1st Delaware Infantry Regiment

1st Delaware Infantry Regiment 1st Delaware Veteran Infantry Regiment Color Guard of the 1st Delaware Regiment in the earliest known record of the Delaware State Flag, 1863 or 1864 May 22, 1861 – July 12, 1865 United States of America 1863 United States of America 1863 Union Union Army Infantry Infantry 4,206 (total) 3rd Brigade—3rd Division—II Corps 2nd Brigade—3rd Division—II Corps Gibraltar (3rd) Brigade—2nd Division—II Corps Dix's Command—Department of the Potomac Springfield Model 1842 American Civil War Henry Hayes Lockwood John William Andrews Thomas Alfred Smyth Edward P. Harris Daniel Woodall Joseph C. Nicholls The 1st Delaware Infantry Regiment, later known as the 1st Delaware Veteran Infantry Regiment was a United States volunteer infantry regiment raised for Union Army service in the American Civil War. Part of the II Corps it served in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War.https://www.civilwararchive.com/Unreghst/undetr1.htm#1st3yr Union Regimental Index, Delaware 5 July 2014 Organisation and Remusterings 90-Day Volunteers When the Civil War began in April 1861, there were only about 16,000 men in the U.S. Army, and many Southern soldiers and officers were already resigning and joining the new Confederate States Army. With this drastic shortage of men in the army, President Abraham Lincoln called on the states to raise a force of 75,000 volunteers for three months to put down the insurrection in the South. Accordingly, the 1st Delaware Infantry Regiment was raised at Wilmington, Delaware, on May 22, 1861, and mustered into Federal service on May 28. The regiment comprised 37 officers and 742 enlisted men under the command of Colonel Henry H. Lockwood.http://aotw.org/officers.php?unit_id=306 First State Regiments delaware.gov 2007-10-09 https://web.archive.org/web/20071025232010/http://aotw.org/officers.php?unit_id=306 25 October 2007 live The original Field & Staff were:Murphey, p. 14 Colonel: Henry H. Lockwood Lieutenant Colonel: John W. Andrews Major: Robert Lamott Surgeon: R. W. Johnson Assistant-Surgeon: James Knight Adjutant: Lieutenant W. P. Seville Quartermaster: H. Alderdice The original Company Commanders were:Murphey, pp. 14-16 Co. A (Delaware Blues): Cpt. Evans Watson Co. B: Cot. Charles Lamott Co. C: Cpt. James Bare Co. D: Cpt. James Green Co. E (Wilmington Rifles): Cpt. Robert Mulligan Co. F: Cpt. Thomas Crossley Co. G (Sussex Volunteers): Cpt. J. Rodney Layton Co. H: Cpt. S.H. Jenskins Co. I: Cpt. James Leonard Co. K: Cpt. Smith The regiment was attached to the command of Major General John Dix ('Dix's Command", Department of the Potomac) and assigned to duty along the line of the Philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore Railroad. The regiment mustered out on August 30, 1861. 3-Years Volunteers On July 22, 1861, the United States Congress authorized a volunteer army of 500,000 men. When in August the enlistment term for the regiment ended a new 1st Regiment was raised for a term of three years at Wilmington, Delaware, between September 10 and October 19, 1861. This time the regiment had 37 officers and 846 enlisted men under the command of Colonel John W. Andrews. The Field & Staff were:Murphey, p. 21 Colonel: John W. Andrews Lieutenant Colonel: 0. Hopkinson Major: Thomas A. Smyth Surgeon: D. W. Maull Chaplain: Thomas G. Murphey Assistant-Surgeon: S. D. Marshall Adjutant: First Lieutenant W. P. Saville Quartermaster: First Lieutenant T. Y. England Sergeant-Major: James Lewis Quartermaster's Sergeant: Frank Wilson Commissary Sergeant: Charles S. Sehocffer Hospital Steward: Archibald D. O'Mera Drum-Major: Patrick Dooley The Company Commanders were:Murphey, p. 22 Co. A: Cpt. Evans S. Watson Co. B: Cpt. James Leonard Co. C: Cpt. Neal Ward Co. D: Cpt. Enoch J. Smithers Co. E: Cpt. Edward P. Harris Co. F: Cpt. Daniel Woodall Co. G: Cpt. Allen Shortledge Co. H: Cpt. John B. Tanner Co. I: Cpt. Charles Lesper Co. K: Cpt. Thomas Crassley Veteran Volunteers