The 101st Field Artillery ("Boston Light Artillery") regiment is the oldest active field artillery regiment in the

United States Army The United States Army (USA) is the primary Land warfare, land service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is designated as the Army of the United States in the United States Constitution.Article II, section 2, clause 1 of th ...

, with a lineage dating to 13 December 1636 when it was organized as the South Regiment. It is one of several National Guard units with colonial roots and campaign credit for the War of 1812. For the first 250 years of the unit's existence, it was organized as an

infantry Infantry, or infantryman are a type of soldier who specialize in ground combat, typically fighting dismounted. Historically the term was used to describe foot soldiers, i.e. those who march and fight on foot. In modern usage, the term broadl ...

unit.101st Field Artillery Lineage & Honors Certificate at history.army.mil
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History

The 101st Field Artillery Regiment was first formed on 13 December 1636 as the South Regiment by the

Massachusetts General Court The Massachusetts General Court, formally the General Court of Massachusetts, is the State legislature (United States), state legislature of the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Massachusetts located in the state capital of Boston. Th ...

. Its first commander was Colonel

John Winthrop John Winthrop (January 12, 1588 – March 26, 1649) was an English Puritan lawyer and a leading figure in the founding of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, the second major settlement in New England following Plymouth Colony. Winthrop led the fir ...

. Since its creation, the regiment has served in six colonial wars and nine American wars totalling 47 campaigns, through 2010. In addition to its own lineage, the 101st Field Artillery Regiment has been consolidated with the following units and holds their lineages and honors: the 180th Field Artillery Regiment; the 211th Field Artillery Regiment; the 241st Field Artillery Regiment; and the 272nd Field Artillery Battalion. Battery C, 1st Battalion, 101st Field Artillery holds the lineage of the 102nd Field Artillery and the Second Corps of Cadets.

Recent and current organization

The regiment currently consists of the Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 1st Battalion, 101st Field Artillery Regiment based in

Brockton, Massachusetts Brockton is a city in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States; the population was 105,643 at the 2020 United States census. Along with Plymouth, Massachusetts, Plymouth, it is one of the two county seats of Plymouth County, Massachusetts, ...

and an inactive Battery E, 101st Field Artillery, formerly based in

Rehoboth, Massachusetts Rehoboth is a historic town in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. Established in 1643, Rehoboth is one of the oldest towns in Massachusetts. The population was 12,502 at the 2020 census. Rehoboth is a mostly rural community with many ...

. Both units are in the

Massachusetts National Guard The Massachusetts National Guard is the United States National Guard, National Guard component for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Founded as the Massachusetts militia, Massachusetts Bay Colonial Militia on December 13, 1636, it contains the ...

. Battery A, 1st Battalion, 101st

Field Artillery Field artillery is a category of mobile artillery used to support army, armies in the field. These weapons are specialized for mobility, tactical proficiency, short range, long range, and extremely long range target engagement. Until the ear ...

is based in

Fall River, Massachusetts Fall River is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. Fall River's population was 94,000 at the 2020 United States census, making it the List of municipalities in Massachusetts, tenth-largest city in the state, and the second- ...

. Battery B is based in

Waterbury, Vermont Waterbury is a town in Washington County in central Vermont, United States. Although the town is still home to the Waterbury Village Historic District, the village sharing the name of the town officially dissolved as a municipality in 2018. As ...

and is part of the

Vermont National Guard The Vermont National Guard is composed of the Vermont Army National Guard and the Vermont Air National Guard. Together, they are collectively known as the Green Mountain Boys. Both units use the original Revolutionary War-era Flag of the Green Mo ...

. Battery C, 1st Battalion 101st

, re-activated in 2016, is based in

Danvers, Massachusetts Danvers is a New England town, town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States, located on the Danvers River near the northeastern coast of Massachusetts. The suburb is a fairly short ride from Boston and is also in close proximity to the beach ...

. As part of ongoing reorganizations, the 1st Battalion, 101st Field Artillery has been part of the 26th Infantry Division Artillery (1975–1993), the 42nd Infantry Division Artillery (1993–2003), the 29th Infantry Division Artillery (2003- 2006?) and the 26th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (2006? - 2009?). Since 2009(?), the battalion has been assigned to the

86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team The 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain) ("The Vermont Brigade") is an Army National Guard light infantry brigade headquartered in Vermont. It was reorganized from an armored brigade into an Infantry Brigade Combat Team (IBCT) as part o ...

(IBCT), and in 2016 the 86th IBCT was reorganized under the

10th Mountain Division The 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) is a light infantry division (military), division in the United States Army based at Fort Drum, New York. Formerly designated as a mountain warfare unit, the division was the only one of its size in ...

as part of the Army's Associated Units Program. Battery E, 101st FA served as a target acquisition battery in the 26th Infantry Division Artillery, the 42nd Infantry Division Artillery, and the

197th Field Artillery Brigade The 197th Field Artillery Brigade ("Concord Volunteers") is a Field Artillery Brigade, field artillery brigade of the New Hampshire Army National Guard. Current structure * 197th Field Artillery Brigade (197th FAB), in Manchester, New Hampshi ...

