the regiment was constituted 15 may 1917 in the regular army as the 49th infantry. it was organized 1 june 1917 at syracuse, new york, from personnel of the 23rd infantry. moved to france july 1918; attached to the 83rd division 12 august 1918. the 83rd division had been reorganized as the 2nd depot division; the 49th infantry apparently provided replacement personnel for front-line units. returned to the us january 1919; inactivated 18 november 1921 at fort snelling, minnesota, and disbanded 31 july 1922.