On July 1, 1864, the 3 years enlistment would have ended and the regiment would be mustered out. Instead in July 1863 the men, still having nine months of their enlistment left, got the chance to reenlist for another 3 years from that date. On December 19, 1863, three quarters of the regiment reenlisted. The 1st Delaware was upgraded to veteran status as 1st Delaware Veteran Infantry Regiment. The 1st Delaware Infantry claimed to be first regiment in the Union to receive the coveted veteran status.Murphey, p. 146 In April 1864 the 1st Delaware absorbed the remnants of the 2nd Delaware Infantry Regiment, a number of recruits and veterans with two complete companies. Service and engagements 1861 Raised at Wilmington—May 22, 1861 Mustered into Federal service—May 28 Col. Lockwood was promoted to Brigadier and was replaced by Col. John W. Andrews—August 8 Reorganized and trained at Wilmington—September 10-October 19 Moved to Fort Monroe, Virginia—October 20–21 1862 Camp Hamilton, (now Phoebus), Virginia—until May Occupation of Norfolk, Virginia—May 10 Battle of Antietam—September 16–17 Garrison of Harpers Ferry—September 22-October 30 Movement to Falmouth, Virginia—October 30-November 17 Battle of Fredericksburg—December 12–15 200px|right|thumb|Brigadier Thomas A. Smyth, commander of the 1st Delaware 1863-1864 1863 Mud March—January 20–22 At Falmouth, Virginia—January–April Col. Andrews resigned and was replaced by Col. Thomas Smyth—February 7 Battle of Chancellorsville—May 1–6 Gettysburg campaign—June–July Battle of Gettysburg—July 1–3 Pursuit of Lee to Manassas Gap—July 5–24 Duty along the Rappahannock River and Rapidan River—July–October Battle of Bristoe Station—October 14 Mine Run Campaign—November 26-December 2 Regiment remustered as 1st Delaware Veteran Volunteer Infantry Regiment—December 1864 Overland Campaign—May 3-June 15 Battle of the Wilderness—May 5–7 Battle of Spotsylvania Court House—May 12–21 Battle of North Anna—May 23–26 On line of the Pamunkey May 26–28 Battle of Totopotomoy Creek—May 28–31 Battle of Cold Harbor—June 1–12 Before Petersburg—June 16–18 Siege of Petersburg—June 16, 1864, to April 2, 1865 Received remnants of the 2nd Delaware Infantry Regiment—April Battle of Jerusalem Plank Road—June 22–23, 1864 First Battle of Deep Bottom—July 27–28 Battle of the Crater (in reserve position)—July 30 Second Battle of Deep Bottom—August 13–20 Ream's Station—August 25 Yellow House—October 1–5 Battle of Boydton Plank Road—October 27-2 Col. Smyth was promoted and was replaced by Col. Woodall—October 1865 Battle of Hatcher's Run—February 5–7, 1865 Watkins' House—March 25 Appomattox Campaign—March 28-April 9 Boydton Road and White Oak Ridge—March 29–31 Crow's House—March 31 Third Battle of Petersburg—April 2 In pursuit of the Army of Northern Virginia—April 3–9 Battle of Sailor's Creek—April 6 Battle of High Bridge and Farmville—April 7 Battle of Appomattox Court House—April 9 Received the veterans of the 3rd Delaware Infantry Regiment—April At Burkesville—until May 2 March to Washington, D.C.—May 2–12 Grand Review of the Armies—May 23 At Washington, D.C.—until July Mustered out of Federal service—July 12, 1865 Other Regimental Statistics Commanding Officers Col. Henry Hayes Lockwood     May 22, 1861 – August 8, 1861 Col. John William Andrews     August 8, 1861 – February 7, 1863 Col. Thomas Alfred Smyth     February 7, 1863 – October 1, 1864 (often acting as brigade commander) Lt. Col. Edward P. Harris     July 1, 1863 – July 2, 1863; July 4, 1863 – October 28, 1863 (acting) Lt. Col. Daniel Woodall     October 28, 1863 – October 18, 1864 (acting) Col. Daniel Woodall     October 18, 1864 – July 12, 1865 (often acting as brigade commander) Lt. Col. Joseph C. Nicholls     January 1865 – June 28, 1865 (acting) 200px|right|thumb|1st Delaware Infantry Monument, Hancock Avenue, Gettysburg Battlefield Casualties At the Battle of Antietam the regiment suffered 36 men killed and mortally wounded, and 182 men wounded, being 30.8% from a total