Like Gaul of old. the American Army of the War of 1812 was divided into three parts, the Regular Army, the Militia, and the United States Volunteers. All three elements saw service on the battlefield, but often operated under rules and regulations unique to each part. Relations between the three were never smooth, as each viewed the other with mistrust and disdain. Nevertheless, the force put together from these three diverse elements carried the nation through the war with all elements winning glory during the last campaign of the war! The Regular Army The first element was the "Regular Army", or "Standing Army" as it was often called in the halls of Congress. It should not be forgotten that in the eyes of the Democratic -- Republican Party, the ghost of Oliver Cromwell loomed over the infant American Army After all, had not elements of the Continental Army offered Washington a crown in 1783? Even more recently, had not Bonaparte had subverted the French Revolution? A standing army was indeed a threat to a people's liberty! In keeping with the party line. and newly elected President Jefferson's views that the militia was the first line of national defense, the "Regular Standing Army" had been reduced in 1802. The number of Infantry Regiments was cut back to two, the 1st and 2nd Regiments of Infantry, each of 10 companies. The Mounted Dragoons were disbanded in toto. However. since gunnery was deemed a needed science, the reformed Artillery Regiment was equal in size to both Infantry Regiments. It was to consist of two battalions, each of 10 companies of gunners who could serve as fortress artillery, light artillery_ or even infantry as needed. A small corps of Engineers was based at West Point and a Military Academy was established there to train future officers. The Army remained at this staffing level, scattered across the land in small detachments, till 1808. In response to the "Chesapeake Incident" in June 1807, Congress increased the size of the US Army by what was known as the "Additional Military Force". This was authorized for five years only, with the understanding that all elements would be discharged no later than 1813. To encourage enlistment, members of the new regiments were authorized a cash bounty as well as a land grant and three months additional pay upon discharge. Five new regiments of infantry. numbered 3rd to 7th, one Rifle Regiment, one Light Artillery Regiment, and one Regiment of Light Dragoons were formed. The Infantry, Rifle and Light Artillery Regiment were each authorized 10 companies while the Light Dragoons were only authorized 8 companies. The Light Artillery Regiment was viewed as field and horse artillery in contrast to the Artillery Regiment, which was to continue to serve as fortress artillery. Regiments were to be raised by awarding commissions to good Democratic - Republicans, who would in turn raise the needed men from their local area. Thus the military stricture would be built up, but threat of a Cromwell prevented. This new force quickly failed to provide a solid foundation for the US Army. To begin with, once the threat of war with England receded, the US War Department was horrified by the thought that some recruits might get the full bounty without serving for five years. Recruiting was canceled, so no regiment ever managed to reach its planned strength of some 850 men. To save even more money, officers were not appointed to existing vacancies, and both the Light Artillery and the Light Dragoons saw their horses sold to save on feed. To add insult to injury, soldiers who had enlisted to fight the British found themselves on customs patrol helping enforce the hated embargo, serving as the very "national police" that so concerned the Democratic - Republican party. To make a bad thing worse, large elements of the Regular Army were dispatched to the recently acquired Louisiana Territory. As that area had only come under American ownership in the mid 1800's. there was some concern as to whether the newly "Americanized" locals would turn out and defend that area in the proper "militia" spirit. Accordingly, Brigadier General James Wilkerson was sent to New Orleans with some 2,000 men in all. Camped in a swamp and denied such necessities as mosquito netting, medicine, and food for ill soldiers by a penny-pinching War Department, the force was quickly depleted. By the end of 