A History of The Third Infantry

Before the caissons and funeral processions, before the speeches and the ceremonies, there existed a small unit of men left from a War of Independence. This unit has since seen over 200 years of patriotic duty for America.

In 1784, the Army’s oldest infantry regiment was formed. The First American Regiment primarily aided the newly independent colonies after the American Revolution, and was posted at West Point as the first unit to defend the country. Commanded by Lt. Col. Josiah Harmar, men and officers totaled 450 and were made up of soldiers who had chosen to remain in service after the War.

In 1796, the unit was renamed the First Infantry. They continued to defend the colonies throughout the War of 1812. When the British tried to control the waterways of the United States, the regiment moved to Niagara, New York and did their duty there until peace was declared in 1815.

With a burgeoning country came a new arm of defense, and by the end of the War of 1812, 45 regiments made up the United States Army. The government consolidated these units into eight and the First Infantry was re-designated as the Third Infantry. Colonel John Miller was the regiment’s first commanding officer.

In the early decades of the 19th Century, the Third Infantry protected Indians in the far reaches of the West from settlers intent on stealing Indian-owned land. Ironically, in 1840, the 700-man regiment was relocated to Florida to fight against the Indians. But as the soldiers were known for steadfastly performing their duty, they went without question or delay.

Because of the growing conflicts along the Gulf borders, specially trained soldiers were needed and the Third Infantry became the first to attend “Camps of Instruction.” These camps prepared them for any new threat to come their way. These men would become pioneers in survival training and techniques of warfare throughout their careers.

The Civil War

A beautiful wooden baton sits under glass in the Old Guard Museum in Fort Myer, Virginia. It was fashioned from a portion of a flagpole that once sat in the square of Mexico City. At the Battle of Chapultepec during the Mexican War, the unit’s original baton snapped in half. The new “Chapultepec Baton” with its inscription on the head and Mexican steel on the tip meant much to the men as they headed into the turning point of many of their lives.

“Taking a position on the extreme right, in front of several regiments of the enemy,” wrote Major George Sykes, commander of the Battalion of Regulars that included the Third Infantry. “I opened an effective fire upon them and held my ground until all our troops had fallen back and my flank was turned by a large force of horse and foot.”

The First Battle of Bull Run in July 1861 proved two things to the country-first, that this war would not be short-lived and second, the army would need veterans like the Third Infantry to help organize an army of new volunteers. George Sykes also made sure President Abraham Lincoln was aware that the Third Infantry had stood firm when the others ran, and that they had “saved [the] army.” Lincoln assured Sykes he “had heard of them.” The Third Infantry had already lived up to their reputation during the first major battle of the Civil War, and continued to perfect their craft during the winter of 1862.

John Page, a 1st Lieutenant in the regiment and a future historian, wrote, “…Our pontoons reached the fords, and the good natured rebel picket offered their services to help us lay them. We replied, ‘some other day.’ We struggled back to our camp and were glad to get into the shacks we had built. This march was know as the ‘Mud March.'”

It was not an auspicious end to 1862 and by December, the Third Infantry waited out much of the Battle of Fredericksburg posted in a tannery. Not until the Federals were forced to flee, did these soldiers spring into action, doing what they did best-supporting the rear and keeping stragglers and deserters in line.

Once Joseph Hooker took command of the Army of the Potomac, he assigned corps insignias. That gave the regiment a white Maltese cross since it belonged to the famous Fifth Corps. As Hooker re-organized the army, the “American Regulars” became part of the 2nd Division.

After the Battle of Chancellorsville during May 1863, now division commander George Sykes was promoted to command of the Fifth Corps. George Meade, the previous corps leader had become the reluctant commander of the entire Army of the Potomac. Sykes made his men proud, being one of only three men in the Third Infantry to attain the rank of Major General.
Meade’s command came just in time for the Battle of Gettysburg. Page remembered, “We could hear the thump of artillery in the distance and knew our cavalry was in touch with the enemy. We of the line marched, cooked our meals, slept and were too tired to do anything elseâÂ?¦”

In the Official Report, Captain Andrew Sheridan, who commanded the Battalion, wrote of the unit’s responsibilities during the battle:

Camp Near Warrenton, VA, July 28, 1863
July 1-Marched to camp near Hanover, Pennsylvania; left at 6p.m. same day and marched in the direction of Gettysburg, and bivouacked on the road. Marched next morning (July 2) near Gettysburg; found in line of battle and was engaged with the enemy until 8 p.m.; lost during the engagement that day 8 killed, 60 wounded and 2 missing in action. Captain Henry W. Freedley…was severely wounded; Lieuts. Daingerfield Parker and Stanley Mourton were wounded…The regiment formed in line of battle and remained so during July 3.

John Page recorded in his later history of the Old Guard that Freedley was shot in the leg, “his knee shattered by a bullet.” The Federal soldiers held Little Round Top with help from the Regular Division, as they became known, who lost twenty-five percent of their numbers during the Battle of Gettysburg.

