14th Regiment

Pre-Civil War:

The 14th Regiment started in Brooklyn, New York. Originally a militia regiment, formed in 1847 as the Fourteenth Regiment, N.Y.S.M. It was composed of various different companies in New York City. The Franklin Guards, Shields Guards, and City Grenadiers were some of these companies. Their action early on was not very exciting. They paraded at various events like the introduction of water into the city but did not see any real combats. As a result the beginning of the regiments history showed some lack of interest and insubordination, but over time this was eliminated giving way to a "spirit of enthusiastic comradeship", a notable feature of the Fighting 14th.

With the insubordination removed, the regiment could focus on the upcoming actions that became more militarily eventful. In the summer of 1854, they were called to suppress a riot that was caused by a man referring to himself as "the Angel Gabriel.” In 1861, they were called several times to the Naval Yard "in anticipation of an attack.. .by Rebel sympathizers.” These events surely gave the 14th a rise in spirit and feeling of importance.

Civil War:

Their action would become much more exciting after President Lincoln's proclamation in 1860. After the firing at Fort Sumter and President Lincoln's "proclamation for 75,000 three-month troops", the 14th sprang into action and were ready for the call. Although Lincoln had called for three-month volunteers the war department told the 14th that they would be accepted for service only if they volunteered for three years, they accepted right away. During this time in New York City, a patriotic fever swept the city. "Colonel A.M. Wood telegraphed Washington that his regiment was in readiness to take the field.” The 14th would be delayed in their departure to the front line due to the Governor of New York. Political motives are believed to be the reason for the delay. Colonel Wood then went to Washington and along with Congressman O'Dell explained the situation and as a result, President Lincoln directly ordered the regiment into action.

The 14th waited at Fort Green for their call to Washington. Colonel Fowler was in command while Colonel Wood was in Washington. Once the message was received, the 14th left Fort Green, arrived in Washington on May 22, 1861 and were mustered into Federal Service on May 23. They were then known as the 84th N.Y. Volunteers. While in Washington, they maintained camp drilling and picket duty until July 2. At this time, they moved to the vicinity of the Arlington House and made camp. Here two companies were added and "the aggregate now being 960, it was assigned to the Brigade of Brig. Gen. Andrew Porter.

On July 16, they entered enemy territory. Bull Run was their first battle. General Irwin McDowell "in command of the column in active operation south of the Potomac", was in charge of the planning for Bull Run. His strategy for Bull Run was excellent but failed because it was poorly executed. In the end, it was considered a "disastrous fight, a battle that with subsequent experience was afterward looked upon as a large skirmish, a kind of free-for-all.” The regiments together completely lacked cooperation, had the plan been carried out with the order intended the outcome could have been much different. Yet with all the poor performances, retreats, and disorderliness of the other regiments, the 14th was regarded as having "behaved with a gallantry worthy of the old guard of Napoleon.” Surely, McDowell must have wished everyone fought as the 14th had that day. During Bull Run Colonel Wood was wounded and then captured by the enemy. The loss of the day was as follows:
Officers Men
Killed 2 21
Wounded 64
Prisoners 30
Died of Wounds 10

On July 22, the regiment reached its old camp at Arlington. Between July 22 and September 28, the engineer corps was discharged from service.

Official Record of the Services of the Fighting Fourteenth:
Battle of Bull Run, Va., July 21, 1861.
Skirmish near Falls Church, Va., November 18, 1861.
Expedition to Fredericksburg, Va., April 17, 18, 1862.
Expedition to Spotsylvania Court House, Va., August 21, 23, 1862.
Skirmishes at Rappahannock Station, Va., August 21, 23, 1862.
Skirmish at Sulphur Springs, Va., August 21, 23, 1862.
Engagement near Gainesville, Va., August 28, 1862.
Battle of Groveton or Manassas Plains, Va., August 29, 1862.
Battle of Manassas or Second Bull Run, Va., August 30, 1862.
Battle of South Mountain, Md., September 14, 1862.
Battle of Antietam, Md., September 17, 1862.
Battle of Fredericksburg, Va., December 13, 15, 1862.
Expedition to Port Royal, Va., April 22, 23, 1863.
Skirmishes at Fitzhugh Crossing, near Fredericksburg, Va., April 29, May 2, 1863.
Battle of Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, 1863.
Battle of Gettysburg, Pa, July 1-3, 1863.
Battle of Mine Run, Va., November 23-30, 1863.
Battle of Wilderness, Va., May 5-7 1864.
Battle of Spotsylvania, Va., May 8-21, 1864.

