History of 22nd US Infantry Regiment

The 22nd Regiment of United States Infantry got their start in June 1812 when Congress authorized the strengthening of the Army in preparation for the pending hostilities with Great Britain.

Their nickname, "Regulars, by God" came during the War of 1812 from the Battle of Chippewa on 5 July 1814. The uniform of the Infantry was normally blue, however, due to shortages of blue cloth the troops under the command of General Winfield Scott were issued short jackets of gray cloth which they wore into the battle. At first , the British mistook the regulars for militia. But when Scott's brigade of regiments courageously advanced without wavering through a hail of artillery and musket fire, the British commander Major General Phineas Riall realized his mistake and cried, "Those are Regulars, By God!."

General Winfield Scott ordering the 11th Infantry, under Major John McNeill, to attack the British and Canadian right flank.
In the background on the far left is the British 1st Regiment of Foot, on the far right is the United States 9th/22nd Infantry.

Campaign Participation Credit for the War of 1812: Canada, Chippewa, Lundy's Lane (More about the war you can read here).

The 22nd Regiment was consolidated with 6th, l6th, 23rd, and 32nd Infantry to form the 2nd Infantry Regiment. There was no 22nd Infantry between 1815 and 1866.

The 22nd Infantry fought in five major campaigns of the Indian Wars: Little Big Horn, Pine Ridge, North Dakota 1868, North Dakota 1869, Montana 1872. (More about the 22nd in the Indian Wars you can read here).

It was the first American Army unit to set foot on Cuban soil in the Spanish American War and fought with distinction at the battle of Santiago.

Company L 22nd Infantry, Sea Girt, New Jersey - 1898

The Regiment served in six campaigns during the years 1899-1905 in the Philippine Insurrection: Manila, Malolos, San Isidro, Mindanao, Jolo and Luzon 1900. (More about the war you can read here).

The 22nd Infantry moving to the front, Philippine Islands

After Philippine Insurrection the Regiment stationed in California where it was one of the units sent to aid the City of San Francisco during the Earthquake in 1906, Alaska and Texas (Mexican border duty).

The two machine guns of the machine gun platoon of the 22nd Infantry, at Goldfield 1907.

During World War I The Regiment defended the docks of Hoboken, NJ and the major buildings, including the Capitol and White House in Washington, DC.

On March 24, 1923 the Regiment assigned to the 4th Division (later redesignated as the 4th Infantry Division). In 1920's Regular Army Regiments were the official sponsors of the Citizens' Military Training Camps at Camp McClellan, GA. The CMTC companies were commanded by officers of the 22nd Infantry. The 22nd Infantry was responsible for organizing and maintaining the necessary structures for administration, supply and training of the CMTC companies. The Regiment inactivated on June 30, 1927 at Fort McPherson, Georgia.

Students fire the .30 cal Browning water-cooled machine gun while 22nd Infantry instructors look on.

Battle of Chippewa, War of 1812 - defeated the British and earned the informal motto of "Regulars, By God!" The uniform worn at the United States Military Academy is designed after the uniform worn by the 22nd Infantry in this battle.

The five arrows on the Regimental Crest represent the five campaigns we fought in during the Indian Wars in the last half of the 1800's.

The 22nd was the first Regiment to land on the shores of Cuba in the Spanish - American War.

The 22nd distinguished themselves in the Philippines at the turn of the century as they overcame the elements and the Moros - the sunburst and battlement on the Regimental Crest come from the participation in the Philippines Insurrection.

In World War II, our Regiment distinguished itself time and time again from June 6, 1944 when it landed on Utah Beach through the end of the War. The 22nd was the only Regiment to earn two Presidential Unit Citations in the European/African theaters.