The daily morning journal and courier., 1896-12-10
THIRD INFANTRY.

The Army's Oldest Regiment-It Has Just Celebrated It's tooth Anniversary.
 The Sd regiment of infantry is in the the tooth anniversary of it's establish | ment. The anniversary is observed at the home of the regiment at Fort She'll ing, on the Mississippi river, at the
 head of navigation, hard by the cities | of Minneapolis and St. Paul. It is the garrison of this old and historic fort. The Sd passes it's century milestone a far different body from what it was in November, 1796-different in uniform in aCcouterment, in arms, and in drill; but 1t is not more steadfastly loyal body in 1896 than it was in 1796. Other regiments have been as brave and as loyal and have fought as valiantly for the preservation of the country or the repelling of a foreign foe. Circumstan- ces and time and history, however, have given this body particular fitness for recognition.
 It is the oldest regiment in the reg ular army of the United States. The original 1st was established in June, 17S4. This by subsequent consolidation was merged into the present 3d, so that it is in reality a decade more than a century old On March }, 1792, Congress authorized the formal establishment of the regiment. It was then known as the infantry of the Sd sub-legion. The army reorganized in November, 1796, when the infantry of the Sd sub-legion became the Sd regiment of the infantry.
 This is the regiment which fought under Mad" Anthony Wayne when he led his forces with impetuous ardor against the Indians of the northwest ern border; which was so powerful a factor in the war of 1872; which passed a decade or more of its life in the great lakes region when the feeble garrisons along the insand seas were 50 sorely in need of its stanch aid; which was fore most in the long and trying campaign in Florida, where it maintained the splendid reputation as an Indian fight CT which it has kept for century. It is the regiment which, when in Texas would maintain her own definition of the boundary line between her and Mexico, was ordered to the Southwest, where, through that spirited and pie turesque campaign, it fought its way at Palo Alto, at Resaca de la Palma, at Monterey, at the siege and capture of Vera Cruz, then onward under Scott on that irresistible march straight to the citadel of the Mexican capital. After the brilliant battle of Cherubusco when the Sd lead the deciding charge, and when the colors of the regiment were the first to be flung from the para pet of the old convent, the regiment was one of the first to march into the conquered city over which floated the flag of its nation.
 So onward the regiment fought de pleted many times by death and disease it's ranks steadily filling again with the best blood of the nation, fighting against the Navajos and the Apaches in all rhe exciting Indian campaigns from ls40 to 1860, until, when the elements of the greatest civil war of history Were a. mixing, it was ordered to the North from it's long service on the soil of the South Passing through San 4hntunIc, Tex, 1t was suggested that the reg iment march, around rather than through, the principal streets of the Southerl, city where the sympathy with the cause of the South was so pronounced. A council of the officers of the regiment was called, and it was unanimously decided that 1t would never do for the oldest regiment in the army-a regiment which had never been in the habit of travelling round- about when the main travelled road was open-it would never do for such a regiment to change it's policy under such conditions; so. dressed for the occasion in full uniform, with, as a writer of the day said, "the regimental colors flying, the band playing, and every man and officer as fine as brass and bullion could make him" the old Sd marched onward through the streets of the southern city to take it's place in the great conflict then impending.
 Three companies of the regiment, A, r and l, were captured by the enemy in the earlier part of the war in Florida. Their reputation was well known in the south and it was generally conceded that it was one of the best drilled and most important military bodies on the continent, so every effort was made to induce the members of these companies
 
 government and take up the cause of the south. The members of the com panies received offers to become officers in the southern army, and no doubt there were few of them who were not far better fitted for high places than a very large number of the volunteer sol diers, north or south But the cap tured companies remained Steadfastly loyal to the government and, after ex- change, joined their regiment in the north and fought on through the cam paign.
 From the outset of the civil war the Third was in the heat of the battle It won it's first recognition at the first op- portunity which presented itself, when it showed it's qualities by it's masterly covering the flight of the army at the first battle of Bull Run. Lieutenant J. H. McRae of the Third, the historian of the regiment, says of the regiment at this first battle of Bull Run:
 Its gallant conduct in this, the first great battle of the war, it's unfiinching steadfastness and perfect order in cov- ering the flight of the panic-stricken army, was but presage of that which was to distinguish it throughout the war"
 Many times during the civil war the fighting qualities of the Third were call ed into play. It took part in twenty bot t1r..-