Spanish American War

Their involvement in the Spanish American War was short lived. In April 1898 by order of the Adjutant General they were selected into service again.

The regiment went to Camp G.H. Thomas in Chicamauga, Georgia where they had routine camp life. They were moved to Camp Shipp in Anniston, Alabama and remained there until October 27, 1898 when it was mustered out of service.

Mexican Border Service

Their next call to duty was the Mexican Border Service on July 19, 1916.

Their order was a ten day hike across the wastes of Hidalgo County, Texas. The conditions were harsh and often consisted of temperatures reaching 120 degrees with no shade to block them from the sun.

In September they were ordered home and shortly thereafter mustered out of service

World War One:

In World War One men from the 14th Regiment formed elements of the 165th and 106th Infantry Regiments.

The first call of duty was to have 350 non-coms and privates become part of the 165th Infantry Regiment, where they were at Camp Mills waiting to be shipped overseas. In October 1917, the rest of the 14th went to Camp Wadsworth, South Carolina. Here at Camp Wadsworth 1400 officers and men that combined with the 23rd Infantry to make up the 106th Infantry was reduced again. The rest of the 14th stayed at Camp Wadsworth and was "re-designated as the 2nd Pioneer Infantry Regiment.” The 106th took part in the battles of "Hindenburg Line, France, September 29-30, 1918", "La Selle River, France, October 17, 1918", and "Jonc de Mer Ridge, France, October 18, 1918.” Their engagements included "Vierstaat Ridge, Belgium, August 31 - September 2, 1918", Quennemont Farm, France, September 27, 1918", and "The Knoll - Guillemont Farm. Other minor actions included "East Poperinghe Line, June 9 - August 20, 1918" and "Dickebusch Sector, Belgium, August 21-30, 1918".

Back at Camp Wadsworth the 2nd Pioneer Infantry was "filled to war strength of about 3700 officers and men by replacements drafted from New York City and vicinity"; they arrived in France in July 1918. When they arrived there was "no specific combat duties", this resulted in a variety of missions. The second battalion was ordered to Dijon. From Dijon "Lieutenant Colonel Donovan took a large detachment" northeast to Nancy. "The lst Battalion went to St. Nazaire where it became a replacement unit.” "The 3rd Battalion with companies I and K went to Brest.” In Brest, they were in charge of protecting the supplies coming in from the port. They also guarded these shipments to the front lines. Companies L and M went to Is-sus-Tille, and controlled the evacuation of casuals from the front lines.

After the Armistice, the 2nd Battalion and Companies L and M were assigned to the Army of Occupation, "under Major General Allen.” The 2nd Pioneer Infantry Regiment remained in Coblenz until the winter of 1919 when it returned to the U.S. for demobilization.

1919 - 1941:

During the 14th's service in World War One a "Depot Battalion" was organized and became the main core of the Post World War One 14th N.Y.N.G. In the years after World War One to 1939, the regiment took part in its normal regimental activities. This consisted of "weekly drills at the Armory and two week camp tours at Camp Smith, Peekskill.” This changed in 1939 in light of the activities from World War Two. "Two weeks of maneuvers took place at Plattsburg, New York.” After Plattsburg, they were called to Camp Upton, Long Island for tactical exercises.

On September 16, 1940, they were changed again and the 14th Infantry Regiment, N.Y.N.G became designated as the 187th Field Artillery (155mm Howitzer) and formally inducted into Federal Service on the 3rd of February 1941. Another change was "companies I, K, and L of the 3rd Battalion were transferred out to form the 102nd Anti-tank Battalion.” In addition, Batteries G and H became part of the 771st Tank Destroyer Battalion.

World War Two:

In World War Two there were vast changes in technology. To keep up with the new global warfare the War Department's Table of Organization made many changes. In February 1943, the 187th was altered. "The 1st Battalion became the 187th Field Artillery Battalion" and "the 2nd Battalion became the 955th Field Artillery Battalion.” After this, the 187th Field Artillery was identified by the War Department that, "it was the official descendant of the 14th Infantry Regiment and 187th Field Artillery Regiment.” In March 1943 the group went to camp A.P. Hill for training and then to Tennessee for maneuvers.

After the maneuvers, the 187th Group went to Camp Dix, NJ for shipment overseas. On November 2, they arrived in Bristol, England. They then moved to St. Andries and resumed command. Under their command were the 186th and 953rd Battalions. Then they were selected in early April, "to support troops in the assault against Hitler's Atlantic Wall".

