed the British advance against Baltimore, buying valuable time for the defense of...
, which was part of the Battle of Baltimore
Battle of Baltimore
The Battle of Baltimore was a combined sea/land battle fought between British and American forces in the War of 1812. It was one of the turning points of the war as American forces repulsed sea and land invasions of the busy port city of Baltimore, Maryland, and killed the commander of the invading...
. The 5th Regiment held its position against the attacking British, and then conducted a successful fighting retreat that significantly slowed the British advance on Baltimore.
181st Infantry (ARNG MA)
Campaigns: Streamer without inscriptionThe 181st and 182nd Infantry Regiments are two of the oldest units in the U.S. Army, both tracing their origins all the way back to the North Regiment, organized in 1636 from militia units at Cambridge, Charlestown, Watertown, Dedham and Concord, and redesignated as the Middlesex Regiment in 1643. In 1680 additional companies from other towns were added, and the Middlesex Regiment was split into the 2nd (Upper) Middlesex Regiment, which ultimately became the 181st Infantry, and the 1st (Lower) Middlesex Regiment, which ultimately became the 182nd Infantry.
By the time of the War of 1812, the 2nd Middlesex Regiment had become the 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division in the Massachusetts militia. Flank companies of the 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division served as elements of the Elite Brigade, which was mustered into federal service during September and October, 1814 for service in Boston.
The 181st Infantry also perpetuates the lineage of the 104th Infantry, with which it was consolidated in 2006. The 104th Infantry traces its roots to the Hampshire Regiment, constituted in 1662, which later became the Hampshire and Berkshire County Brigades. By the time of the War of 1812 these two brigades had become the 4th and 9th Divisions, respectively. From these two divisions, five regiments were organized for federal service at Boston from September through November, 1814.
The Massachusetts militia was one of the largest, best equipped and best trained of any of the state militias, but support for the war in New England was lukewarm at best. As a consequence, no Massachusetts units were federalized until 1814, although as state units they were active in guarding the state's coastline. Only after Great Britain burned Washington and generally increased its naval pressure on the East Coast did Massachusetts allow its militias to be mustered into federal service
182nd Infantry (ARNG MA)
Campaigns: Streamer without inscriptionThe Middlesex Regiment, the origin of which is described above in the section on the 181st Infantry, was split into the 1st (Lower) and 2nd (Upper) Middlesex Regiments in 1680. The 1st Middlesex Regiment ultimately became the 182nd Infantry, while the 2nd Middlesex Regiment became the 181st Infantry. By the time of the War of 1812, the 1st Middlesex Regiment had become the 1st Brigade, 3rd Division in the Massachusetts militia. Flank companies of the 1st Brigade, 3rd Division were mustered into federal service as elements of the Elite Brigade, which served at Boston during September and October, 1814.
The 182nd Infantry also perpetuates the lineage of the 101st Infantry, with which it was consolidated in 1992. The 101st Infantry traces its roots to the Columbia Artillery in the Legionary Brigade of Boston, organized in 1798. This unit was also assigned to the Elite Brigade during September and October 1814.
The mobilization of militia units in Boston during the fall of 1814 was a response to increased activity of the British navy along the eastern seaboard beginning in the late summer. The British raid on Washington and the attack on Fort McHenry and the attempted occupation of Baltimore had sparked fears of attacks of other Atlantic ports. However, no attack materialized, and in October the British ended their campaign in the Chesapeake Bay.
772nd Military Police Company (ARNG MA)
Campaigns: Streamer without inscriptionThe 772nd Military Police Company traces its origins to the Cohannet Train Band, Plymouth Colony Militia, organized on 3 March 1638. In 1639 the unit became the Taunton Train Band. The first major military action of the Taunton Train Band was in King Philip’s War (1675-1676), a conflict between the colonists and a confederation of Indian tribes organized by a Wampanoag chief named Metacom, but referred to as King Philip by the colonists, to resist expansion of white settlements in southern New England. By 1703 the Taunton Train Band had assumed the honorific title “First Military Company,” and in 1785 it became the 1st Foot Company, 3rd Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 5th Division.
Under the command of Capt. Joseph Reed, Jr., the 1st Company was mustered into service on 6 September 1814 at a time when an invasion by the British was feared, and served for thirty days. The company was deployed to New Bedford.