. Battery E inactivated in (??) as part of force reductions.

Recent Overseas Actions

* In July 2021, Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 1st Battalion, 101st Field Artillery Regiment deployed to the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan as part of the defense ( C-RAM) and retrograde of all remaining U.S. forces from Afghanistan and was part of the international humanitarian effort to evacuate Afghani civilians from Kabul, remaining on ground until 11:58 pm on August 30st, 2021 ( 2021 Kabul airlift).

Notable non-combat actions

* In August 1765, the regiment was activated to patrol the streets of

Boston Boston is the capital and most populous city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. The city serves as the cultural and Financial centre, financial center of New England, a region of the Northeas ...

to help quell riots that broke out in response to the Stamp Act.(241st FA Regiment Lineage). * In March 1770, elements of the regiment again patrolled the streets of Boston to enforce the law after the

Boston Massacre The Boston Massacre, known in Great Britain as the Incident on King Street, was a confrontation, on March 5, 1770, during the American Revolution in Boston in what was then the colonial-era Province of Massachusetts Bay. In the confrontati ...

.(241st FA Regiment Lineage). * In 1786 during

Shays' Rebellion Shays's Rebellion was an armed uprising in Western Massachusetts and Worcester, Massachusetts, Worcester in response to a debt crisis among the citizenry and in opposition to the state government's increased efforts to collect taxes on both in ...

, members of the regiment protected judges and the

Taunton Taunton () is the county town of Somerset, England. It is a market town and has a Minster (church), minster church. Its population in 2011 was 64,621. Its thousand-year history includes a 10th-century priory, monastic foundation, owned by the ...

courthouse after it was surrounded by insurgents. (211th FA Lineage) * Between July and October 1863, the regiment served in

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

to enforce draft laws after the New York Draft Riots (241st FA Regiment Lineage). * The regiment was called into state service on 14 July 1863 during the Boston Draft riots (101st FA Regiment lineage). While manning the Cooper Street Armory in Boston's North End, the armory was attacked by over 1,000 rioters intent upon seizing the weapons stored there. When the mob penetrated the armory's main gate, the soldiers opened fire killing and wounding dozens of rioters, effectively ending the attack. * The regiment was reviewed by President

Andrew Johnson Andrew Johnson (December 29, 1808July 31, 1875) was the 17th president of the United States, serving from 1865 to 1869. The 16th vice president, he assumed the presidency following the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. Johnson was a South ...

in 1867, President

Ulysses S. Grant Ulysses S. Grant (born Hiram Ulysses Grant; April 27, 1822July 23, 1885) was the 18th president of the United States, serving from 1869 to 1877. In 1865, as Commanding General of the United States Army, commanding general, Grant led the Uni ...

in 1869 and President

Chester A. Arthur Chester Alan Arthur (October 5, 1829 – November 18, 1886) was the 21st president of the United States, serving from 1881 to 1885. He was a Republican from New York who previously served as the 20th vice president under President James A. ...

in 1882.(241st FA Regiment Lineage). * The regiment took part in the funeral of President Ulysses S. Grant in 1885.(241st FA Regiment Lineage). * On November 14, 1888, Battery A of the regiment fired in salute as part of dedication to the Boston Massacre/Crispus Attucks monument, the first state funded monument in Massachusetts. * From 16 June to 27 November 1916, the regiment was federalized and served in

Texas Texas ( , ; or ) is the most populous U.S. state, state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. It borders Louisiana to the east, Arkansas to the northeast, Oklahoma to the north, New Mexico to the we ...

during the Mexican Border crises (101st FA Regiment lineage – also see

Pancho Villa Expedition The Pancho Villa Expedition—now known officially in the United States as the Mexican Expedition, but originally referred to as the "Punitive Expedition, US Army"—was a military operation conducted by the United States Army against the para ...

). * In May 1996, Detachment 1, Headquarters Battery, 101st Field Artillery Battalion was ordered to active duty to serve with the Nordic-Polish Brigade in

Bosnia Bosnia and Herzegovina, sometimes known as Bosnia-Herzegovina and informally as Bosnia, is a country in Southeast Europe. Situated on the Balkans, Balkan Peninsula, it borders Serbia to the east, Montenegro to the southeast, and Croatia to th ...

in support of

Operation Joint Endeavor The Implementation Force (IFOR) was a NATO-led multinational peace enforcement force in Bosnia and Herzegovina under a one-year mandate from 20 December 1995 to 20 December 1996 under the codename ''Operation Joint Endeavour''. Background In ...

