Virginia. National Guard

On March 9, 1916, Pancho Villa and a band of Mexican bandits raided the town of Columbus, New Mexico, killing seventeen Americans. President Woodrow Wilson ordered Maj. Gen. John J. Pershing and a 15,000-man force on a "Punitive Expedition" into Mexico. The War Department telegraphed the governor of Virginia to mobilize the Virginia National Guard to protect the Mexican Border while the Regular Army units carried out the expedition. Two regiments of infantry (the 1st and 2nd Regiments), four batteries of artillery, and the signal and field hospital units were sent. In addition, the Richmond Light Infantry Blues, who petitioned the War Department to be included, joined as the 1st Squadron, Cavalry. Later, an engineer company was added to the force of over 3,000 men from Virginia. After a relatively uneventful service, these forces were demobilized in early 1917.

From the guide to the Virginia National Guard, Mexican Border Service Muster Rolls, 1916-1917, (Library of Virginia)

Following the passage of the National Defense Act in 1916, the Virginia State militia changed its name from the Virginia Volunteers to the Virginia National Guard. On March 9, 1916, Pancho Villa and a band of Mexican bandits raided the town of Columbus, New Mexico killing seventeen Americans. President Woodrow Wilson ordered Maj. Gen. John J. Pershing and a 15,000-man force on a "Punitive Expedition" into Mexico. The War Department telegraphed the governor of Virginia to mobilize the Virginia National Guard to protect the Mexican Border while the Regular Army units carried out the expedition. The 1st, 2nd, and 4th Infantry Regiments, in addition to the 1st Squadron of Cavalry and the 1st Field Artillery Battalion of the Virginia National Guard, were sent.

Shortly thereafter, the United States declared war on Germany on April 6, 1917, and all of Virginia's National Guard were drafted into Federal service. The 1st, 2nd, and 4th Infantry Regiments were combined to form the 116th Infantry Regiment of the United States, part of the 29th Infantry Division. The 116th joined guardsmen from New Jersey, Maryland, and the District of Columbia at Camp McClellan in Anniston, Alabama, for training before departing for France in 1918. After the war, it was decided that all the Virginia National Guard units which were discharged from federal service would be returned to civilian status. As a result, Virginia found it necessary to replenish its National Guard units. Two regiments of infantry, a machine gun company, and a battery of artillery were formed and its companies designated as provisional or separate and numbered instead of lettered so as not to interfere with those units in existence before the war. The "provisional" designation was dropped in September 1920 and the companies were again lettered.

Following the war, the Virginia National Guard consisted of the following units: 91st Infantry Brigade; 116th Infantry; 183rd Infantry; 111th Field Artillery; Ambulance Battalion Headquarters, 104th Medical Regiment; Ambulance Co. No. 110; Hospital Co. No. 110; Medical Support Section No. 104; Medical Laboratory Section No. 104; 29th Signal Company; 29th Tank Company; 167th Engineer Battalion; Co. B, 111th Military Police Battalion; and 16th Service Battalion. Between 1918 and 1922, numerous changes took place in the Virginia National Guard. The 1st and 2nd Infantry were re-designated by the War Department as the 183rd and 116th Infantry, respectively. The 1st Brigade became the 91st Brigade. The 1st Coast Defense Command of the Coast Artillery Corps was re-designated as the 246th Artillery and the units of that regiment including the 411th through 415th Companies Coast Artillery Corps were re-designated Batteries A through H of the 246th Artillery.

The 1st Regiment Field Artillery, having served as border guard during the Punitive Expedition into Mexico, remained in Federal service when the United States declared war. In the summer of 1917, the 1st Battalion of Field Artillery expanded into a complete regiment before it went overseas. The 1st Regiment Field Artillery was renamed the 111th Field Artillery under Federal service. The Virginia Coast Artillery Corps was formed in 1916 and eventually consisted of 15 companies deployed, in part, to protect the harbor at Hampton Roads. The 1st and 2nd Batteries were converted to Companies A and B, 117th Train Headquarters and Military Police of the 42nd Division during the First World War. The 3rd through the 8th were called into Federal service on July 25, 1917, and the 9th Company on August 4. The 5th and 9th Companies reorganized as Batteries B and F, 60th Artillery, Coast Artillery Corps.

The Virginia Coast Artillery Corps was formed in 1916 and eventually consisted of 15 companies deployed, in part, to protect the harbor at Hampton Roads. The 1st and 2nd Batteries were converted to Companies A and B, 117th Train Headquarters and Military Police of the 42nd Division during the First World War. The 3rd through the 8th were called into Federal service on July 25, 1917, and the 9th Company on August 4. The 5th and 9th Companies reorganized as Batteries B and F, 60th Artillery, Coast Artillery Corps. Lastly, the 10th through 14th Companies were organized and later called into service on May 1, 1918. These units became Companies A through E of the 35th Artillery, Coast Artillery Corps.

From the guide to the Virginia National Guard, Muster-In Rolls, 1916-1922, (Library of Virginia)

Following the passage of the National Defense Act in 1916, the Virginia State militia changed its name from the Virginia Volunteers to the Virginia National Guard. On March 9, 1916, Pancho Villa and a band of Mexican bandits raided the town of Columbus, New Mexico killing seventeen Americans. President Woodrow Wilson ordered Maj. Gen. John J. Pershing and a 15,000-man force on a "Punitive Expedition" into Mexico. The War Department telegraphed the governor of Virginia to mobilize the Virginia National Guard to protect the Mexican Border while the Regular Army units carried out the expedition. The 1st, 2nd, and 4th Infantry Regiments, in addition to the 1st Squadron of Cavalry and the 1st Field Artillery Battalion of the Virginia National Guard, were sent.

Shortly thereafter, the United States declared war on Germany on April 6, 1917, and all of Virginia's National Guard were drafted into Federal service. The 1st, 2nd, and 4th Infantry Regiments were combined to form the 116th Infantry Regiment of the United States, part of the 29th Infantry Division. The 116th joined guardsmen from New Jersey, Maryland, and the District of Columbia at Camp McClellan in Anniston, Alabama, for training before departing for France in 1918. After the war, it was decided that all the Virginia National Guard units which were discharged from federal service would be returned to civilian status. As a result, Virginia found it necessary to replenish its National Guard units. Two regiments of infantry, a machine gun company, and a battery of artillery were formed and its companies designated as provisional or separate and numbered instead of lettered so as not to interfere with those units in existence before the war. The "provisional" designation was dropped in September 1920 and the companies were again lettered.

Following the war, the Virginia National Guard consisted of the following units: 91st Infantry Brigade; 116th Infantry; 183rd Infantry; 111th Field Artillery; Ambulance Battalion Headquarters, 104th Medical Regiment; Ambulance Co. No. 110; Hospital Co. No. 110; Medical Support Section No. 104; Medical Laboratory Section No. 104; 29th Signal Company; 29th Tank Company; 167th Engineer Battalion; Co. B, 111th Military Police Battalion; and 16th Service Battalion. Between 1918 and 1922, numerous changes took place in the Virginia National Guard. The 1st and 2nd Infantry were re-designated by the War Department as the 183rd and 116th Infantry, respectively. The 1st Brigade became the 91st Brigade. The 1st Coast Defense Command of the Coast Artillery Corps was re-designated as the 246th Artillery and the units of that regiment including the 411th through 415th Companies Coast Artillery Corps were re-designated Batteries A through H of the 246th Artillery.

From the guide to the Virginia National Guard, Officers' Rosters, 1917-1922, (Library of Virginia)