Since companies are not issued Distinctive Unit Insignia, the 772nd Military Police Company wears the DUI of the 211th Military Police Battalion, in which it serves.
155th Infantry (ARNG MS)
Campaigns: Florida 1814, New OrleansThe 155th Infantry traces its lineage back to the Legions of Militia, Upper and Lower Districts, Mississippi Territory
Mississippi Territory
The Territory of Mississippi was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from April 7, 1798, until December 10, 1817, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the state of Mississippi....
, constituted on 8 September 1798. On 25 October 1798 the Legion of Militia of the Lower (or Southern) District was organized as the Militia of Adams County, which was reorganized and redesignated as the 1st Regiment, Mississippi Territorial Militia in 1802.
By the late summer of 1812, the 1st Regiment, Mississippi Territorial Militia had become the 1st Regiment, Mississippi Territorial Volunteers. Between early 1813 and mid-1814 the 1st Regiment underwent a number of reorganizations and redesignations, and spent a period of time in federal service between September 1812 and April 1814. But this service did not result in the award of any campaign credits for the War of 1812. The War of 1812 campaign credits awarded to the 155th Infantry were earned by six Mississippi militia units mustered into federal service from September 1814 through January 1815 for service in Maj. Gen. Andrew Jackson’s Coast Campaign: Lt. Col. J. Carson’s Regiment of Volunteer Mounted Gunmen, Lt. Col. D. Neilson’s Infantry Detachment, Lt. Col. T. Hinds’ Squadron of Light Dragoons, Capt. J. C. Wilkins’ Natchez Volunteer Rifle Corps, Capt. Boyle’s Company of Volunteer Mounted Spies, and Maj. J. P. Kennedy’s Company of Choctaw Indians.
Of the six Mississippi militia units in the lineage of the 155th Infantry, Hinds' Dragoons was the one most involved in the Battle of New Orleans
Battle of New Orleans
The Battle of New Orleans took place on January 8, 1815 and was the final major battle of the War of 1812. American forces, commanded by Major General Andrew Jackson, defeated an invading British Army intent on seizing New Orleans and the vast territory the United States had acquired with the...
. During the night attack on 23 December the Dragoons provided valuable reconnaissance that located the British encampment on LaCoste's Plantation, and during the major battle on 8 January they were in reseve just one mile behind the breastworks that comprised Jackson's front line. The Dragoons also participated in the last land fighting of the battle during a skirminsh with the British rear guard near the mouth of Bayou Bienvenue on 25 January.
The cross in the chief (the upper third) of Distinctive Unit Insignia symbolizes service in the War of 1812.
113th Infantry (ARNG NJ)
Campaigns: Streamer without inscriptionThe 113th Infantry traces its history back to the 1st New Jersey Regiment, which was organized in the Continental Army in part from existing militia companies from Essex County between 26 October and 15 December 1775. The regiment was assigned to the New Jersey Brigade for sersvice in the American Revolution, during which it participated in ten campaigns. The regiment was reorganized and redesignated as the New Jersey Regiment on 1 March 1783, furloughed on 6 June 1783, and disbanded on 15 November 1783. In 1793 it was reorganized again in the New Jersey militia and expanded to form the Essex Brigade. Elements of the Essex Brigade were mustered into federal service during 1814.
Essex County is in northeastern New Jersey. Because of the proximity of this part of New Jersey to New York City, the New Jersey militia was an integral part of the force that defended New York Harbor against invasion by British warships. In addition to serving at stratetically located fortifications along the New Jersey shore, such as Sandy Hook, Paulus Hook and the Highlands of Navesink, some New Jersey militia units were also posted to forts in New York, and a few were deployed on Delaware Bay. When not mustered into United States service, elements of the New Jersey were often deployed as independent militia by the governor to locations on the New Jersey coast.
53rd Support Detachment (ARNG NY)
Campaigns: Streamer without inscriptionThe 53rd Support Detachment traces its origin to four companies of artillery, commanded by Capts. Henry Morgan, James Hewitt, John Fleming and John Forbes, organized during May and June 1806 in New York City. The formation of these four companies was a impassioned reaction by the residents of New York City to the arrival in April off Sandy Hook of three British warships, which proceeded to board and search all American vessels entering New York Harbor. On 25 April over twenty American vessels entered the Harbor, whereupon the British fired over a hundred shots at the Americans before boarding and searching as many as they could. The shelling caused the death of one sailor.
