Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-08-19
N A MES OF BATTLES
Those That May Be Inscribed on Regi-
mental Colors.
They Will Probably BE Compiled by
the War Department in General
Orders and Probably Revised.

A subject now under consideration at the
War Department is the compilation in gen.
eral orders Of the names of battles that
may properly be inscribed on the colors of
regiments and on guidons. These inscrip-
lions. which are specially cherished by the
soldier are provided for in existing regu-
lations, but 1t is felt that they are in great
need of revision and tabulation. Accord
ing to the New York Sun, there are inter-
esting differences in this respect between
the regiments. The infantry, for example,
comprised before the civil war, only TEN
regiments. Nine others were added in 1861,
and each of these contained three bat
talions, so that after the war the nine sec
ond battalions were reOrganized as indie
pendent regiments. forming the twentieth
to the twenty eighth regiment inclusive.
while the nine third battaions formed the
twenty-ninth to the thrty-seventh inclu-
sive. That allowed many promotions and
appointments for war services, and Con-
gress also. in 1866. added eight new infan-
try regiments making forty-fve in all. In
due time came consultations. the result
being our present twenty-five regiments.
These changes must evidently be consider
ca IN making up the battle record for the
flags.
The First Ten Infantry Regiments
In the first ten infantry regiments there
were also marked differences The first, or
ganized in 1880; the second, in 1871, AMI the
ties Of the war Of 1912, as well ds of the
Florida. Mexican. and civil wars So. also.
is 1t with the fifth, sixth, and seventh, Or
ganized under the act of 1872. But the
sae reeSqa ty Saaes an r cts
de la Palma. The eighth formed in 1885,
took part in the Mexican war. but the ninth
Accordingly. we find Lundys Lane. La
Cole Mill, Chippewa, Queenstown, and 9TH
er engagements of the second war with
Great Britain on the battle rolls of some OF
these regiments. We also find Okeechobee
and other combats in East Florida. Yet, as
has been seen, all after the eighth regiment
can reckon battles Of the civil war only. 1T
is little curious that the ninth infantry
was not in action at all between 1861 and
1910, having been stationed on the Pacific
coast throughout that period. But -ompa-
ny II had previously fought the Indians At
White river. and the regiment was engaged
at Spokane.
Turning to the artillery. We find the first
regiment, which was organized in 1903, pres
emf IN ISlZ at Queenstown. and afterwari at
Erie. The second, third, and fourth artil-
lery were organized under the act of 1921,
| and a, with the first. have credit for the East
ana so on. They also share the glorics of
Palo Alto Resaca de la Palma Monterey,
Buena Vista. Vera Cruz Cerro Gordo, Con-
Ieras, Churubusco Molino del Rey, and
Chaputepec. The fifth artillery was organ
lied In 1851, and thus confines its battle rec
ORD to the civil war
me cavalry Regiments.
our frst cavalry regiment, originally the
nrst Dragons, was not organized uEtil
1893, the second Dragons following in 1896
Ihey have the Florida campaigns their
ilst as well as the subsequent wars, while
the third cavalry. at first called the mount
ed ri1emen, formed in 1916. began it's record
III AeXico- The fourth and fifth cavalry
originally known as the first and second
We're only formed in 1855, but have Indian
hostihties. as Well as the battles of the
civil war on their roll. The sixth was
10, in 1861. and the other four not uN
I'll after the close of the civil war. Finally
the engineer battalion was made Up OF
companies formed in 1876 and 1861 so that
Its battle record extends from Vera Cruz
ana Cerro Gordo to Cold Harbor and Pc
terSburg.
II would be a long story to rehearse the
combats of the civil war in which existin,
organizations took part; but IL is quite
evident that. with many to pick from
mere is opportunity for judicious choice
passed on the extent of service performed
with view to inscribng the actions or
the regiments colors.
The suggestion has been thrown out
that it might also be practicable to allow
regiments to use insignia based on their
history and respective services, as a slim
uias 10 esprit de corps. In the BritisI
ing collar badges of various designs
Thus the ROYAL Lancaster. or kings own.
white horse of Kent; the SUFFOLK, Gibral-
tar castle and key; the West Riding al
elephant; the Cheshire. an acorn with oal
leaves; the Bedfordshire, a hart crossin,
FORD; the West Yorkshire, the Prince OF
Wales plume; the Lecestershire a tige,
within wreath; the Border. dragon in
a laurel wreath; the Yorkshire Light In
lantry. French horn; the Shropshire and
the Durham, each a bugle and strin.s
the Royal Scots, a thistle: the Gordon
Hlghlanders, the royal tiger; several reg
iments. the sphinx over Egypt; sever
others, grenade with additional marks
or ornaments. 1t would seem as practic-
able TO choose from the campaign in Mex
leo. for example tokens expressive enough
tor badges for our regiments engaged there
in the brilliant series of victories crowned
with the capture of the hill of Chaplltepec
In the British infantry regiments ma
also be found special privileges granted TO
modify the uniform in certain slight par
ticulars. these having been accorded Ion
ago and kept up distinctive mark
And throughout there is desire to giy,
the men, as well the officers n matt,
look. so that they may take pride In
their uniform. The exercised by tho
French and other nations in this rarticu.
lar is well known, and beyond question II
oil LII