1809 Wilkerson reported losing over 1.000 men - with 900 claimed by death, and another 150+ deserters who fled for their lives. At the end of 1811, an Army's whose establishment should numbered over 10.000 men on paper reported having but 5,447 officers and nmen. As part of its belated attempt to prepare for war, Congress decided to raise more troops for the "Regular Army" under the title of "the Additional Army". After passing a series of different laws regulating the new troops - and having at one point early- in 1812 seven different regimental establishments on the books. Congress finally in June of 1812 standardized the Regular Armv as haying 25 (Numbered 1 to 25) Regiments of Infantry, each with: Regimental Staff 1 colonel 1 lieutenant colonel 1 major 1 adjutant 1 quartermaster 1 paymaster 1 surgeon 1 surgeon's mate 1 sergeant major 1 quartermaster sergeant 2 principal musicians Ten companies each with 1 captain 2 lieutenants 1 ensign 4 sergeants 6 corporals 2 musicians 90 privates Two companies of each infantry regiment were to be as light infantry. 1 Rifle Regiment, as above 3 (Numbered 1 to 3) Artillery Regiments, each with Regimental Staff 1 colonel 2 lieutenant colonels 2 majors 2 adjutants 1 quartermaster 1 paymaster 1 surgeon 2 surgeon's mate 2 sergeant majors 2 quartermaster sergeants 2 principal musicians Two battalions, each often companies, each with 1 captain 2 lieutenants 2 cadets 4 sergeants 4 corporals 2 musicians 4 artificers 72 privates  1 Light Artillery Regiment, with Regimental Staff 1 colonel 1 lieutenant colonel 1 major 1 adjutant 1 quartermaster 1 paymaster 1 surgeon 1 surgeon's mate 1 sergeant major 1 quartermaster sergeant 2 principal musicians Ten companies, each with 1 captain 2 lieutenants 2 cadets 4 sergeants 4 corporals 2 musicians 8 artificers 58 privates In theory, a company of artillery was able to man a field artillery battery. Each battery was to have on paper six weapons, with four guns and two howitzers pep battery. In reality, batteries used what was available, with many of the artillery companies never serving as gunners. 1st Light Dragoon Regiment Regimental Staff 1 colonel 1 lieutenant colonel 1 major 1 adjutant 1 quartermaster 1 paymaster 1 surgeon 1 surgeon's mate 1 sergeant major 1 riding master 1 quartermaster sergeant 2 principal musicians Eight companies. each with 1 captain 2 lieutenants 1 cornet 4 sergeants 4 corporals 2 trumpeters 1 saddler 1 farrier 38 privates 2nd Light Dragoon Regiment Regimental Staff 1 colonel 1 lieutenant colonel 1 major 1 adjutant 1 quartermaster 1 paymaster 1 surgeon 1 surgeon's mate 1 sergeant major 1 riding master 1 quartermaster sergeant 2 principal musicians Twelve companies. each with 1 captain 2 lieutenants 1 cornet 6 sergeants 4 corporals l master of the sword 2 trumpeters 1 saddler 1 farrier 1 blacksmith 64 privates 6 Companies of Mounted Rangers, each with: 1 captain 2 lieutenants 1 ensign 4 sergeants 4 corporals 60 privates Two companies of Rangers were to be raised in Ohio. with the remaining four companies raised in Indiana. Illinois and Kentucky. The other new formations were to be raised nationwide, in the same manner as had the "Additional Military Force". Commissions were awarded yet again to good Democratic - Republicans, who in turn recruited from their local surroundings. This system was designed to give units a sense of local cohesion and ownership, and was quickly destroyed by the actions of the War Department. It should be pointed out that the branch of service of a given regiment often did not cover the roles that the regiment ended up carrying out. The 2nd Infantry defended the rampart of Fort Bowyer near Mobile in September of 1814, serving as gunners and driving off the British fleet. The Light Dragoons defended Sackett's Harbour in 1813 serving as light infantry while a detachment of the Regiment of Light Artillery found itself serving as light cavalry on the Niagara. The 3rd Artillery served more as infantry than artillerists throughout the war. Throughout the war, the Regular Army soldiers were pressed into service as needed, and served well. Concerned that the war might be over before the new units completed their establishment, the War Department in mid summer of 1812 made a fateful decision. The new regiments were ordered to take all existing recruits and concentrate them in a few full strength companies