138th Infantry Colorful Organization
Ranks As One Of
Oldest Outfits Ii#
Service Of Nation
(EDITOR'S NOTE: — This
brief History of the 138lh In
fantry has been composed by
th epersonnel of Company F,
138th Infantry. It is presented
in furtherance of their belief
that every soldier is entitled to
a complete knowledge of his
organization, both past and
present. The factual matter
contained therein was obtained
from individuals, articles, and
more lengthy histories.)
Long before the 138th Infantry;
received its present designation,
its military forbears had organ
ized and functioned. In St. Louis,
soon after the United States took
formal possession of the Territory
of Louisiana in 1804, occasions
arose when an organized force
was necessary. In accordance
with this necessity, various mili
tary units were organized from
time to time as the local and na
tional situations required.
As a rule, the tacitcal situation
dictated the nature of the units
organized. In 1808, for example,
requirements brought forth a
company of infantry and a troop
of cavalry. During the War of
1812 some of these units were
sent to the aid of Governor Ed
wards, of Illinois, where the
British and the Indians had as
sembled a large force. Other
units participated in the Battle
of Tippecanoe. A Battery of Ar
tillery was sent to the north of
St. Louis to guard against cross
ing of the Missouri River by hos
tile Indians. Another unit, a
ARTESIAN ICICLE—Spray from an artesian well near
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company of mounted rangers, was
organized for service on the fron
tier.
From the close of the War of
1812 until 1829, the chief field
duties of *hese units were to com
bat Indian depredations. Then
the interest in military organiza
tions apparently waned until the
beginning of the Blackhawk War
in 1832. After the war quietude
prevailed until 1846. During
that year the 1st Regiment, Mis
souri Volunteers, was organized
for service in the War with Mex
ico. This regiment was com
posed of units from various sec
tions of Missouri. Company E
of *hat regiment was organized at
St. Louis, and was known as the
“Laclede Rangers”. This com
pany left St. Louis on June 7th
and moved to Ft. Leavenworth,
Kan., arriving there on June 10,
1846, to join its regiment.
That regimem, commanded by
Col. Doniphan, left Ft. Leaven
worth on une 22nd, and after 57
days, reached Santa Fe. This
body of men conquered New Mex
ico and Chihuahua; marched
through Durango and New Leon.
During the entire year spent by
this expedition, no orders or
word whatsoever were received
from the government. They liv
ed entirely off the country
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through which they marched and
obtained munitions by capturing
them from the enemy. After a
remarkable march of 6,000 miles,
they reached New Orleans on
June 6, 1347. There they were
discharged, as 'heir terms of ser
vice were fdr only one year.
Although loosely orgyized,
through lack of both funds and
central command, our military
predecessors functioned contin
uously until 1851 when the trag
edy of Civil War struck the na
tion. Loca'ed as it is, the city
of St. Louis could not be termed
correctly either North or South.
Strong sentiment for both sides
existed. A* the outset of the war
an attempt was made by the
Southern-inclined Governor to
send the 1st Missouri Brigade into
service with the Confederate
Army. This a'tempt was thwart
ed through the prompt action of
Generals Lyons and Blair. The
situation was further complicated
after that abortive at'empt, by
ordering the brigade disbanded,
whereupon the Southern sympa
thizers joined the forces of the
Confederates. Those who did
so, of course, were exiled from
their homes. Many of them gave
their lives for their convictions,
as d;d many men with Northern
leanings.
After the Civil War the records
are scarce, and only occasionally
are definite references made to
a regiment. In 1869 a reference
is noted concerning a “Col. Sam
uel A. Lowe”, as commander of
'he “First Regiment of Infantry”.
In 1874, because of lack of funds,
all units of that regiment were
mustered out except Company A,
which continued as a separate
company. In the same year a
battalion of infantry was organ
ized and expanded to a regiment
known as the First Regiment, Na
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tional Guard of Missouri. On
May 23, 1887, that regiment was
again disbanded because the Leg
islature failed to provide funds.
Late that summer ‘he financial
difficulties were overcome, and
again the regiment was organ
ized.
After the financial difficulties
of 1887 had been alleviated, trou
bles of that na'ure ceased. The
regiment continued to function.
During the war with Spain, in re
sponse to President McKinley’s
call for volunteers, the regiment
was mus'ered in to Federal Ser
vice. This took place on May
13, 1898. and the unit was called
the 1st Regiment, Missouri Vol
unteers. On May 19th the regi
ment left Jefferson Barracks,
Mo., and proceeded to Camp
George H. Thomas, Chickamauga
Park, Georgia. It then returned
to St. Louis (Jefferson Barracks)
on September 6th, and was mus
tered out of service on October
30, 1898. Though acknowledged
the most efficient unit of the III.
Army Corps, ‘through bickering
and strained relations between
regimental officers and state offi
cials, the regiment did not go to
Cuba or Puerto Rica. After mus
tering out of Federal Service, the
unit reverted to State service and
again became the First Regiment
of Infantry.
During the next few years in
teres* waned in the regiment be
cause of lack of clothing, equip
ment and funds and quarters. To
correct this situation, in 1907,
Col. Eugene J. Spencer and sev
eral officers purchased ground on
Grand Avenue in St. Louis. They
financed construction of an arm
ory on the ground purchased.
This building was completed in
(Continued on Page 13)
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