. * In May 1997, Echo Battery, 101st Field Artillery (TAB) was activated and served throughout Bosnia in support of

Operation Joint Guard The Stabilisation Force (SFOR) was a NATO-led multinational peacekeeping force deployed to Bosnia and Herzegovina after the Bosnian War. Although SFOR was led by NATO, several non-NATO countries contributed troops. It was replaced by EUFOR Alt ...

. * After the terrorist attacks on 11 September 2001, members of the 1st Battalion 101st Field Artillery served on state orders protecting the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Plant and the Massachusetts Military Reservation at

Camp Edwards Camp Edwards is a United States military training installation located in western Cape Cod in Barnstable County, Massachusetts. It was named after Major General Clarence Edwards, commander of the 26th Division in World War I. The base is cur ...

. * Select soldiers served as part of a joint operations task force providing security for the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in

Salt Lake City, Utah Salt Lake City, often shortened to Salt Lake or SLC, is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of cities and towns in Utah, most populous city of the U.S. state of Utah. It is the county seat of Salt Lake County, Utah, Salt ...

* The regiments howitzers fire blank rounds each

Fourth of July Independence Day, known colloquially as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday in the United States which commemorates the ratification of the Declaration of Independence by the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, establishing th ...

during the

Boston Pops Orchestra The Boston Pops is an American orchestra based in Boston, Massachusetts, specializing in light classical and popular music. The orchestra's current music director is Keith Lockhart. Founded in 1885 as an offshoot of the Boston Symphony Orc ...

's playing of the

1812 Overture ''The Year 1812, Solemn Overture'', Op. 49, popularly known as the ''1812 Overture'', is a concert overture in E major written in 1880 by Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. The piece commemorates Russia's successful defense against the ...

. It also provides howitzers to fire during a Fourth of July concert in

Plymouth, Massachusetts Plymouth ( ; historically also spelled as Plimouth and Plimoth) is a town in and the county seat of Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States. Located in Greater Boston, the town holds a place of great prominence in American history, folklor ...

. * On the first Monday in June, the regiment provides a howitzer salute as part of the

Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Massachusetts The Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Massachusetts is the oldest chartered military organization in North America and the third oldest chartered military organization in the world. A volunteer militia of the Commonwealth of Massachusett ...

' June day drumhead election reenactment ceremony which is held on

Boston Common The Boston Common is a public park in downtown Boston, Massachusetts. It is the oldest city park in the United States. Boston Common consists of of land bounded by five major Boston streets: Tremont Street, Park Street, Beacon Street, Charl ...

close to the

Massachusetts State House The Massachusetts State House, also known as the Massachusetts Statehouse or the New State House, is the List of state capitols in the United States, state capitol and seat of government for the Massachusetts, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, lo ...

Notable members

* Colonel

– First commander, South Regiment *

Captain John Underhill John Underhill (c. 1608/09 – 21 July 1672) was an early English settler and soldier in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, the Province of New Hampshire, where he also served as governor; the New Haven Colony, New Netherland, and later the Province ...

– First full-time training officer, Commander Boston Company * Captain

Myles Standish Myles Standish ( – October 3, 1656) was an English military officer and colonist. He was hired as military adviser for Plymouth Colony in present-day Massachusetts, United States by the Pilgrims (Plymouth Colony), Pilgrims. Standish accompan ...

– First commander Plymouth Company (211th FA Lineage) * Corporal Nathaniel M. Allen – Was awarded the

Medal of Honor The Medal of Honor (MOH) is the United States Armed Forces' highest Awards and decorations of the United States Armed Forces, military decoration and is awarded to recognize American United States Army, soldiers, United States Navy, sailors, Un ...

for saving the regimental colors from capture during the

Battle of Gettysburg The Battle of Gettysburg () was a three-day battle in the American Civil War, which was fought between the Union and Confederate armies between July 1 and July 3, 1863, in and around Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The battle, won by the Union, ...

. * Private

Walter Brennan Walter Andrew Brennan (July 25, 1894 – September 21, 1974) was an American actor and singer. He won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for ''Come and Get It (1936 film), Come and Get It'' (1936), ''Kentucky (film), Kentucky'' (19 ...

, three-time Academy Award-winning actor, served with the 101st in France in World War I.World War I Draft Records, Essex County, Massachusetts; Roll: 1684678; Draft Board: 24. * Ernest R. Redmond –

officer who served with the 101st Field Artillery in World War I and was later

Chief of the National Guard Bureau The chief of the National Guard Bureau (CNGB) is the highest-ranking officer of the National Guard and the head of the National Guard Bureau. The position is a statutory office (), held by a federally recognized commissioned officer who has ser ...

* John H. Sherburne – U.S. Army brigadier general

References

External links

Massachusetts National Guard
Home Page

Global Security.org {{Artillery Regiments (United States) Military units and formations in Massachusetts 1636 establishments in the Thirteen Colonies Field artillery regiments of the United States Army Field artillery regiments of the United States Army National Guard Military units and formations established in 1636