13th U.S. Infantry
| 13th Infantry Regiment | |
|---|---|
Coat of arms
|
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| Active | 1861-1939; 1940–1945; 1949–62; 1963–84 1987–present |
| Country |
 United States
|
| Branch |
 United States Army
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| Type | Regiment |
| Nickname(s) | "First at Vicksburg" (special designation) |
| Motto(s) | Forty Rounds |
| Engagements | American Civil War War with Spain World War II |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders |
William Tecumseh Sherman |
| Insignia | |
| Distinctive unit insignia |  |
| U.S. Infantry Regiments | |
|---|---|
| Previous | Next |
| 12th Infantry Regiment | 14th Infantry Regiment |
The 13th Infantry Regiment ("First at Vicksburg") is a United States Army infantry regiment whose battalions are currently tasked as basic training battalions.
During the first post-war expansion of the United States Army following independence, a 13th Regiment of Infantry was formed on 16 July 1798, and was mustered out 11 January 1800. The second 13th Infantry was constituted 11 January 1812. Following the War of 1812 the 13th Infantry was consolidated on 7 May 1815, with the 4th, 9th, 21st, 40th, and 46th Regiments into a new 5th Infantry Regiment whose lineage continues to the present.
A new, third 13th Infantry Regiment was constituted in May 1861 when the Army expanded the Regular Army during the Civil War. General William Tecumseh Sherman was the colonel of the regiment and Philip Sheridan was one of its captains. It was organized as one of the nine "three-battalion" regiments of regulars, each battalion containing eight companies of infantry, in contrast to the original ten regular regiments of infantry, which were organized on the traditional ten-company line.
During the American Civil War, the unit earned its motto "First at Vicksburg". It participated in the battles of Hayes Bluffs, Champion Hill, Black River, and on 19 May 1863 took part in the assault at Vicksburg. The 13th Regiment was the only Union unit to plant its colors on the Confederate positions.
Following the Civil War, the army was reorganized by Congress in July 1866, and the 13th was divided into three regiments, each battalion receiving two additional companies and being organized along traditional lines. The 1st Battalion retained the designation of the 13th Infantry, while the 2nd Battalion became the 22nd Infantry and the 3rd Battalion the 31st Infantry.
From 1867–71 the regiment fought in the Indian Wars in Montana and North Dakota.
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