115th Infantry Regiment (United States)

The 115th Infantry Regiment, Maryland Army National Guard was an infantry regiment of the United States Army. It traced its roots back to the American Revolutionary War, although its official U.S. Army lineage begins in 1881. The units to which the 115th Regiment claims lineage served in the Revolutionary War and the Civil War, but the 115th itself was only credited with service in World War I, World War II, and the Global War on Terror. Prior to the reorganization into the 58th Brigade Combat Team, the 1–115th was part of the Third Brigade, 29th Infantry Division (Light). In 2006, the 115th was consolidated (merged) with the 175th Infantry Regiment. As a result of this consolidation, it no longer exists as a separate regiment.

Missions

The 1–115th IN had two major missions:
# As part of the US Army under the "Total Army" concept, to deploy anywhere in the world and engage and defeat the enemies of the United States.
# ..to assist the state authorities in providing emergency relief to the people of Maryland in the event of natural disasters, such as floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, and snowstorms, and to secure persons and property in times of civil disturbance. The unit also serves the community in other ways.

Organization

HHC

The Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1–115 Infantry, was located in Silver Spring, Maryland. While the rifle companies made up the bulk of the personnel and combat power of the battalion, the headquarters company was made up of specialties that extend and expand the capabilities of the battalion. It leads, supports, sustains, and protects.

Included in the headquarters company were:

*Anti-armor Platoon
*Communications Platoon
*Medical Platoon
*Mortar Platoon
*Reconnaissance Platoon
*Support Platoon

A Company

Alpha Company, 1–115 Infantry, located in Frederick, Maryland, was an Infantry Rifle Company.

Included in the company were:

*3 rifle platoons
*Mortar section
*Anti-Armor section

B Company

Bravo Company, 1–115 Infantry, located in Olney, Maryland, was an Infantry Rifle Company.

Included in the company were:

* 3 rifle platoons
*Mortar section
*Anti-armor section

C Company

Charlie Company, 1–115 Infantry, located in Greenbelt, Maryland, was an Infantry Rifle Company.

Included in the company were:

* 3 rifle platoons
*Mortar section
*Anti-armor section

HHC

The Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2–115 Infantry, was located in Chestertown, Maryland. While the rifle companies made up the bulk of the personnel and combat power of the battalion, the headquarters company was made up of specialties that extend and expand the capabilities of the battalion. It leads, supports, sustains, and protects.

Included in the headquarters company were:

*Anti-armor Platoon
*Communications Platoon
*Medical Platoon
*Mortar Platoon
*Reconnaissance Platoon
*Support Platoon

A Company

Alpha Company, 2–115 Infantry, located in Glen Burnie, Maryland, was an Infantry Rifle Company.

Included in the company were:

*3 rifle platoons
*Mortar section
*Anti-Armor section

B Company

Bravo Company, 2–115 Infantry, located in Queen Anne, Maryland, was an Infantry Rifle Company.

Included in the company were:

* 3 rifle platoons
*Mortar section
*Anti-armor section

C Company

Charlie Company, 2–115 Infantry, located in Catonsville, Maryland, was an Infantry Rifle Company.

Included in the company were:

* 3 rifle platoons
*Mortar section
*Anti-armor section

History

The 115th Infantry has long claimed lineage and honors that have not been recognized by the U.S. Army Center of Military history. The unit's official lineage and honors certificate only recognizes lineage extending back to 1881, while the regiment has traditionally held that it was descended from Cresap's Rifles, a company of infantry raised in 1775. The mismatch stems from a lineage system unique in the U.S. armed forces to the Army National Guard, which requires continuous militia presence in a particular community or, if a unit is moved, proof that the same members served in the unit at both locations. Because of a lack of support for militia units in the 1870s, many, including the First Maryland (predecessor to the 115th) ceased to exist as organized militia units. Army National Guard lineage rules state that any unit that becomes inactive has its lineage terminated, and that such lineage cannot be "resurrected," even if a unit with identical designation is later established.

Revolutionary War

The 115th Infantry claims lineage back to the earliest militia units formed to protect the frontier of western Maryland. The birthdate of the unit, 14 June 1775, is also the birthdate of the United States Army. The first two companies to leave Maryland were assembled in Frederick in the summer of 1775 under the command of Captains Cresap and Price; they were organized in response to the Continental Congress' call to active duty. They left Frederick in August and marched in 21 days to report to General Washington in September to support Washington's efforts to drive the British out of Boston. These personnel later became part of the 1st Maryland Regiment, "Maryland 400" or "Maryland Line," who repeatedly charged a numerically superior British force during the Battle of Long Island, sustaining heavy casualties, but allowing General Washington to successfully evacuate the bulk of his troops to Manhattan. This action is commemorated in Maryland's nickname, the "Old Line State."

Civil War

During the Civil War, two First Maryland Infantry (USA) regimental infantry units were organized:
:The 1st Regiment Maryland Volunteer Infantry was organized at Baltimore, Maryland and 4 companies (A, B, C and D) were mustered into Union service on 16 May 1861. The regiment's first commanding officer was Col. John Kenly, a Baltimore attorney who had served in Mexican–American War as a major of volunteers.
:The 1st Maryland Infantry, Potomac Home Brigade and four companies (A, B, D and I) recruited in Frederick County, one company (C) recruited from Baltimore City and three companies (E, F and H) recruited from Washington County and two other companies recruited from several counties was organized at Frederick, Maryland beginning 15 August 1861 and mustered in on 13 December 1861 for three years under the command of Colonel William P. Maulsby Sr.

The 1st Regiment Maryland Volunteer Infantry (USA), commanded by Colonel John R. Kenly, and the 1st Maryland Infantry (CSA), commanded by Colonel Bradley T. Johnson, constituted the major part of the forces engaged at the Battle of Front Royal on 23 May 1862. During this battle, in which the Confederates were successful, Colonel Kenly gave utterance to the famous command, "Rally round the Flag," which is to this day the motto of the 115th Regiment. This was the only time in United States military history that two regiments of the same numerical designation and from the same state engaged each other in battle. The 1st Maryland Infantry, CSA had been composed primarily of soldiers the Baltimore-based Fifth Regiment.

1880s to 1910s

A direct descendant of this regiment was organized 29 September 1881 as the First Battalion of Infantry, Maryland Army National Guard, from existing independent companies at Hagerstown and Frederick, Maryland. This is the date of organization officially recognized as the start of the regiment's lineage by the U.S. Army. It was expanded and redesignated First Regiment of Infantry on 7 May 1886 by the consolidation of the First Battalion of Infantry with several more independent companies of infantry throughout the state.

The unit mustered into federal service 11 May 1898 as the First Maryland Infantry Regiment, U.S. Volunteers, and was assigned to the Second Army Corps during the Spanish–American War. The regiment was mustered out of Federal Service 15 March 1899 without serving outside the continental United States. On 28 June 1916 the regiment was again called into active service and saw duty at Eagle Pass, Texas during the Mexican Border Incident. Two of the battalion commanders who served during this period were Majors Milton A. Reckord (future Adjutant General, State of Maryland) and D. John Markey (future regimental commander). The unit was mustered out of federal service on 4 November 1916.

First World War

In October 1917, while at Camp McClellan, Alabama, the First Maryland was consolidated with the Fourth and Fifth Maryland Infantry Regiments to form the 115th Infantry Regiment. The 115th became one of the four regiments brought together into the 29th Infantry Division, which was formed in July 1917, at Sea Girt, New Jersey

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