18th United States Infantry

18th United States Infantry

18th United States Infantry
Modern Coat of Arms

Term of Service: May 1861-Present

Allegiance: Union
Type: Infantry
Organization: 

Third ("Regular") Brigade (John H. King), First Division, XIV Corps

Selected Engagements:

Battle of Corinth
Battle of Stones River
Battle of Chickamauga
Siege of Chattanooga
Battle of Missionary Ridge
Atlanta Campaign

Commanders:

1st Battalion, Capt. George W. Smith

History:

The 18th U.S. Infantry was one of four regular infantry regiments of the United States Army that participated in the Battle of Chickamauga. The 18th was created at Columbus, Ohio in May of 1861. In December of 1861, the 18th was ordered to join the Army of the Ohio (later renamed the Army of the Cumberland) which was amassing in central Kentucky. The 18th participated in the Battles of Shiloh, Corinth, Perryville and Stones River during 1862 and early 1863. Between the months of June and November of 1863, the 18th saw action at Hoover’s Gap, Chickamauga and Chattanooga. Following the Union’s victory in the Chattanooga campaign, the 18th participated in a number of small skirmishes during 1864 leading up to the siege of Atlanta. Atlanta would be the last significant engagement of the Civil War for the 18th as it spent the last months of the war occupying Chattanooga and Lookout Mountain. Following the end of the war, the 18th was immediately sent west to protect settlers and prospectors in the Dakota and Montana Territories. The regiment’s commander during the war and subsequent service in the west, Colonel Henry B. Carrington would go on to become a prominent military historian later in life. The Battle of Chickamauga remains part of the 18th’s heritage to this day. Its current insignia features an acorn in honor of George Henry Thomas, the regiment’s corps commander who earned the nickname the “Rock of Chickamauga” during the Battle. 

Author: Sam Doss, March 23, 2015
Further Reading:
Frederick H. Dyer, “A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion,” Last updated January 17, 2009, http://www.civilwararchive.com/Unreghst/unrginf2.htm#16thinf.
Mark W. Johnson, That Body of Brave Men: The U.S. Regular Infantry and the Civil War in the West. Da Capo, 2003.