1st Colorado Infantry Regiment

Former American military unit November 2025 1st Colorado Infantry Regiment National color of the regiment 1st Colorado Infantry Regiment.png National color of the regiment August 1861 to November 1862 United States Union Infantry American Civil War Battle of Glorieta Pass Battle of Peralta The 1st Colorado Infantry Regiment (officially the 1st Regiment of Colorado Volunteers) was a volunteer infantry regiment of the United States Army formed in the Colorado Territory in 1861 and active in the American West in the late 19th century. History The regiment was formed shortly after the outbreak of the American Civil War by order of William Gilpin, the first governor of the territory. Recruiters began enlisting men in August 1861, just six months after the organization of the territory. Known as "Gilpin's Pet Lambs" for the involvement of the governor in its formation, the regiment served in the Western Theater, at first serving in various detachments throughout the territory. The regiment's most notable service came in the New Mexico Campaign in the spring of 1862, in which they helped repulse the advance of the Army of New Mexico under Henry Hopkins Sibley at the battles of Glorieta Pass and Peralta. In November 1862, the unit was reorganized along with Companies C and D of the 2nd Colorado Infantry into the 1st Colorado Cavalry. (This was done since the US War Department believed cavalry would be better in protecting the Western trails and for fighting the various Indian tribes.) The first colonel of the regiment was John P. Slough, replaced in April 1862 by Major John Chivington, later chastised for his role as commander of the 3rd Colorado Cavalry in the November 1864 Sand Creek Massacre. There is a group of reenactors who portray the First Colorado (Company D) in Denver. The unit celebrated 50 years in 2024.http://www.firstcolorado.org/ https://web.archive.org/web/20081121033214/http://www.firstcolorado.org/ 2008-11-21 Flags thumb|Regimental flag on the right, 1903 The regiment carried an 34 star American flag that measured 48 by 105.5 inches. The flag was given to the regiment on November 10, 1861 by secretary Weld at Fort Weld.The Rocky Mountain News (Daily), November 11, 1861, p.3 It was carried thought-out New Mexico Territory during the war.U.S. Flag carried by the 1st Regiment of Colorado Volunteers during th https://www.historycolorado.org/us-flag-carried-1st-regiment-colorado-volunteers-during-civil-war 2025-08-14 www.historycolorado.org During the Battle of Glorieta Pass the flag was hit by enemy fire which left a hole near the canton.The Rocky Mountain News (Daily) April 3, 1903 — Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection https://www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=RMD19030403-01.2.131&srpos=86&e=--1900---2020--en-20--81--img-txIN%7CtxCO%7CtxTA-%22relic%22+%22flag%22-------2------ 2025-08-14 www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org After the battle the regiment was given a new flag.The Elk Mountain Pilot May 27, 1902 — Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection https://www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=EMP19020527-01.2.14&srpos=134&e=--1900---2020--en-20--121--img-txIN%7CtxCO%7CtxTA-%22relic%22+%22flag%22-------2------ 2025-08-18 www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org The old flag was later presented to the state by a veteran of company D in 1897.The Rocky Mountain News (Daily), May 25, 1897, p.10 thumb|The flag carried by Company A, 1861 Company A had their own flag it was given to them in August of 1861. The flag’s design was based off the national standard with 34 golden stars in the canton.The Rocky Mountain News (Daily), August 23, 1861, p.2The Daily Colorado Republican and Rocky Mountain Herald, August 20, 1861, p.3 The banner was made by Mrs. Sam Cashman and Mrs. J. S. Brown, daughters of Captain Richard Sopris, and Miss Taylor. After the war it was given to Captain Sopris. When he died, his widow presented it to the adjutant generate office in 1904.The Rocky Mountain News (Daily) May 28, 1904 — Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection https://www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=RMD19040528-01.2.105&srpos=71&e=--1900---2020--en-20--61--img-txIN%7CtxCO%7CtxTA-%22relic%22+%22flag%22-------2------ 2025-08-14 www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org See also List of Colorado Territory Civil War units 157th Field Artillery Regiment (United States) References Further reading American Civil War Whitford William Clarke Colorado Volunteers in the Civil War: The New Mexico Campaign in 1862 1906 The State Historical and Natural History Society Denver https://books.googleusercontent.com/books/content?req=AKW5QaeEyBwA07URNVHA53V-Q66HsKhH-l63oQgSvVyDZOEleoZklmHZBzN9ezBF2Rj2U3027lnsEkN9ORDnLB2XcmnqwARtGyixxfcQstw2FRLFkaKFcfrMlVbI0RFWnGtOjI6gTsGJCbl_3l6p33kLVy4WWbcMJGjmAtIkQI8FUsf-oEx0T-YnJinvnyP4yccvvYTJVOl57-qF-hkepTk_5ogEYiKUgR3jUFfvYeXyEGLmUJKaqLXBteBjFCPFs3BUoppkobf631DnauYdzvkjjB822m0eJO6MchSbPBzlvr-FVoiV_R8 External links Colorado.gov website on the regiment Category:Units and formations of the Union army from Colorado Category:Military units and formations in Colorado Category:1861 establishments in Colorado Territory Category:Military units and formations established in 1861 Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1862