On May 4, 1861, President Abraham Lincoln authorized the creation of a number of new regiments for the regular army. This action was confirmed by Congress on July 19, 1861. The Thirteenth United States Infantry Regiment was one of the units thus created. It was organized at Jefferson Barracks, St. Louis, Missouri. Company ‘A’ of the Regiment completed its organization on October 8, 1861. Companies ‘B’,’C’, and ‘G’ on November 13, 1861, Companies ‘D’,’E’, and ‘F’ on April 2, 1862, and Companies ‘H’,’I’, and ‘K’ in the summer of 1862.
Like almost all Civil War units, the Thirteenth United States Infantry was often known by an alternate designation, or ‘nickname’, derived from the name of the commanding officer. Names of this type used by or for the entire regiment are shown below:
Daniel Chase’s Infantry
Alexander Murray’s Infantry
Charles C. Smith’s Infantry
Edward C. Washington’s Infantry
As the companies completed their organization they were moved to Elgin, Illinois for training. On September 4, 1862, the regiment was ordered to Newport News, Virginia. There it joined the Department of Virginia. Late in September 1862, it was moved to Cincinatti, Ohio, to assist in the operations against Bragg and Kirby Smith in Kentucky. There the unit joined the Department of the Ohio. Later that month the unit was moved to Memphis, Tennessee, where it joined the Department of the Tennessee. It served under that command until December, 1862. The unit next served in the Yazoo Expeditionary Corps. In January, 1863, the Regiment joined the Army of the Tennessee, serving in that Army until December, 1863. The unit then joined the Department of the Cumberland, serving in that command for the remainder of its Civil War career.
The Congressional Medal of Honor was awarded to Private James Kemphart, Company ‘C’, for his actions at Vicksburg, Mississippi, May 19, 1863.
In recognition of the fact that the Thirteenth United States Infantry was the only Federal regiment which succeeded in breaching the Confederate breastworks at Vicksburg, on May 19, 1863, the regiment was given the nickname ‘First at Vicksburg’. Not long afterwards, the unit was permitted to place this inscription on its colors. Units of the present United States Army which trace their history back to the Thirteenth United States Infantry still bear this inscription on their colors.
The Thirteenth United States Infantry Regiment participated in more than thirty of various types of engagements during its illustrious career. During its Civil War career the Thirteenth United States Infantry sustained the loss of three officers and fifty five enlisted men killed or mortally wounded in action. An additional seven officers and one hundred twenty one enlisted men died from disease or other non-battlefield related causes