strength of 708.1st Delaware Infantry https://antietam.aotw.org/officers.php?unit_id=306 Antietam on the Web 5 July 2014 At the Battle of Fredericksburg the regiment lost 10 killed, 74 wounded and 9 missing.Lt. Col. John W. Marshall's report of the Battle of Fredericksburg; December 18, 1862 At the Battle of Chancellorsville the regiment lost 6 killed, 33 wounded and 10 missing.Col. Thomas A. Smyth's report of the Battle of Chancellorsville; May 7, 1863 At the Battle of Gettysburg in 1863 the regiment suffered 10 killed, 54 wounded, and 13 missing, being 31% from a total strength of 251. It also had 4 different regimental commanders during the battle.Ryan Thomas J. Delawareans left an indelible mark on Gettysburg http://coastalpoint.com/content/delawareans_left_indelible_mark_gettysburg Coastal Point 5 July 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20140714164757/http://coastalpoint.com/content/delawareans_left_indelible_mark_gettysburg 14 July 2014 dead Throughout the war the regiment suffered 12 officers and 146 enlisted men killed and mortally wounded, and 3 officers and 118 enlisted men killed by disease.1st Delaware Infantry http://www.civilwarintheeast.com/USA/DE/1DE.php The American Civil War in the East 5 July 2014 Medal of Honor Four men were awarded the Medal of Honor while serving with the 1st Delaware.http://www.history.army.mil/html/moh/civwarmz.html Civil War Medal of Honor Recipients - (M-Z) August 3, 2009 Medal of Honor Citations United States Army Center of Military History January 27, 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20100123203712/http://www.history.army.mil/html/moh/civwarmz.html 23 January 2010 dead Battle of Antietam Second Lieutenant Charles B. Tanner of Company H earned the medal by saving the regimental flag after the entire nine-man color guard was killed or wounded. Tanner himself was wounded three times in the battle. Battle of Gettysburg Private Bernard McCarren of Company C was awarded the medal for capturing a Confederate battle flag. Private John B. Maberry of Company F was awarded the medal for capturing a Confederate battle flag. Captain James P. Postles of Company A received the medal for voluntarily carrying a message under heavy fire at Gettysburg. Flag The first flags used by the regiment was most likely made in 1861, but by 1863 the regimental flag needed to be replaced. So a committee was organized in October, it was led by Samuel M. Harrington Jr. to help raised funds to purchased a new flag for the regiment and the 2nd.The Union, October 16, 1863, p.2 In November it was completed and featured a blue field with state's coat of arms in the center with words "1st Regiment Delaware Volunteers," below it. The seal was surround by the names and dates of the battles the regiment took part in. While on the backside was bald eagle.The Union, November 27, 1863, p.2 See also List of Delaware Civil War units Delaware in the Civil War 1st Delaware Regiment – a Delaware regiment from the American Revolutionary War 198th Signal Battalion (United States) – Unit descended from 1st Delaware, article has full lineage References Sources & External links Murphey Rev. Thomas G. Four years in the War - The History of the First Regiment of Delaware Veteran Volunteers (Infantry) 1866 James C. Claxton Philadelphia, PA Field Ron Lincoln’s 90-Day Volunteers 1861 2013 Osprey Publishing Oxford 36–37 978-1-7809-6918-3 1st Delaware Infantry http://www.civilwarintheeast.com/USA/DE/1DE.php The American Civil War in the East 5 July 2014 1st Delaware Monument at Antietam http://www.antietam.stonesentinels.com/DE/DE1.php Stone Sentinels 5 July 2014 1st Delaware Monument at Gettysburg http://www.gettysburg.stonesentinels.com/DE/1DE.php Stone Sentinels 5 July 2014 Category:Units and formations of the Union army from Delaware Category:Gibraltar Brigade Category:Military units and formations established in 1861 Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1865 Category:1861 establishments in Delaware