On 26 July 1806 these four artillery companies were assigned to the Battalion of Artillery, 1st Artillery Brigade, which was expanded and redesignated on 5 April 1807 as the 3rd Regiment of Artillery. The four aforementioned companies were reorganized and redesignated on 25 August 1808 as the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Regiment of Artillery, which was reorganized and redesignated as the 2nd Battalion, 11th Regiment of Artillery on 13 June 1812. This regiment was mustered into federal service twice during the War of 1812: 15 September 1812 through 15 December 1812 and 2 September 1814 through 2 December 1814.
During its first period of federal service, the 2nd Battalion, 11th Regiment was stationed on Ellis Island and Bedloe Island (later renamed Liberty Island); during its second stint, at the North Battery, a fort in New York City. The mobilization during the fall of 1814 was a response to increased activity of the British fleet along the eastern seaboard during the summer, followed by the raid on Washington and the attacks on Fort McHenry and Baltimore. These actions by the British stoked fears of attacks or invasions at other important ports on the East Coast. Following their decisive defeat at Baltimore, however, the British cut back on their activities in the Chesapeake Bay, with much of the fleet withdrawing to Jamaica and refitting for action along the Gulf Coast.
The "7" in the Distinctive Unit Insignia refers to the Seventh Regiment of New York
Seventh Regiment of New York
The Seventh Regiment of New York , now referred to as the 7th Regiment New York State Militia, was a State Defense Force which was established in 1806 and has gone through numerous redesignations...
, which is in the lineage of the 53rd Support Detachment. The 7th Regiment is one of the National Guard's most storied regiments. Indeed, it was the first militia unit to refer to itself as the "National Guard." This occurred in August 1825 when the 2nd Battalion, 2nd Regiment of Artillery, to honor the Marquis de Lafayette on the day of his departure from New York, adopted the name "National Guards" in honor of the Garde Nationale de Paris, which was at one time commanded by Lafayette. The "s" was soon dropped. In 1847 the unit was redesignated the 7th Regiment, and in 1862 the term "National Guard" was appropriated by the state for the uniformed militia.
258th Field Artillery, (ARNG NY)
Campaigns: Streamer without inscriptionThe 258th Field Artillery traces its lineage back to the 4th Regiment of Artillery, which was organized in the New York militia from existing units in New York City on 9 October 1809. On 13 June 1812 the 4th Regiment of Artillery was redesignated as the 3rd Regiment of Artillery. The 3rd Regiment of Artillery was mustered into federal service between 15 September 1812 and 15 December 1812 and again between 2 September 1814 and 3 December 1814.
The primary mission of the New York City militia units was to prevent the British from entering New York Harbor and possibly occupying the city. The defense of New York Harbor was organized around a series of forts constructed on islands in the harbor, including Bedloe Island and Governors Island, and a number of forts in the city. In addition, the defense of New York Harbor was augmented by several fortification constructed at strategic locations on the New Jersey shore. The batteries of the 3rd Regiment of Artillery were assigned to several of the New York forts during the course of the war.
103rd Engineer Battalion (ARNG PA)
Campaigns: Streamer without inscriptionThe 103rd Engineer Battalion traces its origins to 7 December 1747 when the Military Association of the City of Philadelphia, founded on 21 November 1747 by Benjamin Franklin, was officially recognized. The artillery companies of the Associators were combined to form the Train of Artillery of Philadelphia on 29 December 1747. The Train of Artillery of Philadelphia was reorganized as the Philadelphia Artillery Battalion in 1775, units of which earned credit for participation in thirteen campaigns during the Revolutionary War.
In 1794 the Philadelphia Artillery Battalion was expanded as the Regiment of Artillery of the City of Philadelphia, which was mustered into federal service from August 1814 through January 1815 as the Regiment of Artillery, consisting of six companies: the Junior Artillerists, the Company of Independent Artillerists, the 2nd Company of Independent Artillerists, the Northern Liberty Artillerists, the Frakford Volunteer Artillerists and Capt. Landis's Company of Volunteer Artillerists.
The red lion in the Distinctive Unit Insignia denotes service in the War of 1812.
