155th Infantry Regiment (United States)

155th Infantry Regiment
Coat of Arms
Active	June 1799-
Country	United States
Branch	Mississippi Army National Guard
Nickname	Mississippi Rifles (Special Designation) [1]
Motto	Stand Fast
Engagements	War of 1812 Mexican–American War Civil War Spanish-American War Punitive Expedition World War I World War II Bosnia Iraq Campaign
Commanders
Notable commanders	Andrew Jackson Jefferson Davis
Insignia
Distinctive Unit Insignia

U.S. Infantry Regiments
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153d Infantry Regiment	156th Infantry Regiment

The "Mississippi Rifles"^[1] or the 155th Infantry Regiment, is Mississippi's oldest National Guard unit. Its history predates statehood, back to June 1799, and it is the seventh oldest infantry regiment in the United States Army. They patrolled the frontiers of the Mississippi Territory, captured Aaron Burr, defended Fort Mims during the Indian Wars, and served under General Andrew Jackson in the Battle of New Orleans in the War of 1812.

History

They were known as the "Mississippi Rifles" under the command of Colonel Jefferson Davis in the war with Mexico. They acquired this nickname because the regiment was the first in American history to have an official issue rifled musket (M1841 Mississippi Rifle) instead of a smoothbore musket. It was at the Battle of Buena Vista when other American units began to be overrun by the Mexicans that Col. Davis gave the now-famous order, "Stand fast, Mississippians!" The regiment stood their ground and the battle was eventually won. Davis' order later became the regimental motto.

Unlike the standard US Army uniform, the Regiment was outfitted in red shirts, white duck trousers, and black slouch hats.^[2] The unit was instrumental in capturing Monterey, and mustered for service in the Spanish-American War.

World War I and World War II

The Mississippi Rifles went with General Pershing's "Punitive Expedition" in Mexico and fought against Pancho Villa in 1916. In World War I under the Army's new federalization system, they were designated the 155th Infantry Regiment and fought with the 39th Division. In World War II the regiment fought with the 31st Infantry Division in the Pacific Theater. They conducted training for Korea and many members went forward to fight. During the 1950s all but the 1st Battalion were deactivated.

Modern

First Bn (Combined Arms), 155th Infantry (Mechanized) is now a part of the 155th Heavy Brigade Combat Team, Mississippi Army National Guard. The unit has seen recent action in Bosnia as "Task Force Rifles" and in Iraq in 2004-2005 and again in 2009-2010. The Battalion is headquartered in McComb, MS and has rifle companies in ST Martin, MS (A Co), Poplarville, MS (B Co), as well as tank companies in Natchez, MS (C C0), Bay St. Louis, MS (D Co) and an engineer company in Columbia, MS (E Co).

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "Special Designation Listing". United States Army Center of Military History. 21 April, 2010. http://www.history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/spdes-123-arng.html. Retrieved July 14, 2010. 
2. ^ p.12 Patterson, Gerald A. From Blue to Grey: The Life of General Cadmus M. Wilcox 2001 Stackpole Books

Link

• Coat of Arms of the 155th Infantry Regiment {reference only}
• Mississippi Rifles Homepage