Bacilli
Regular
The 3rd US Infantry Regiment "The Old Guard"
The 3rd US Infantry Regiment is a Union Line infantry regiment, which just so happens to be the oldest, and one of the most experienced units in the entire Army. We play using the North and South Mod for the Napoleonic Wars DLC. During the Civil War, The 3rd Infantry Regiment is one of the most well known Union regiments during the civil war. They are famous for saving the day during The Battle of Bull run, forming a square at the bridge and holding off repeated confederate cavalry, Infantry, and artillery attacks. After the battle the Army commander pointed out the little Battalion and said to Lincoln "these are the men who saved your army." Lincoln replied "Yes, I have heard of them.". Then at Chancellorsville their rear-guard action yet again saved the Union Army. And at The Battle of Gettysburg, they held the line with minimal losses. So great was the Regiment's service during The Civil War, they were assigned to guard the Tomb of the unknown soldier and was given the secondary nickname of "Escort to The President" Their Legacy endures to today, The 3rd has served in the Indian Wars, the War of 1812, the Mexican-American War, The Civil War, The Spanish-American War, The Philippine-American War, World War II, The Vietnam War, The Iraq War, and just reciently finished their deployment in Afghanistan as a part of Operation Enduring Freedom.
The 3rd US Infantry Regiment, Nicknamed The "Old Guard" and The "Escort to the President" is The US Army's oldest infantry regiment. Formed under Lieutenant Colonel Josiah Harmar on June 3, 1784, the regiment quickly began fighting on the frontier in the Indian Wars fighting the Native Americans at Hardin's Defeat, Battle of the Wabash, Battle of Fallen Timbers, Battle of Sugar Point. During the Mexican-American War, The Old Guard took part in the initially northern assault into Mexico with Major General Zachary Taylor, playing a vital role in Talyor's campaign. Then they were transfered into General Scott's Amphibious Landing at Vera Cruz and took part in taking the city. The Regiment began marching towards Mexico City and met General De' Santa Anna's Army at The heights of Cerro Gordo. General Scott placed the Old Guard in the center of the line, who after firing a volley, charged with bayonets decisively in arguably one of The Old Guard's most glorious battles. So impressed was General Scott, he wrote an entry in his journal about the 3rd.
"…the style of execution which I had pleasure to witness, was brilliant and decisive. The brigade ascended ...without shelter, and under the tremendous fire of artillery and muskets . . . [they] drove the enemy from [the breastworks] . . . and after some minutes of sharp firing, finished the conquest with the bayonet . . ."
The Old Guard's next major war was the Civil War, the war in which the Old Guard made names for themselves. In July of 1861, the Union advance into Virginia was stopped at Bull Run as the two armies groped and floundered into each other. When the Federal line broke in the afternoon, and the routed army began to flee toward Washington, a movement by the southerners threatened to cut off the retreat. George Sykes, (now Major) with five companies of the 3rd Infantry, two companies of the 2nd, and one company of the 8th Infantry marched his ad hoc battalion to a critical ridge near the road to Stone Bridge. For the only time in the war, the battalion formed a square and successfully defended the ridge and road against infantry, artillery and cavalry until all units of the fleeing army had crossed the bridge. The Battalion then retired in good order to Washington. Fewer than five hundred men had saved the Army and perhaps the union. When the President came to review the troops at the end of the month, the Army commander pointed out the little Battalion and said to Lincoln "these are the men who saved your army." Lincoln replied "Yes, I have heard of them."
There was no further combat by Old Guardsmen in Virginia until June of 1862. The Federal movement up the Virginia Peninsula toward Richmond was repulsed in the Seven Days Battles. At Gaines Mill, while holding the Federal right, the 3rd Infantry was attacked by overwhelming forces and stood its ground to save the line from collapsing. The line was held, but at great cost to the Regiment, including the death of the regimental commander, Major Nathan Rossell, who was the last field grade officer to serve with the unit until the end of the war. The rise in the ground where the combat took place is now called Regular's Hill.