HHT/2-104th Cavalry (ARNG PA)
Campaigns: Streamer without inscriptionThe 104th Cavalry traces its beginnings to 30 June 1874 when it was constituted as the 8th Infantry Regiment, and organized in August of that same year in south-central Pennsylvania. However, the Headquarters and Headquarters Troop of the 2nd Squadron has a much earlier origin. The HHT/2-104th Cavalry traces its lineage back to the Reading Union Volunteers, organized on 23 March 1794. The Reading Union Volunteer served in the Whiskey Rebellion
Whiskey Rebellion
The Whiskey Rebellion, or Whiskey Insurrection, was a tax protest in the United States in the 1790s, during the presidency of George Washington. Farmers who sold their corn in the form of whiskey had to pay a new tax which they strongly resented...
. During the War of 1812 the Reading Union Volunteers were mustered into federal service on 12 September 1814 as the Reading Washington (Guards) Blues, in respone to the British attack on Fort McHenry and Baltimore, and mustered out on 8 February 1815.
The last four months of 1814 was a period of time when the British navy was very active all along the Atlantic coast, especially in the Chesapeake Bay, and the Americans feared attacks on its coastal cities. The Guards were initially ordered to Philadelphia to defend the city against a possible attack by the British that never materialized, after which they were attached to the Advance Light Brigade, 1st Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry and deployed along the Delaware River.
111th Infantry (ARNG PA)
Campaigns: Streamer without inscriptionThe 111th Infantry traces its origins to the Associators, founded in 1747 in Philadelphia by Benjamin Franklin. The Associators were created as a volunteer militia unit to defend Philadelphia against French privateers operating on the Delaware River. In 1747 the Associators were reorganized, minus the artillery companies (which became the Train of Artillery of Philadelphia and ultimately the 103rd Engineer Battalion - see above), as the Associated Regiment of Foot of Philadelphia. In 1775 the Associated Regiment of Foot became the Associators of the City and Liberties of Philadelphia; and in 1777, the Philadelphia Brigade of Militia, which participated in four campaigns during the American Revolution. On 11 April 1793 the Philadelphia Brigade was reorganized as the 1st Brigade, 1st Division, which was mustered into federal service as the 1st Regiment on 24 August 1814 at Philadelphia and mustered out on 4 January 1815.
The period from mid-August 1814 until the end of the war was a time when the British naval forces on the Chesapeake Bay and Delaware Bay were very active, conducting the successful raid on Washington and the unsuccessful attack on Baltimore. The Pennsylvania miitia units from the Philadaelphia area that were federalized at this time were used to augment the defense of Baltimore and the Delaware River, but did not see action.
263rd Air Defense Artillery (ARNG SC)
Campaigns: Streamer without inscriptionThe 263rd Air Defense Artillery traces its roots to the Artillery Company of Charles Town, organized in 1756 and chartered by the colony of South Carolina on 31 July 1760. In 1775 the Artillery Company was expanded, reorganized and redesignated as the Charles Town Battalion of Artillery, which served in the American Revolution until Charleston was surrender to British forces on 12 May 1780. It was reconstituted in 1783 as the Charleston Battalion of Artillery. In 1794 the Charleston Battalion of Artillery became the 1st Regiment of Artillery. During the War of 1812 the Provisional Battalion, 1st Regiment of Artillery was mustered into federal service at Charleston on 6 November 1814 and mustered out on 3 March 1815, by which time the war had ended.
The mission of the Charleston militia was to defend the important port of Charleston from attack by British ships. At the time when the Provisional Battalion, 1st Regiment of Artillery was mustered into federal service late in 1814, there had been an increase in activity of the British fleet along the eastern seaboard, and a possible invasion was feared. However, Charleston was not attacked, and the Provisional Battery did not participate in any combat.
HHT/2-183rd Cavalry (ARNG VA)
Campaigns: Virginia 1813The 183rd Cavalry dates back only to 2005, when it was organized from former elements of the 111th Air Defense Artillery. However, the Headquarters and Headquarters Troop/2-183rd Cavalry is much older, having been derived from the Headquarters and Headquarters Battery/3-111th Air Defense Artillery, which has a lineage that goes back to 1792, when the Portsmouth Rifles was organized in Norfolk County as a company in the 7th Regiment, Virginia Militia.
