The Fourth Alabama Painting by Don Troiani

First Brigade, Second Division

Major G Sykes

Major G Sykes, commanding United States Battalion Infantry

United States Battalion Infantry

MAJOR G SYKES
Fourteenth United States Infantry

ACTING MAJOR N H DAVIS
Captain N H Davis, Second United States Infantry, Company C, acting major on 21 July, 1861.

Second United States Infantry

Company C: First Lt. A E Latimar
First Lieutenant A E Latimar commanding as Captain N H Davis was acting major on 21 July, 1861.
Company K: CAPT. L BEALL

In Janurary 1861, the regiment was stationed as follows: headquarters and Companies E and F were stationed at Fort Kearny, Nebraska, Companies C and K at Fort Ripley, Minnesota, Companies A, D, and I at Fort Abercrombie, North Dakota, Company B at Fort Scott and then St Louis arsenal, and Companies G and H at Fort Riley, Kansas. During July, 1861, Companies B and E were in the field in Missouri and headquarters and Companies C and K arrived in Washington D. C. during July, 1861.

Third United States Infantry

Company B: SECOND LT. J F KENT
Company D: FIRST LT. D PARKER
Company G: FIRST LT. J B WILLIAMS
Company H: FIRST LT. A SHERIDAN
Company K: FIRST LT. W H PENROSE

With the secession of Texas in February 1861, the 3rd United States Infantry left Fort Clark, Texas, and five companies, B, D, G, H and K, with headquarters, under Brevet Major O L Shepherd, were sent to New York on 19 March, 1861. Companies C and E, stationed at Fort Hamilton, were sent to Florida to garrison Fort Pickens where they arrived on 16 April, 1861. Three companies, A, F and I, were not able to complete their evacuation and surrendered at Mattagorda Bay, Texas, on 26 April, 1861. Companies F and I rejoined the regiment in February 1862, Companies C and E in June, 1862, and Company A in August 1862.

Eighth United States Infantry

Company G: Capt. R I DODGE

The Confederate state of Texas reneged on the pledge of its commissioners to offer unimpeded exit to the federal troops formerly stationed within its boundaries. On 22 April, 1861, Company C, with the headquarters staff and regimental band, were captured in San Antonio and made prisoners of war. Two days later Companies A and D were taken prisoner at Indianola, and on 9 May the six remaining companies, under the command of Captain I V D Reeve, were forced to surrender west of San Antonio. Company G had previously been disbanded. Only those few of the regiment's officers who were on detached service or leave of absence in the Union states were available for duty. The reorganization of the regiment began on 1 May, 1861, at Fort Wood, New York Harbor, where Company G was recruited. On 20 June, 1861, Company G arrived at Washington D. C. and was assigned as provost guard, helping to keep order in the days leading up to an emergency session of Congress scheduled to meet on 4 July.

Sources

"Company G, Eighth Infantry, formed part of an eight-company brigade that was joined in July by a battalion of marines, a detachment of dragoons, and six batteries of artillery. This ill-assorted accumulation of regulars numbered about 800 men, a tiny fraction of the 35,000 that comprised the federal strength in the area."

Colonel Richard Irving Dodge: the life and times of a career army officer, by Wayne R Kime

The Army of the United States: Historical Sketches of Staff and Line with Portraits of Generals in Chief, by T F Rodenbough, Brevet Brigadier General, and W L Haskin, Major, First Artillery

Official Army Register for September 1861, Adjutant General's Office, Washington, 1 September, 1861

Notes

The United States Battalion Infantry was temporarily organised with companies of the 2nd, 3rd and 8th United States Infantry on 21 July, 1861.

The Military District of the Potomac was established on 25 July, 1861 by consolidating the Military District of Washington and the Department of Northeastern Virginia and redesignated the Department of the Potomac on 15 August, 1861. Companies C and G, 2nd United States Infantry, Companies B, D, G, H and Company K, 3rd United States Infantry and Company G, 8th United States Infantry, were assigned duty in Washington D. C. as Provost Guard or City Guard, on 30 July, 1861, under the command of Colonel A Porter, 16th United States Infantry.

Sturgis Rifles

The Sturgis Rifles was an independent militia company fom Illinois, under the command of Captain J Steel, that arrived at Washington D. C. on 26 July and assigned as Provost Guard or City Guard, under the command of Colonel A Porter, 16th United States Infantry.

Report

OFFICIAL REPORT NO.35: Series I, Volume 2 (S# 2), Chapter IX, pp. 390–391
Major G Sykes, Fourteenth United States Infantry, commanding battalion of regulars