History of the 13th US Infantry

XV Corp Badge

The 13th Regiment of the United States Infantry was created by the direction of the President on May 4, 1861. After Congress' confirmation on July 29, the Regiment was mustered in at the Jefferson Barracks, Missouri. Company C was offically organized on November 13, 1861.

Being a regular Army unit, the 13th drew the professional soldier to its ranks, unlike the hordes of civilian volunteers the states regiments were drawing. The Regiment was a highly disciplined and polished unit which held the admiration of all those who witnessed it.

The Regular Army Regiments were the workhorse of the Generals on the battlefields, for they could surely guarantee success when used.

The 13th US served in the Western theater in General Sherman's XV Corp. Among their service during the war, they are probably best remembered as "First at Vicksburg". This Slogan still follows the regiment today.

This particular regiment is portrayed by the 20th SCVI because of the critical role they played in the Western theater of the war and due to the fact that the 13th is currently assigned to Fort Jackson in Columbia, SC.


Last modified: September 20, 1998