Militia companies in the Norfolk area, including companies from the 7th Regiment, were mobilized in February and June 1813 for local defense, and again between August 1814 and February 1815 in anticipation of a British attempt to occupy Norfolk. In an action preliminary to the invasion of Norfolk, the British attempted a landing on Craney Island, a low-lying point of land near the mouth of the Elizabeth River, on 22 June 1813, where they were soundly defeated. Following their repulse at Craney Island, the British abandoned their plans to attack Norfolk and turned their attention to Portsmouth instead. When not mobilized, the Norfolk County units continued to serve as local defense units under county regimental authority.
276th Engineer Battalion (ARNG VA)
Campaigns: Virginia 1813The 276th Engineers trace their origin to the Richmond City Regiment organized in May 1791 from existing elements of the Virginia Militia. The Richmond City Regiment was reorganized and redesignated as the 19th Regiment on 31 December 1791. While remaining in state service, the 19th Regiment formed the First Corps d'Elite Brigade of Virginia Militia (Col. Thomas Mann Randolph commanding), which was mustered into federal service in 1813 and mustered out in 1814. The First Corps d'Elite Brigade consisted of the Richmond Volunteers, the Flying Artillery (Capt. William Wirt commanding), the Rifle Company (Capt. William H. Richardson commanding) and the Richmond Light Infantry Blues.
The First Corps d'Elite Brigade, along with other Virginia militia units from Chesterfield and Henrico Counties, was federalized in March and June 1813, at a time when the British seemed to be preparing an invasion of Virginia along the James River and possibly even attacking Richmond. The invasion along the James never materialized, but the British did threaten Norfolk and Portsmouth. The threat to Norfolk ended when the British attempt to occupy Craney Island in June was soundly defeated (see HHT/2-183 Cavalry above). Some elements of the Richmond militia were mobilized again during the summer of 1814 and sent to Richmond and Norfolk, at a time when increased activity of the British fleet along the eastern seaboard had stoked invasion fears in coastal cities.
150th Cavalry (ARNG WV)
Campaigns: Indiana Territory 1812-1813The 150th Cavalry traces its formation back to the Militia of Greenbrier County, Virginia, constituted in 1778 from Minutemen companies organized for frontier defense in 1777. Drafts from these companies provided Virginia regiments for the Continental Line during the period 1777 through 1782. In 1792 Greenbrier and Kanawha County militia units were reorganized as volunteer companies in the 13th Brigade, Virginia Militia.
In September 1812 five companies from the 13th Brigade from the part of Virginia that would later become Cabell, Greenbrier, Kanawha and Mason Counties in present-day southern West Virginia were consolidated with seven companies from the area that is currently northern West Virginia to form the 2nd Regiment, Virginia Volunteer Militia. These companies were separated again in 1863 when the new state of West Virginia reorganized its forces, and units from the southern counties (Cabell, Greenbrier, Kanawha and Mason Counties) became part of the 2nd Division (150th Cavalry lineage), while those from the northern part of the state (Hampshire, Harrison, Monongalia and Randolph Counties) were assigned to the 1st Division (201st Field Artillery lineage - see below).
During the War of 1812, companies from the 2nd Regiment served at Richmond and Norfolk and in Ohio and the Indiana Territory
Indiana Territory
The Territory of Indiana was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from July 4, 1800, until November 7, 1816, when the southern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the state of Indiana....
with the Army of the Northwest. Virginia companies aided in the construction of Fort Meigs
Fort Meigs
Fort Meigs was a fortification along the Maumee River in Ohio during the War of 1812. It is named in honor of Ohio governor Return J. Meigs, Jr., for his support in providing General William Henry Harrison with militia and supplies for the line of forts along the Old Northwest...
near the Maumee Rapids, but were not present when the fort was attacked by Indians and the British in the spring of 1813. War of 1812 campaign credit for the 150th Cavalry was awarded for service in the Indiana Territory.
One of the five stars in the Distinctive Unit Insignia commemorates service during the War of 1812.
