HISTORY

June 26, 1812 - 23rd US Infantry Regiment Created

In February 1812, Congress ordered the creation of a 50,000-man volunteer army. When war was declared on Great Britain in June 1812, there were roughly 7,000 men in the regular service; many were under the command of senior officers who had not seen combat since the Revolutionary War or new officers who lacked experience in combat or leading troops.

These troops faced 15,200 British and Canadian regulars who had far more combat experience.