276th Engineer Battalion (United States)

Last updated

276th Engineer Battalion
276EngineerBnCOA.jpg
ActiveFounded 1652; active 1791
CountryFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States
Branch United States Army
TypeEngineer
SizeRegiment
Motto(s)"Liberty or Death"
Commanders
Notable
commanders
Charles L. Southward (as 176th Regimental Combat Team)
Insignia
Distinctive unit insignia
US Army 276th Engineer Bn DUI.png

The 276th Engineer Battalion ("First Virginia") [1] is an engineer battalion of the Virginia Army National Guard. Headquartered in Petersburg, Virginia, it is one of several Army National Guard units with campaign credit for the War of 1812.

Contents

History

Origins

The 276th traces its lineage back to the Richmond City Regiment, organized at Richmond in May 1791 from existing elements in the Virginia Militia. On 31 December of that year it was reorganized and redesignated as the 19th Regiment. During the War of 1812, it remained in state service, forming the First Corps d'Elite Brigade of Virginia Militia under the command of Colonel Thomas Mann Randolph for Federal service. The brigade was mustered into Federal service in 1813 with the Richmond Volunteers, the Flying Artillery under Captain William Wirt, the Rifle Company under Captain William H. Richardson, and the Richmond Light Infantry Blues. It mustered out in 1814 at the end of the war. [1]

Elements of the 19th Regiment were mustered into Federal service between 14 and 16 December 1846 as part of the 1st Regiment of Virginia Volunteers during the Mexican–American War. They mustered out of Federal service at Fort Monroe between 1 and 2 August 1848. [1] Meanwhile, on 31 March of that year, the 19th was reorganized and redesignated as the 19th (Richmond City) Regiment. On 1 May 1851, it was consolidated with the 179th (Richmond, organized 1848), 23d (Chesterfield County, organized in 1791), and 33d (Henrico County, organized 1791) Regiments to become the Richmond-based 1st Regiment, Virginia Volunteers. [1]

On the outbreak of the American Civil War, the regiment was mustered into state service on 21 April 1861. On 1 July, it was reorganized and redesignated as the 1st Virginia Infantry and mustered into the Confederate States Army at Manassas. The 1st Virginia served through the war and surrendered at Appomattox on 9 April 1865. [1]

On 25 October 1871, the regiment was reconstituted in the Virginia Volunteers as the 1st Regiment of Infantry, headquartered at Richmond. Companies A, B, and C of the 1st Regiment were mustered into Federal service as Companies M, B, and I of the 2d Virginia Volunteer Infantry, respectively, during the Spanish–American War. Company F was mustered into Federal service on 20 May as Company M of the 3d Virginia Volunteer Infantry. The companies assigned to the 2d Virginia mustered out in December 1898, preceded by Company M of the 3d Virginia on 5 November. The 1st Regiment of Infantry was disbanded on 29 April 1899. [1]

The companies formerly part of the 1st Regiment were assigned to the 70th Infantry Regiment, Virginia Volunteers on 10 October 1900. On 1 September 1908, the regiment was reconstituted in the Virginia Volunteers as the 1st Infantry. On 3 June 1916, the Virginia Volunteers became the Virginia National Guard. On 18 June, due to increased tensions on the Mexico–United States border, the regiment was called into Federal service. It mustered in on 30 June, serving in Brownsville, Texas, and was mustered out upon return to Virginia at Richmond on 16 January 1917. [1]

After the United States' entry into World War I, the 1st Virginia Infantry was called into Federal service on 25 July 1917, mustered into Federal service between 25 July and 4 August, and drafted into Federal service on 5 August. Sent to Camp McClellan, the 1st Virginia consolidated with the 2d and 4th Virginia Infantry Regiments to form the 116th Infantry Regiment of the 29th Infantry Division on 4 October. [1]

