Three New England National Guard Regiments with Civil War Service

Coats of Arms: 101st Infantry, 102nd Infantry, 103rd Infantry

The National Guards of the various New England States provided many units for the Union Army. 

The 101st Infantry is a unit of the  Massachusetts National Guard organized in 1798. During the Civil war it was called the 9th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry and fought in 10 campaigns, serving in the Eastern Theater of war. Most of its members were of Irish extraction and the regiment was known as the “Irish 9th”. Civil War Service is commemorated by the red Maltese cross, the badge of the 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, Fifth Corps of the Army of the Potomac. 

The 102nd Infantry is unit of the Connecticut National Guard organized in 1672.  During the Civil War it was called the 2nd Regiment, Connecticut Volunteers and provided the elements of 10 other Connecticut regiments. These  served in the Eastern and Western theaters in 19 campaigns. 

The 103rd Infantry is a unit of the Maine National Guard organized in 1861. It was known as the 2nd Regiment Maine Volunteers and served in 12 Eastern Theater campaigns. The regiment was mustered out in June of 1863 and those members who re-enlisted were mustered with the 20th Maine (Yes, that 20th Maine!). 

All these units commemorate Civil War by the heraldic device called a saltire in red or blue. The saltire represents the Cross of St. Andrew on the Confederate flag (without the stars) and the regiments’ role in suppressing the rebellion. 

For more information on units of your state’s National Guard contact your state adjutant general or your state’s military museum. 

Major (Ret.) James B. Ronan II is a Fellow of the Company of Military Historians http://www.military-historians.org/

American Ethnic Regiments that Served on the Western Front

101st Infantry Regiment, 369th Infantry Regiment, Polish Legion

The 101st Infantry Regiment (organized in 1798) is  a National Guard unit from the state of Massachusetts and was made up of citizens of Irish descent from Boston. The six fluers-de-lis represent the six campaigns in which the regiment served on the Western Front while assigned to the 26th Infantry Division. 

The 369th Infantry (organized 1916) is a National Guard unit form the state of New York and was made up of citizens of African descent from New York City. The regiment served in four campaigns on the Western Front and was awarded the Croix de Guerre with Silver Star for the Meuse-Argonne Campaign. The rattlesnake insignia was worn by members of the regiment while serving as part of the 93nd Infantry Division. 

The Polish Legion was organized (1917) from American citizens of Polish descent by Jan Paderewski. After training in Canada about 20,000 men sailed for France.  The 1st Polish Regiment made uo of Poles from the United States and by German and Austrian POWs who were of Polish nationality.served under French command on the Western Front in the Champagne Sector in 1918.  Many other uniform plates from the collection of Company of Military Historians are available through membership. 

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