201st Field Artillery (ARNG WV)
Campaigns: Indiana Territory 1812-1813The 201st Field Artillery traces its origin to militia companies formed in the northern and western part of the Virginia Colony, the earliest of which was Captain Morgan Morgan’s Company of Volunteer Militia of Orange Country, Virginia, organized on 17 February 1735. During the Revolutionary War several militia companies from this part of Virginia were organized for frontier defense and for service in Virginia regiments of the Continental Line. One such company, Capt. Hugh Stephenson’s Company of Virginia Riflemen, which was organized in 1775, became a part of the 1st Virginia Regiment, American Continental Troops and earned credit for participation in the Boston and New York (1776) campaigns. In 1792 the militia companies from this part of Virginia were reorganized as companies in the 1oth and 16th Brigades, Virginia Militia, which served in the Whiskey Rebellion
Whiskey Rebellion
The Whiskey Rebellion, or Whiskey Insurrection, was a tax protest in the United States in the 1790s, during the presidency of George Washington. Farmers who sold their corn in the form of whiskey had to pay a new tax which they strongly resented...
in 1794.
In September 1812 seven companies from the 10th and 16th Brigades, from counties in nothern Virginia that would later become Hampshire, Harrison, Monongalia and Randolph Counties in West Virginia, were combined with five from what is now southern West Virginia (see 150th Armor above) to form the 2nd Regiment, Virginia Volunteer Militia, thereby combining the lineages of the 150th Cavalry and 201st Field Artillery. The lineages of the 150th Cavalry and 201st Field Artillery were separated again in 1863 when companies from the northern part of the new state of West Virginia were reorganized as companies in the 1st Division, West Virginia Militia (201st Field Artillery lineage), while those from the southern part of the state were assigned to the 2nd Division (150th Cavalry lineage).
During the War of 1812 most of the troops from companies in the lineages of the 201st Field Artillery served in the Army of the Northwest in 1812 and 1813, but some also served at Richmond and Norfolk.
The two lions in the Distinctive Unit Insignia represent service in the American Revolution and the War of 1812.
Footnotes
Date of origin, organizational history, dates of federal service during the War of 1812 and, in some cases, locations of service were obtained from the Lineage and Honors Certificate issued for each unit by the United States Army Center of Military History, Department of the Army, located at Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, DC.External links
- http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/198sig.htm 198th Signal Battalion (ARNG DE).
- http://www.delawarenationalguard.com/aboutus/history/1812/ Delaware militia in the War of 1812.
- http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/372mp.htm 372nd Military Police Battalion (ARNG DC).
- http://www.ngef.org/index.asp?bid=77 DC militia in the War of 1812.
- http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/1-118fa.htm 1-118th Field Artillery (ARNG GA).
- http://www.savannahvolunteerguard.org/war1812.htm Savannah militia in the War of 1812.
- http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/1-175in.htm 1-175th Infantry (ARNG MD).
- http://www.emmitsburg.net/archive_list/articles/history/rev_war/1814.htm The defense of Maryland during the War of 1812.
- http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/1-181in.htm 1-181st Infantry (ARNG MA).
- http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/1-182in.htm 1-182nd Infantry (ARNG MA).
- http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/211mp.htm 211th Military Police Battalion (ARNG MA).
- http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/1-115inf.htm 1-155th Infantry (ARNG MS).
- http://myathenaeum.com/simpson/smt.html Mississippi militia in the War of 1812.
- http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/2-113in.htm 2-113rd Infantry (ARNG NJ).
- http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/107sg.htm 107th Support Group (ARNG NY).
- http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/1-258fa.htm 1-258th Field Artillery (ARNG NY).
- http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/103eng.htm 103rd Engineer Battalion (ARNG PA).
- http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/1-111in.htm 1-111 Infantry (ARNG PA).
- http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/337eng.htm 337th Engineer Battalion (ARNG PA).
- http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/2-263ada.htm 2-363rd Air Defense Artillery (ARNG SC).
- http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/2-183cav.htm 2-183rd Cavalry (ARNG VA).
- http://www.vnghs.org/index.php/virginia-national-guard-history/unit-history-and-lineage/hhc-2nd-battalion-183rd-cavalry HHT/2-183rd Cavalry (ARNG VA).
- http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/276eng.htm 276 Engineer Battalion (ARNG VA).
- http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/1-150ar.htm 1-150th Cavalry (ARNG WV).
- http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/1-201fa.htm 1-201st Field Artillery (ARNG WV).