It was no wonder they had suffered severely, their march included only one or two cooked meals in as much as a week, reveille as early at 3 a.m. and then placement in areas known as Bloody Run and the Valley of Death.

Although the Division had only the muster roll of a brigade, they were sent to New York City to quell the draft riots caused by a new act of Conscription put into effect in 1863 to increase the army’s numbers. Daingerfield Parker, wounded at Gettysburg, wrote, “The 3rd Infantry was one of the units withdrawn from Sykes’ command and marched to Alexandria, Virginia, then by transports to New York, to assist in suppressing the draft riots. Ten thousand infantrymen and three batteries of artillery, picked troops including the regulars, were sent to New York city from the Army of the Potomac.”

The Third Infantry and the remaining Regular Division were strict with all those who evaded the draft or felt they had cause to inflict damage or even kill because of it. After this tense time was over and peace restored, the Division was split; some remained to defend New York Harbor and the rest (including the Third Infantry) went to Virginia to guard the Northern Virginia railroads. Unfortunately, not enough of the Third Infantry was left to put back into the field and division commander Andrew Sheridan petitioned for the “relief” of the regiment so they could “recuperate.”

With a new commanding officer, Major John Wilkins, and a new assignment as Headquarters Guard for Generals Meade and Grant, the Third Infantry also received a new name-the Old Guard. They would be present in Petersburg and at Appomattox Court House for the surrender in 1865. They began the war nobly and ended it the same way.

The 20th Century

Just as before the Civil War, the men of the Old Guard went back into the routine of defenders of America from outside sources. They saw continuous service suppressing Indian raids or defending Indians from marauding settlers in Kansas, Montana or Minnesota. By the end of the 1800s, the unit was stationed at Fort Snelling, Minnesota, which would become the Guard’s home base throughout the Spanish-American War and on for the next 50 years.

Through the twentieth century, the Old Guard did not miss any major conflict. On November 20, 1946, the Old Guard was de-activated and sent back to the United States from Berlin, where it had been posted as one of the “occupying forces” of Germany. Within two years, the unit was not only put back into service but enlarged to include Military Policemen and others with the advent of the Cold War.

On Capital Plaza in Washington, DC, Company A of the Old Guard became a Ceremonial Detachment. A large part of this mission was to perform burials at Arlington National Cemetery. The unit also escorted diplomats while in the District, stood perpetual guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and became color guard to the Commander-in-Chief (dressed in Revolutionary War uniforms.)

All the extra assignments did not stop the unit from protecting the freedoms to which the United States had become accustomed. The Third Infantry fought in Korea in the 1950s and in Vietnam through the 1960s. By 1957, all the artifacts and papers of the Old Guard were collected in Washington to become the Old Guard Museum.

The “New” Old Guard

Sergeant Heather Johnson became the first female in the Old Guard in 1996. Chosen from the 289th Military Police Company, Johnson received her Tomb Guard Identification Badge and is able to march in procession at the Tomb of the Unknown. Women are now also included in the Fife and Drum Corps.

Today, the Third Infantry is primarily stationed at Fort McNair in Washington, DC and at Fort Myer in Arlington, Virginia. This distinguished unit is one of the most elite units in any army in the world. These men (and women) have official historic uniforms, their own field music and continue to use horses as part of their official duties.

In 2001, part of the Third Infantry was re-activated as a fighting unit in Fort Lewis, Washington. They are known as the “Stryker Brigade” and are testing cutting edge Stryker vehicles. Since the tragic events of September 11 (in which the Third spent countless hours searching for the victims of the Pentagon Plane Attack), the regiment became involved in Operation Noble Eagle, were deployed in Washington as part of the new U.S. Command, and have been sent over to Iraq to once again maintain the security and freedom of the United States.

It is fitting that the Regimental Motto of the “3rd US Infantry (Old Guard)” is “Noli Me Tangere” or “Touch Me Not.” This could also be translated as “Don’t Tread on Me” and comes directly from the thirteen colonies in their zeal to get out of the clutches of King George III. Three white, Maltese crosses still figure prominently on their coat of arms, as a constant reminder of the part the Third Infantry played during the American Civil War. White for Sykes’ Regular Division and three for the prestigious number designation of the unit.

When visitors to Arlington see a military funeral, with honor guard and caissonâÂ?¦when we watch ceremonial processions on the national news led by six horses, one like Sergeant York, with the fallen dignitary’s boots backward in the stirrups, remember the men behind the ceremony. If it wasn’t for the American Regiment, the Third Infantry, The Regulars or simply, The Old Guard, America might be much different.

[The author wishes to thank Mr. Alan Brogan, Mr. Kirk Heflin and Specialist Michael Palitz for their assistance. The information for this article came from the Short History of the Old Guard, an Old Guard Museum publication, as well as copies of Official Records and first account histories of the unit from their private collection.]