and march those companies as a "battalion" to the Canadian front as soon as possible. Other companies would then be completed, formed into a battalion, and in turn be forwarded to where they were needed. In one decisive blow the regimental unity and morale of these new formations was destroyed at the start of the war. Battalions of the same regiment found themselves never serving together, and recruits who had enlisted in the understanding that they would be serving with friends and neighbors found themselves under unknown officers in strange ranks. Desertion went up, and morale quickly dropped. The Regular Army found itself crippled at the start of the war. With no American victories to show for 1812, a reorganization and enlargement of the Regular Army was enacted by Congress in January 1813. A national system was set up for the first time. with the nation divided into nine military districts, each to be under the control of a regular army general officer.  The existing units were assigned to each of these areas for purposes of recruitment. In some cases the areas were those that the regiments had been raised - in other cases regiments were assigned to areas where they were currently serving: By linking regiments to geographical areas. it was hoped to build pride in units and aid in recruiting_ 1st Military District - Massachusetts including present day Maine, New Hampshire Light Artillery - two companies 2nd Light Dragoons - three troops.1st Artillery - one battalion. 4th Infantry Regiment. 9th Infantry Regiment. 21st Infantry Regiment. 2nd Military District - Connecticut, Rhode Island 2nd Light Dragoons - two troops. 1st Artillery -one battalion. 25th Infantry Regiment 3rd Military District - New Jersey, Southern New York Light Artillery - two companies 2nd Light Dragoons - two troops. 3rd Artillery - two battalions. 6th Infantry Regiment 15th Infantry Regiment 4th Military District - Delaware, New Jersey. Pennsylvania Light Artillery - two companies 2nd Light Dragoons - two troops. 2nd Artillery - one battalion. 3rd Infantry Regiment 5th Infantry Regiment 16th Infantry Regiment 22nd Infantry Regiment 5th Military District - Maryland. Virginia Light Artillery - two companies 1st Light Dragoons - one troop. 2nd Artillery - one and a half battalions. 12th Infantry Regiment 14th Infantry Regiment 20th Infantry Regiment 6th Military District - Georgia, North and South Carolina 1st Light Dragoons - two troops. 1st Artillery - one battalion 8th Infantry Regiment 10th Infantry Regiment 18th Infantry Regiment 7th Military District - Louisiana, Mississippi Territory (including modern day Alabama). Tennessee 1st Light Dragoons - two troops. 1st Artillery -one battalion 2nd Infantn Regiment 7th Infantry Regiment 24th Infantry Regiment Rifle Regiment - three companies. 8th Military District - Ohio. Kentucky. Territories of Illinois, Indiana. Michigan. Missouri. Light Arillery - two companies 1st Light Dragoons - three troops. 2nd Artillery - one and a half battalions 1st Infantry Regiment 17th Infantry Regiment 19th Infantry Regiment Rifle Regiment - four companies Six companies of mounted rangers 9th Military District - Northern New York, Vermont 2nd Light Dragoons - two troops. 3rd Artillery - Two battalions 11th Infantry Regiment 13th Infantry Regiment 23rd Infantry Regiment Rifle Regiment - three companies Having just made an attempt to organize the Army establishment on a regional basis, Congress then violated the spirit and intent of the law by giving the War Department in early 1813 permission to raise twenty new regiments. These regiments were raised wherever they could and so ended up being scattered across the nation, often recruiting in competition with the existing units 26th Vermont 27th New York City 28th Kentucky 29th New York 30th Vermont 31st Vermont 32nd Pennsylvania & Delaware 33rd Maine (Massachusetts) 34th Maine (Massachusetts) 35th Virginia 36th Virginia & Maryland 37th Connecticut 38th Maryland 39th Tennessee 40th Massachusetts & New Hampshire 41st 42nd New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware 43rd North Carolina 44th Louisiana 45th - Subsequent acts of Congress converted one regiment (the 45th) into a "Ranger Regiment". and specified that five other regiments were to be retained for "coastal defense" without indicating which regiments were to be used. The ten new Ranger