World War II

On 3 February 1941, the 176th was inducted into federal service at Richmond, simultaneously with the rest of the 29th Division, moving to Fort Meade on 17 February. After the Attack on Pearl Harbor resulted in the United States entry into World War II, the regiment was detached to guard Washington, D.C. as part of the Washington Provisional Brigade on 17 December. It was relieved from the 29th Division on 11 March 1942, coming under the control of GHQ. During this period, it served as the White House Honor Guard and the Presidential Special Guard while also guarding the Capitol, other government buildings, and the Combined Chiefs of Staff. The 176th was additionally responsible for ceremonial and escort functions in the capital, and provided guards for scattered key facilities in the Capital area. On 20 February 1943, the regiment was relocated to the A.P. Hill Military Reservation, where it was assigned to the Replacement and School Command on 1 April. The 176th was further relocated to Fort Benning, arriving on 11 April, for duty as School Troops, before being inactivated there on 10 July 1944. [2]

Lineage

Called into Federal service 18 June 1916; mustered into Federal service 30 June 1916 at Richmond; mustered out of Federal service 16 January 1917 at Richmond

Distinctive unit insignia

A Silver color metal and enamel device 1 inch (2.54 cm) in height consisting of a shield blazoned: Azure, a saltire Gray fimbriated Argent, to chief a fleur-de-lis of the like; on a chief of the last a cross Gules charged with an arrow fesswise of the third. Attached below the shield a Silver scroll inscribed "LIBERTY OR DEATH" in Blue letters.

The shield is blue for Infantry. The gray saltire commemorates service in the Confederate States Army during the Civil War. The fleur-de-lis symbolizes the service in France during World War I. The red cross (the cross of St. George) refers to the settlement of Virginia by the English and with the arrow alludes to the French and Indian War and participation as colonial militia. The red cross also refers to the Revolutionary service of the unit's predecessor.

The distinctive unit insignia was originally approved for the 1st Infantry Regiment on 7 June 1929. It was redesignated for the 176th Infantry Regiment on 3 March 1941. The insignia was redesignated for the 276th Engineer Battalion, Virginia Army National Guard and amended to change the symbolism on 29 January 1968.

Coat of arms

Campaign streamers

War of 1812

Mexican War

Civil War (Confederate service)

World War I

War on Terrorism

Decorations

Valorous Unit Award, streamer embroidered Afghanistan 2009

Related Research Articles

The 198th Signal Battalion is an Expeditionary Signal Battalion in the Delaware Army National Guard. Delaware is known as the "First State," as referenced in their motto "First Regiment of First State." The unit specializes in command post node communications, providing broadband satellite voice and data connections for brigade sized battlefield elements. The unit includes Headquarters, Headquarters Company located in Wilmington, DE; A Company in Georgetown, DE; B Company in Hodges, SC; and C Company in Wilmington, DE. It is one of several National Guard units with colonial roots and campaign credit for the War of 1812.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">112th Infantry Regiment (United States)</span> Military unit

The 112th Infantry Regiment, also known as the Sixteenth Pennsylvania, is a unit in the Pennsylvania National Guard which can trace its lineage back to before the American Civil War.

The 102nd Field Artillery Regiment is an inactive Field Artillery Regiment in the Massachusetts Army National Guard. Originally organized in 1786, the 102nd Field Artillery's predecessor units served in the Civil War, the Spanish–American War, and World War I. Units of the regiment served with the 26th Infantry Division during World War II and the Cold War.

The 141st Infantry Regiment is an infantry regiment in the United States Army. The lineage of the 141st includes units tracing origins to the Texas Revolution, such as Company A, First Texas, 1836, and other infantry companies of the First Texas formed in the 1870s and 1880s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">111th Infantry Regiment (United States)</span> Military unit

The 111th Infantry Regiment, was originally the Pennsylvania Militia or "Associators" that fought in the American Revolution, composed of civilian males from the citizenry of Pennsylvania. It is one of several National Guard units with colonial roots and campaign credit for the War of 1812. The Pennsylvania Militia often fought in conjunction with General Washington and the Continental Army along the Delaware River. Today the idea of a Pennsylvania Militia is represented in the U.S. Army by 1st Battalion, 111th Infantry assigned to the Pennsylvania Army National Guard's 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 28th Infantry Division. The regiment, founded as the Associators by Benjamin Franklin in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on 21 November 1747, is the oldest regiment in Pennsylvania.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">124th Infantry Regiment (United States)</span> Military unit

