District of Columbia 1st Regiment, Infantry

HISTORICAL NOTES:
This regiment was organized at Washington, D. C., July 23 to October 25, 1861 by James A. Tait, who served as the unit's first colonel. After serving in garrison duties in the defenses of Washington, D.C., the regiment was sent to the Shenandoah Valley in May 1862, although it did not see any combat during the 1862 Valley Campaign. When Union forces in the Shenandoah region were consolidated into the Army of Virginia, the 1st D.C. Infantry became part of the 2nd Division, II Corps. As part of the army, it fought in the Battle of Cedar Mountain and served in reserve at the Second Battle of Bull Run. Following the campaign, the regiment was reassigned to the defenses of Washington, where it served for the remainder of the war. At first, it was part of the XII Corps of the Army of the Potomac, but was transferred to the Department of Washington.
During the Battle of Fort Stevens, the 1st District of Columbia helped defend the northern line of forts and entrenchments but failed to see any combat. On February 28, 1865, the regiment was consolidated with the 2nd District of Columbia Infantry.
ASSIGNMENTS: Attached to Provisional Brigade, Casey's Division, Army of the Potomac, to November, 1861. Robinson's Brigade, Army of the Potomac, to December, 1861. Railroad guard, Bladensburg, Md., to May, 1862. Miles' Command, Harper's Ferry, W. Va., to June, 1862. 2nd Brigade, Sigel's Division, Dept. of the Shenandoah, to July, 1862. 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 2nd Army Corps, Army of Virginia, to August, 1862. 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, 2nd Army Corps, Army of Virginia, to September, 1862. 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, 12th Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to October, 1862. District of Alexandria, Defences of Washington, D. C., to February, 1863. Slough's Command, Defences of Alexandria, 22nd Army Corps, Dept. of Washington, to February, 1865.
SERVICE:

1861
July 23 - October 25	Organized at Washington, D.C. under Colonel James A. Tait
October- November	Duty in the Defenses of Washington, D.C. attached to Provisional Brigade, Casey's Division, Army of the Potomac
November	Assigned to Robinson's Brigade, Army of the Potomac
December	Railroad guard near Bladensburg, Md.
1862
May 24-30	Ordered to Harper's Ferry and attached to Command, Harper's Ferry
June	Operations in the Shenandoah Valley, Va. assigned to 2nd Brigade, Sigel's Division, Dept. of the Shenandoah
July	Assigned to 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 2nd Army Corps, Army of Virginia, which was commanded by Colonel Tait
August 9	Battle of Cedar Mountain
August 16- September 2	Pope's Campaign in Northern Virginia. Assigned to 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, 2nd Army Corps, Army of Virginia, commanded by Colonel Tait
August 28-26	Fords of the Rappahannock
August 27-29	Plains of Manassas
August 29-30	Battle of Bull Run (Reserve)
September	Moved to Washington, D.C. and duty in the defenses of that city and Alexandria, Va. attached to 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, 12th Army Corps, Army of the Potomac
October	Assigned to District of Alexandria, Defenses of Washington, D. C.
November 13	Colonel Tait appointed Provost Marshall General, Defenses South of the Potomac
1863
February	Assigned to Slough's Command, Defenses of Alexandria, 22nd Army Corps, Dept. of Washington
1864
July 11-13	Repulse of Early's attack on Washington
1865
February 28	Consolidated with 2nd Regiment District of Columbia Infantry

 

 

BIBLIOGRAPHY: for researching Washington, DC Units in the Civil War.

Baker, Lafayette C. The United States Secret Service in the Late War... St. Louis, MO: Holloway, 1889. pp. 167-203. E608.B1815.
Bolton, Horace W. Personal Reminiscences of the Late War. Chicago: H.W. Bolton, 1892. 219 p. E601.B69.
Carlilie, Richard. "The 1st District of Columbia Cavalry." Military Images Magazine (Sep/Oct 1986): pp. 11-13. Per.
Dyer, Frederick H. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion. Vol. 2. Cartersville, GA: Eastern Digital Resources, 2003. E491.D992.
See also the following pertinent personal papers in the U. S. Military History Institute's Archives: Baker, Lafayette C. - CWMiscColl (Official papers concerning claim of COL's widow, Jan 18, 1865-1869)
REFERENCES:
Dyer, Frederick H. - A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1st_District_of_Columbia_Infantry