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Federal Regiment

1st District of Columbia Infantry

Organized: Washington, DC; mustered in 10/25/1861
Disbanded/Mustered out: Washington, DC 2/23/1865

 

Commanding Officer on the Antietam Campaign:
  Col James A. Tait

 

This Regiment's Chain of Command:
  Army - Army of the Potomac
  Corps - Twelfth Army Corps
  Division - 2nd Division, 12th Corps
  Brigade - 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, 12th Corps


Unit history

Colonel James A. Tait had been in command at Cedar Mountain on 9 August 1862 and through the rest of the 2nd Manassas Campaign to 2 September - it is likely, but not certain, that he was present at Antietam.

On the Antietam Campaign

Although listed as part of the 3rd Brigade of Brigaider General George Greene, Dyer1 says the Regiment was in the Defenses of Washington after 2nd Manassas and into 1865. General Greene, however, in his official report says:

"Third Brigade: Purnell Legion ... under command of Colonel Goodrich. The First District of Columbia Volunteers had, with the exception of the Colonel and Adjutant, entirely disappeared from the command by sickness and desertion."
So it's not clear what this unit's status was at Antietam - if the General is correct, then their role was very small.

Battlefield Tablets for this Unit

Tablet #120: Army of the Potomac - 17 Sep, 5 AM to 17 Sep, 12 PM
Tablet #114: Goodrich's Brigade, Greene's Division - 17 Sep, 6 AM to 17 Sep, 10 AM
Tablet #27: Twelfth Army Corps - 17 Sep, 6 AM to 17 Sep, 12 PM
Tablet #20: Goodrich's Brigade, Greene's Division - 17 Sep, 6 AM to 17 Sep, 9 AM
Tablet #113: Goodrich's Brigade, Greene's Division - 17 Sep, 6 AM to 17 Sep, 9 AM

After the Antietam Campaign

Consolidated with the 2nd District of Columbia Infantry in February 1865.

We have one individual in the AotW database who was on the Maryland Campaign with this unit:

 

Co. Rank Name Casualty? Details*
F&SColTait, James A.        We have some details for this person

 

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Notes

1   Dyer, Frederick H., A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion, Des Moines, Iowa: The Dyer Publishing Co., 1908, Vol. 3, pg. 1019  [AotW citation 9939]