Regiment of Voltigeurs and Foot Riflemen

Active| February 11, 1847 – August 25, 1848
Country|  United States
Branch|  United States Army
Type| Voltigeurs
Riflemen
Role| Skirmishing
Light Infantry
Size| Regiment
Weapons| Model 1841 rifle
Engagements| Mexican–American War
Commanders
Notable
commanders| Col. Timothy P. Andrews

Military unit

The Regiment of Voltigeurs and Foot Riflemen was a one-year regiment of the United States Army raised during the Mexican–American War. It was active in 1847 and 1848.

## Background[edit]

At the beginning of the Mexican American War, Congress changed its policy of attempting to prosecute the war with the Regular Army and ordered nine new regiments: eight infantry and the Regiment of Voltigeurs and Foot Riflemen.[1] The regiment was authorized on February 11, 1847 and the first officers, the colonel and the lieutenant colonel, were assigned on February 16, 1847.[2]

## Organization[edit]

The regiment was commanded by Colonel Timothy P. Andrews; His second-in-command was Lieutenant Colonel Joseph E. Johnston.[2]

The regiment was one of nine new infantry regiments authorized by the United States Congress in 1847 for one year service in the Mexican-American War.[3] The regiment was not numbered. It was to be a special unit with half of its men to be mounted, the other half were to be on foot. The intent was to have each horseman paired with a foot soldier who was to get up behind him for rapid movements.

However this arrangement was never used, the Voltigeurs became a regiment of foot riflemen, armed with the muzzle-loading Model 1841 rifle, the same rifle as was used by the Regiment of Mounted Riflemen. The Voltigeurs and Foot Riflemen regiment included a company of mountain howitzers and war rockets.[1]

## See also[edit]

* List of United States military and volunteer units in the Mexican–American War

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b Mahon, John K.; Danysh, Romana (1972). "Infantry Part 1: Regular Army" (PDF). Center of Military History. Office of the Chief of Military History. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 12 August 2016.
2. ^ a b Heitman, Francis B. (1903). Historical register and dictionary of the United States Army : from its organization, September 29, 1789, to March 2, 1903. Vol. 1 (1 ed.). p. 143. Retrieved 17 August 2016. "This is the unofficial work of a private compiler, purchased and published by direction of Congress"
3. ^ Robarts, William Hugh (1887). Mexican War Veterans. Washington, DC: Brentano's (A. S. Witherbee & Co, Proprietors). pp. 33–34. Retrieved 17 August 2016.

## External[edit]

* The Regular Army Before the Civil War

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