" The 187th Battalion was attached to the 29th Infantry Division for the channel crossing as a part of force "B" and scheduled to land on Omaha beach at "D" plus 1 at 3rd tide plus 4 hours.” The postponement of "D" Day had them returned to the port on July 3. "The Battalion arrived at ship transit area off St. Laurent-sur-Mer at 8 AM June 7th.” Here they waited "within a few hundred yards of the violent struggle on the beaches.” The 187th Battalion was then ready for combat with the attached 29th Division. At this time they, "ordered to locate new positions and de-waterproof whatever space allowed.” There was an obstacle in landing when LST-388, that was carrying most of the battalion, it had to have its ramp suspended to clear a mine detected by the ebbing tide. "De-waterproofing was accomplished in a small Reid at a crossroad in Vierville.

On June 9, the battalion "took part in the attack on Trevieres." During the time from June 10 until June 27 the 187th Field Artillery Battalion accomplished, "various positions were occupied and innumerable targets fired upon.” In August, they helped advance troops cross the Vire River and the 80th Infantry attack Argentan. They also "joined in the reduction of the famed "Falaise Pocket.” They passed through Paris, Belgium, and Luxembourg. In Luxembourg, the 187th escorted Prince Felix to the capital Luxembourg City. By this time, the 187th was "attached to the 5th Armored Division in its attack on the Siegfried Line".

On September 16, "the 187th with the 5th Armored Division and one battalion of the 28th Infantry" accomplished the first penetration into Germany during the war. On September 19, after an intense fight the 187th lost contact with the other divisions. The 187th was continuously pushed back first across the "Wallendorf Bridge into Luxembourg, then Eppeldorf, and finally a position west of Ermsdorf".

The 187th would penetrate the Siegfried Line again but this time to the north. To get there they passed through Lashied, Elsenbom, Wertzfeld, in Belgium and Rott in Germany. In Rott, "it was a fierce and bloody fight that was made in the Hurtgen." Eventually the 187th moved west in order to get in front of the German penetration. After this "it was attached to the XVIII Airborne Corps and placed in general support of the 456th Parachute Battalion of the 505th Airborne Infantry (82nd Airborne Division), holding the river line north of Viel Salm.” They held this line until Christmas day.

On January 1, they were ordered to travel over icy roads to Andrimont, Belgium. Without any traction equipment, "the success of the march was a tribute to the drivers.” From there they fired on Stavelot, moved past Malmedy's Five Points and a point southeast of Recht, Belgium. They attacked and successfully captured St. Vith "and was subsequently relieved from the XVIII Airborne Corps and returned to V Corps. "Other missions followed and on March 13 a rapid displacement of 54 miles was made to firing positions at Kell on the Rhine.” They then pushed on until they met with the Soviet Red Army in the vicinity of the Mulde River. "Attachment to the 2nd Infantry Division was terminated on April 29" and then they were ordered to march south to Gefrees "where on May 1 it was attached to the 97th Infantry Division.” The final area of occupation before deployment for home was Strakonice, Czechoslovakia.

955th Battalion:

The 955th Battalion was fighting with the "V corps from Omaha Beach across France.” On December 18, they were ordered to help protect "blocking the vital Bullingen-Butgenbach-Weismes-Malmedy Road" that had been the main route for the 12th Panzer Division. Here they maintained four days of intense combat with the Germans eventually giving way to a German retreat.

The Present Regiment:

After the War Department had federalized the 14th for World War Two Colonel Jackson who was commander of the 14th re-established the 14th Commanding officers of the " new 14th were Colonel G.G. Hollander, R.B. Beach, Harry L. Hayes, and finally "to the real old 14er, Colonel J.J. Gambee", Gambee had served with the old 14th regiment. On November 29, 1946, issues were ordered to reestablish the New York National Guard and upon federalization, the 14th Infantry will become the 187th Field Artillery. "Thus, exactly one hundred years after its creation the regiment will no longer be known or designated by the numeral 14.” Even though the numeral has been changed the spirit of the "Fighting Fourteenth" and "Red Legged Devils" will live on forever.

Gordon Palmer, BA, The University at Albany

Sources

14th Regiment Vertical File. New York State Military Museum.

For more information on this unit see:

Civil War:
84th Regiment New York Volunteer Infantry

Spanish-American War
14th Regiment Infantry, New York Volunteers

World War 1:
106th Infantry Regiment