276th Engineer Battalion (United States)


The 276th Engineer Battalion is an engineer battalion of the Virginia Army National Guard. It is one of several Army National Guard units with campaign credit for the War of 1812.

History

Origins

The 276th traces its lineage back to the Richmond City Regiment, organized at Richmond in May 1791 from existing elements in the Virginia Militia. On 31 December of that year it was reorganized and redesignated as the 19th Regiment. During the War of 1812, it remained in state service, forming the First Corps d'Elite Brigade of Virginia Militia under the command of Colonel Thomas Mann Randolph for Federal service. The brigade was mustered into Federal service in 1813 with the Richmond Volunteers, the Flying Artillery under Captain William Wirt, the Rifle Company under Captain William H. Richardson, and the Richmond Light Infantry Blues. It mustered out in 1814 at the end of the war.
Elements of the 19th Regiment were mustered into Federal service between 14 and 16 December 1846 as part of the 1st Regiment of Virginia Volunteers during the Mexican–American War. They mustered out of Federal service at Fort Monroe between 1 and 2 August 1848. Meanwhile, on 31 March of that year, the 19th was reorganized and redesignated as the 19th Regiment. On 1 May 1851, it was consolidated with the 179th, 23d, and 33d Regiments to become the Richmond-based 1st Regiment, Virginia Volunteers.
On the outbreak of the American Civil War, the regiment was mustered into state service on 21 April 1861. On 1 July, it was reorganized and redesignated as the 1st Virginia Infantry and mustered into the Confederate States Army at Manassas. The 1st Virginia served through the war and surrendered at Appomattox on 9 April 1865.
On 25 October 1871, the regiment was reconstituted in the Virginia Volunteers as the 1st Regiment of Infantry, headquartered at Richmond. Companies A, B, and C of the 1st Regiment were mustered into Federal service as Companies M, B, and I of the 2d Virginia Volunteer Infantry, respectively, during the Spanish–American War. Company F was mustered into Federal service on 20 May as Company M of the 3d Virginia Volunteer Infantry. The companies assigned to the 2d Virginia mustered out in December 1898, preceded by Company M of the 3d Virginia on 5 November. The 1st Regiment of Infantry was disbanded on 29 April 1899.
The companies formerly part of the 1st Regiment were assigned to the 70th Infantry Regiment, Virginia Volunteers on 10 October 1900. On 1 September 1908, the regiment was reconstituted in the Virginia Volunteers as the 1st Infantry. On 3 June 1916, the Virginia Volunteers became the Virginia National Guard. On 18 June, due to increased tensions on the Mexico–United States border, the regiment was called into Federal service. It mustered in on 30 June, serving in Brownsville, Texas, and was mustered out upon return to Virginia at Richmond on 16 January 1917.
After the United States' entry into World War I, the 1st Virginia Infantry was called into Federal service on 25 July 1917, mustered into Federal service between 25 July and 4 August, and drafted into Federal service on 5 August. Sent to Camp McClellan, the 1st Virginia consolidated with the 2d and 4th Virginia Infantry Regiments to form the 116th Infantry Regiment of the 29th Infantry Division on 4 October.

World War II

On 3 February 1941, the 176th was inducted into federal service at Richmond, simultaneously with the rest of the 29th Division, moving to Fort Meade on 17 February. After the Attack on Pearl Harbor resulted in the United States entry into World War II, the regiment was detached to guard Washington, D.C. as part of the Washington Provisional Brigade on 17 December. It was relieved from the 29th Division on 11 March 1942, coming under the control of GHQ. During this period, it served as the White House Honor Guard and the Presidential Special Guard while also guarding the Capitol, other government buildings, and the Combined Chiefs of Staff. The 176th was additionally responsible for ceremonial and escort functions in the capital, and provided guards for scattered key facilities in the Capital area. On 20 February 1943, the regiment was relocated to the A.P. Hill Military Reservation, where it was assigned to the Replacement and School Command on 1 April. The 176th was further relocated to Fort Benning, arriving on 11 April, for duty as School Troops, before being inactivated there on 10 July 1944.

Lineage

Called into Federal service 18 June 1916; mustered into Federal service 30 June 1916 at Richmond; mustered out of Federal service 16 January 1917 at Richmond
A Silver color metal and enamel device 1 inch in height consisting of a shield blazoned: Azure, a saltire Gray fimbriated Argent, to chief a fleur-de-lis of the like; on a chief of the last a cross Gules charged with an arrow fesswise of the third. Attached below the shield a Silver scroll inscribed "LIBERTY OR DEATH" in Blue letters.
The shield is blue for Infantry. The gray saltire commemorates service in the Confederate States Army during the Civil War. The fleur-de-lis symbolizes the service in France during World War I. The red cross refers to the settlement of Virginia by the English and with the arrow alludes to the French and Indian War and participation as colonial militia. The red cross also refers to the Revolutionary service of the unit's predecessor.
The distinctive unit insignia was originally approved for the 1st Infantry Regiment on 7 June 1929. It was redesignated for the 176th Infantry Regiment on 3 March 1941. The insignia was redesignated for the 276th Engineer Battalion, Virginia Army National Guard and amended to change the symbolism on 29 January 1968.

Coat of arms

War of 1812
Mexican War
Civil War
World War I
War on Terrorism
Valorous Unit Award, streamer embroidered Afghanistan 2009

Citations