The Old Guard was in heavy combat during the battle of Second Bull Run in August 1862, with The Old Guard deployed as skirmishers in Groveton, and then falling back to hold Henry House Hill. The Old Guard had little part to play at Antietam in September 1862, but was deployed at a potentially critical point. At Fredericksburg, in December 1862, the Brigade of Regulars was used to hold the town below the heights and the 3rd Infantry was posted in a tannery. Under continuous shelling, the Regulars were finally deployed in support of the retreat and were the last troops to return to Falmouth Heights on the north side of the river.
After the defeat at Fredericksburg, the Army's new commander took action to boost morale and foster esprit de corps. Major General Joseph Hooker reorganized the Army and gave each unit down to division level its own insignia, based on the insignia of its parent Army corps (soldiers already wore a company letter and a regimental number). The system figures prominently in the heraldry of The Old Guard. The white Maltese cross was worn by all men of the 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, of the Fifth Corps, known as the Regular Division. It is the origin of the three crosses on the Coat of Arms of The Old Guard.
At Chancellorsville in May 1863, the initial success of the deployment to the battlefield was followed by an attack east along the Orange Turnpike spearheaded by The Old Guard and the Regular Division. The successful attack was not adequately supported, and the Division withdrew to the Chancellor house. As the day wore on, the Division was sent to secure all of the roads north of Chancellorsville to deny them to the enemy and ensure that the line of communications was kept open. When, after Jackson's attack, the line of communications became a line of retreat, the Army passed through the Fifth Corps elements and recrossed the river. The Regulars fought the rear-guard action, slowing down the pursuing enemy until the Army could successfully return to the north side of the Rappahannock River.
George Sykes, until Chancellorsville the Division commander--the most common term for the Regular Division was "Sykes's Regulars"--was promoted to Fifth Corps Commander. He, along with two others (William Penrose and William Hoffman) were 3rd Infantry officers before the war who achieved the rank of Major General. Both Sykes and Penrose had been company commanders in 1860; Hoffman, much older, had been the regimental commander. Command of the Regular Division fell to Romeyn Ayres for the remainder of the war.
The command of the Regiment changed again in the days before the July 1863 Battle of Gettysburg. John Wilkins, senior Captain and commander since the death of Major Nathan Rossell at Gaines Mill, was ranked by Captain Henry Freedly, whose parole from his capture in Texas had expired, allowing him to return to active duty. The Regiment entered the campaign as combat ready as any in the division. To a man, they were experienced veterans. Its single shortfall was manpower. More than fifty percent of its officer positions were vacant, and, its six companies--with an authorized strength of 576--had fewer than 300 men present for duty. The casualties and other losses of the Regiment were never replaced.
The full history of the Regiment can be found here: http://www.army.mil/info/organization/unitsandcommands/commandstructure/theoldguard/museum/shorthistory/index.htm
"…the style of execution which I had pleasure to witness, was brilliant and decisive. The brigade ascended ...without shelter, and under the tremendous fire of artillery and muskets . . . [they] drove the enemy from [the breastworks] . . . and after some minutes of sharp firing, finished the conquest with the bayonet . . ."
The Old Guard's next major war was the Civil War, the war in which the Old Guard made names for themselves. In July of 1861, the Union advance into Virginia was stopped at Bull Run as the two armies groped and floundered into each other. When the Federal line broke in the afternoon, and the routed army began to flee toward Washington, a movement by the southerners threatened to cut off the retreat. George Sykes, (now Major) with five companies of the 3rd Infantry, two companies of the 2nd, and one company of the 8th Infantry marched his ad hoc battalion to a critical ridge near the road to Stone Bridge. For the only time in the war, the battalion formed a square and successfully defended the ridge and road against infantry, artillery and cavalry until all units of the fleeing army had crossed the bridge. The Battalion then retired in good order to Washington. Fewer than five hundred men had saved the Army and perhaps the union. When the President came to review the troops at the end of the month, the Army commander pointed out the little Battalion and said to Lincoln "these are the men who saved your army." Lincoln replied "Yes, I have heard of them."
