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| Who are the Regulars? 4th U.S. Regular Infanty - A brief history |
| Regulars were the men who enlisted in the service of the United States. Their terms for enlistment was for five years, regardless of whether or not the country was at war. The regular soldiers, with their smart appearance, excellent drill, were well trained and were seldom (if ever) surpassed by volunteer regiments. |
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| The original Fourth U.S. was formed in accordance with an act of Congress dates 30th May 1796. In 1855, there were three Regular Infantry regiments and, when war was inevitable in the spring of 1861, weven more regiments were added. |
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| At the start of the war, the Fourth were ordered to Washington to form part of the city defenses. By the spring of 1862 they were assigned to General Sykes' Division of Regulars to form part of the Army of the Potomac, Fifth Corps. |
| The Third, Fourth and Sixth Infantry joined the newly formed Twelfth and Fourteenth infantry to form the First Brigade. The Second brigade was formed by the Seventh, Tenth, Eleventh and Seventeenth Infantry. Because of their experiances, the Regulars, with their veterans of Seminole, Mexican and Indian wars were relied upon heavily in the early days of the Rebellion. They gallantly held perilous flank positions and dogedly fought rear guard actions covering the withdrawal of the main body of the Union Army. |
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| Battles - The Fourth Infantry engaged in and fought at many battles including the Battles of Manasses, Antietam, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg and the battle of the Wilderness. At the end of the war on 9th April 1865, the Regiment was present at the Headquarters of the Union Army for the surrender of General Lee's Army of the Northern Virginia. |
| During the war, the Regiment lost 2 Officers and 58 enlisted men mortally wounded and 1 Officer and 68 enlisted men by disease. |
| For more history of the Fourth U.S., please visit - www.usregulars.com/usarmy/4us1.html |
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