The 124th Infantry Regiment is a parent regiment of the United States Army, represented in the Florida Army National Guard by the 1st Battalion headquartered in Miramar and 2nd Battalion at Orlando. The two Battalions are elements of the 53rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">102nd Cavalry Regiment</span> US cavalry regiment

The 102nd Cavalry Regiment is a regiment of the United States Army first established in 1913 and which saw service in World War II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">146th Field Artillery Regiment</span> US military unit

The 146th Field Artillery Regiment is a field artillery regiment of the Army National Guard first Constituted in 1886 as the 1st, and 2nd Regiments of Infantry.

Twenty-four 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, 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 two current units, the 155th Infantry, a component of the Mississippi National Guard derived from militia units organized in the Mississippi Territory and the 130th Infantry, a component of the Illinois National Guard derived from militia units formed in the Illinois Territory, are from states or territories west of the Appalachians. Unfortunately, no militia units from the states of Kentucky, Louisiana, Ohio or Tennessee, or from the Indiana, 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">279th Infantry Regiment (United States)</span> Military unit

The 1st Battalion, 279th Infantry Regiment is headquartered in Sand Springs, Oklahoma. It is a part of the 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Oklahoma Army National Guard.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">113th Infantry Regiment (United States)</span> Military unit

The 113th Infantry Regiment is an Infantry regiment of the New Jersey Army National Guard. It is one of several National Guard units with colonial roots and campaign credit for the War of 1812.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">130th Infantry Regiment (United States)</span> Military unit

The 130th Infantry Regiment is an infantry regiment in the Army National Guard. It is one of several Army National Guard units with campaign credit for the War of 1812.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">133rd Infantry Regiment (United States)</span> Military unit

The 133rd Infantry Regiment is an infantry regiment in the Iowa Army National Guard. It is represented by the 1st Battalion, 133rd Infantry Regiment, part of the 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">134th Cavalry Regiment (United States)</span> Military unit

The 134th Cavalry Regiment is a cavalry regiment in the Nebraska Army National Guard. By extension, it is a member of the United States Army National Guard, and as a currently federally-recognized unit, also a member of the National Guard of the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">135th Infantry Regiment (United States)</span> Military unit

The 135th Infantry Regiment is an infantry regiment in the Minnesota Army National Guard.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">107th Field Artillery Regiment (United States)</span> Military unit

The 107th Field Artillery Regiment is a Field Artillery Branch regiment of the United States Army. It has been affiliated with the Pennsylvania National Guard since its formation. It appears that the regiment last formally came into existence in June 1959, when the 107th Field Artillery Battalion was reorganized as the new Regiment's 1st Battalion in line with the Pentomic (ROCID) reorganization going on at that time.

The 114th Infantry Regiment is an Infantry regiment of the New Jersey Army National Guard.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">183rd Cavalry Regiment (United States)</span> Military unit

The 183rd Cavalry Regiment is a cavalry regiment of the United States Army, represented in the Virginia Army National Guard by 2nd Squadron, 183rd Cavalry (2-183). The squadron is the reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition squadron of the 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, part of the 29th Infantry Division.

The 118th Field Artillery Regiment is a field artillery regiment of the Georgia Army National Guard. The regiment's 1st Battalion is the cannon battalion assigned to the 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. It is one of several National Guard units with colonial roots and campaign credit for the War of 1812.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">125th Field Artillery Regiment</span> Military unit

The 125th Field Artillery Regiment is a field artillery regiment of the Minnesota Army National Guard. The regiment's 1st Battalion is the 155mm, self-propelled cannon battalion assigned to the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division.

References

Citations

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Lineage and Honors Information 276th Engineer Battalion". U.S. Army Center of Military History. 11 December 2009.
  2. Stanton 1984, p. 232.

Bibliography

PD-icon.svg This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Army Institute of Heraldry

PD-icon.svg This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Army Center of Military History .