There was no further combat by Old Guardsmen in Virginia until June of 1862. The Federal movement up the Virginia Peninsula toward Richmond was repulsed in the Seven Days Battles. At Gaines Mill, while holding the Federal right, the 3rd Infantry was attacked by overwhelming forces and stood its ground to save the line from collapsing. The line was held, but at great cost to the Regiment, including the death of the regimental commander, Major Nathan Rossell, who was the last field grade officer to serve with the unit until the end of the war. The rise in the ground where the combat took place is now called Regular's Hill.
The Old Guard was in heavy combat during the battle of Second Bull Run in August 1862, with The Old Guard deployed as skirmishers in Groveton, and then falling back to hold Henry House Hill. The Old Guard had little part to play at Antietam in September 1862, but was deployed at a potentially critical point. At Fredericksburg, in December 1862, the Brigade of Regulars was used to hold the town below the heights and the 3rd Infantry was posted in a tannery. Under continuous shelling, the Regulars were finally deployed in support of the retreat and were the last troops to return to Falmouth Heights on the north side of the river.
After the defeat at Fredericksburg, the Army's new commander took action to boost morale and foster esprit de corps. Major General Joseph Hooker reorganized the Army and gave each unit down to division level its own insignia, based on the insignia of its parent Army corps (soldiers already wore a company letter and a regimental number). The system figures prominently in the heraldry of The Old Guard. The white Maltese cross was worn by all men of the 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, of the Fifth Corps, known as the Regular Division. It is the origin of the three crosses on the Coat of Arms of The Old Guard.
At Chancellorsville in May 1863, the initial success of the deployment to the battlefield was followed by an attack east along the Orange Turnpike spearheaded by The Old Guard and the Regular Division. The successful attack was not adequately supported, and the Division withdrew to the Chancellor house. As the day wore on, the Division was sent to secure all of the roads north of Chancellorsville to deny them to the enemy and ensure that the line of communications was kept open. When, after Jackson's attack, the line of communications became a line of retreat, the Army passed through the Fifth Corps elements and recrossed the river. The Regulars fought the rear-guard action, slowing down the pursuing enemy until the Army could successfully return to the north side of the Rappahannock River.
George Sykes, until Chancellorsville the Division commander--the most common term for the Regular Division was "Sykes's Regulars"--was promoted to Fifth Corps Commander. He, along with two others (William Penrose and William Hoffman) were 3rd Infantry officers before the war who achieved the rank of Major General. Both Sykes and Penrose had been company commanders in 1860; Hoffman, much older, had been the regimental commander. Command of the Regular Division fell to Romeyn Ayres for the remainder of the war.
The command of the Regiment changed again in the days before the July 1863 Battle of Gettysburg. John Wilkins, senior Captain and commander since the death of Major Nathan Rossell at Gaines Mill, was ranked by Captain Henry Freedly, whose parole from his capture in Texas had expired, allowing him to return to active duty. The Regiment entered the campaign as combat ready as any in the division. To a man, they were experienced veterans. Its single shortfall was manpower. More than fifty percent of its officer positions were vacant, and, its six companies--with an authorized strength of 576--had fewer than 300 men present for duty. The casualties and other losses of the Regiment were never replaced.
The full history of the Regiment can be found here: http://www.army.mil/info/organization/unitsandcommands/commandstructure/theoldguard/museum/shorthistory/index.htm
Ranks
Commissioned Officers
Non-Commissioned Officers
Enlisted
Commissioned Officers
Lieutenant Colonel | Major | Captain | 1st Lieutenant | 2nd Lieutenant |
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Non-Commissioned Officers
Sergeant Major | Quartermaster Sergeant | Ordnance Sergeant | First Sergeant | Sergeant | Corporal |
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Enlisted
Private First Class | Private |
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