companies were to be all raised in the 8th Military District. The regimental strength for these new formations, including the "Ranger Regiment" was set at Regimental Staff 1 colonel 1 lieutenant colonel 2 majors 1 adjutant 1 surgeon 1 surgeon's mate 1 sergeant major 1 quartermaster sergeant 2 principal musicians Ten companies, each with 1 captain 1 first lieutenant 1 second lieutenant 1 third lieutenant 1 ensign 5 sergeants 6 corporals 2 musicians 90 privates The existing six "Mounted Ranger Companies" were reauthorized at the same time as the "Ranger Regiment" was raised and given the higher company strength. In so far as the Ranger Companies were authorized "Comets" and the Ranger Regiment was authorized "Ensigns", it appears that the new Ranger regiment served on foot and was not considered as a mounted formation. The American Army pressed one last source of manpower into service at this time. In the hopes of increasing the garrison of the coastal ports, Congress gave the President authority to raise up to ten companies of "Sea Fencibles" from unemployed sailors. These sailors were guaranteed that they world remain stationed in the ports that they were raised. Up to ten companies were authorized. each with: 1 captain 1 first lieutenant 1 second lieutenant 1 third lieutenant 1 boatswain 6 gunners 6 quarter gunners 90 seamen The Regular Army establishment remained the same till February of 1814, when Congress voted to raise 3 new Rifle Regiments, numbered 2nd to 4th, and four new regiments of Infantry, numbered 45th to 48th. These last infantry regiments were to be raised by taking into the Regular Army four existing volunteer formations serving among the Canadian border. However in the end only the 45th and 46th Infantry Regiments were raised. Due to a shortage of strength, the existing 26th and 27th lnfantn Regiments were used to help bring the 19th and 19th Infantry up to strength. The new 47th and 48th Infantry Regiments were renumbered as the 26th and 27th to fill gap and assigned those regiments recruiting areas. The locations were the new formations were to be raised were: 45th Infantry: Maine 46th Infantry: New York 2nd Rifle Regiment: Kentucky & Tennessee 3rd Rifle Regiment: Virginia & the Carolinas 4th Rifle Regiment: New York These units were to have: Regimental Staff 1 colonel 1 lieutenant colonel 2 majors 1 adjutant 1 quartermaster 1 paymaster 1 surgeon 1 surgeon's mate 1 sergeant major 1 quartermaster sergeant 2 principal musicians Ten companies. each with 1 captain 1 first lieutenant1 second lieutenant 1 third lieutenant 1 ensign 5 sergeants 6 corporals 2 musicians 90 privates The greatest change occurred in the make up of the Artillery and Light Dragoon Regiments The Artillery Regiments were formally abolished. and a new Corps of Artillery was formed from the existing sixty companies of artillery. These were organized into twelve battalions- six battalions of which were to be commanded by a major. and six of which were to be commanded by a lieutenant colonel The new battalions had the following structure Artillery Battalion Battalion Staff 1 lieutenant colonel or 1 major 1 adjutant 1 quartermaster Four companies. each with 1 captain 1 first lieutenant 1 second lieutenant 1 third lieutenant 1 quartermaster sergeant 5 sergeants 8 corporals 4 musicians 100 privates The 1st and 2nd Light Dragoons were reduced to a single regiment with the following organization: Light Dragoon Regiment, Regimental Staff 1 colonel 1 lieutenant colonel 2 majors 1 adjutant 1 quartermaster 1 surgeon 2 surgeon's mates 1 sergeant major 1 quartermaster sergeant 1 principal farrier 1 principal musician Ten companies, each with 1 captain 1 1st lieutenant 1 2nd lieutenant 1 3rd lieutenant 1 cornet 5 sergeants 8 corporals 1 master of the sword 2 trumpeters 1 farrier 1 blacksmith 96 privates Though by the end of the war, the Regular Army was to have on paper some 62, 274 officers and men. it mustered but 33,324. Quickly reduced after the end of the war to even less, it nevertheless helped traditions that the infant army would need in its future. The Organization of The American Army of the War of 1812 The Regular Army Militia United States Volunteers Back to MWAN #118 Table of Contents Back to MWAN List of Issues Back to MagWeb Magazine List © Copyright 2002 Hal Thinglum This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com