1623 - 1764
Defending the Colonies: The New Hampshire Militia
Artifact Collection of the
New Hampshire National Guard
The NH Militia was organized in March 1680 in order to defend the New Hampshire Colony. Under the British flag, the NH Militia served with distinction in all of the Colonial Wars including:
• Capture of the French Fort of Louisbourg in 1745
• Serving under British GENL Wolfe at the defeat of French GENL Montcalm at the Plains of Abraham, Quebec
• Furnishing 5,000 men during the French and Indian Wars
• The assault and capture of Havana, Cuba in 1762
• Major Robert Rogers, founder of the famed Rogers’ Rangers, and his men took part in many important missions to defend the New England colonies
1765 - 1800
Defending the Homeland: The American War for Independence
The NH Militia played a prominent role in the American War for Independence.
• Over 1,000 militia soldiers served under COL John Stark at the siege of Boston in 1775, and many men enlisted at the formation of the 1st New Hampshire Regiment, Continental Line, in July, 1775
• NH Militia under COL Stark defended the Rail Fence at the Battle of Bunker Hill in June, 1775, and wintered at Winter Hill in Somerville, MA with the 2nd NH Regiment in 1775-1776. (A monument and grave-site exist today at the site of the encampment)
• NH militia and Line Regiments formed part of Washington’s Continental Line, and were among the longest-serving soldiers in the Continental Army
• NH Militia, again under COL Stark, defeated a wing of British General Burgoyne’s army at the Battle of Bennington, leading to the British surrender at Saratoga and turning the tide of war
1801-1850
Preserving a Young Nation: War of 1812 and the Mexican War
During the war of 1812, the NH Militia was tasked with the defense of Portsmouth Harbor, and saw a single skirmish with a British vessel at Rye Harbor. Men from NH also formed part of the 11th and 45th US Infantry Regiments.
In action around Washington, D.C., Colonel James Miller and his 21st Regiment of New Hampshire men stormed and held a British artillery stronghold, which had been raking the Americans with ball and canister. Miller's success at the Battle of Lundy's Lane earned admiration even from the captured British officers.
In the Mexican War in the 1840s, the Concord Light Infantry and others volunteered as part of the 9th US Infantry (New England Regiments), led by Franklin Pierce, 14th president of the United States.
Tasked to march to support GENL Winfield Scott in his assault of Mexico City, New Hampshire men died of Yellow Fever and dysentery at a casualty rate over double that of the Civil War.
1851-1880
Preserving the Union: The Civil War
In 1861, volunteers were raised for the Civil War. 35,000 men from NH served between the militia and the regular army, meaning that over 10% of the population of NH served
• At Gettysburg, New Hampshire’s light artillery turned away Pickett’s Charge. The 2nd, 5th, and 12th Infantry Regiments all contributed to this defining battle, which would serve to alter the course of the war.
• Colonel Edward Cross, the gallant leader of New Hampshire’s “Fighting Fifth” Infantry Regiment, was killed here
• The Fifth New Hampshire achieved the unhappy distinction of having lost more men than any other Union regiment
• The 172nd & 197th Field Artillery are directly descended from the five NH Civil War Regiments
• The 2nd NH was in Civil War service longer than any other NH unit. The regiment was mustered on June 4, 1861 and fought from First Bull Run until the occupation of Richmond approximately four years later.
Post War Era - NH National Guard
After the war, citizens came to view the militia as part of a National force, rather than merely a state presence. On April 1, 1879, the New Hampshire Volunteer Militia was designated as the New Hampshire National Guard.
1881 - 1900
Service and Sacrifice: The War with Spain
In February 1898, the USS Maine exploded in Havana Harbor, spurring a declaration of war on Spain, who owned Cuba at the time. NH was called to fill one regiment in the US Army for the conflict.
Mustered into federal service in May 1898, the NH regiment was designated as the 1st NH Volunteer Infantry and sent to Camp Thomas, Georgia. While the regiment saw no action, nearly 300 were infected with typhoid fever that ran through Camp Thomas. They were mustered out of federal service and sent home in October 1898.
1901 - 1932
Deployment Abroad: A World at War
The NH National Guard was once again called into federal service in June 1916 and sent to the Mexican border until February 1917. NH soldiers played many roles during WWI, both at home and abroad.
• The Coast Artillery Corps was called to Portsmouth to defend the harbor
• Most of the soldiers from the 1st NH Infantry (recently returned from Texas) were mustered into Federal service and transferred to the 103rd Infantry, 26th Yankee Division, which landed in France in 1917
• Volunteers enlisted in the 14th Reg't of Railway Engineers which trained at Rockingham Park prior to deployment to France
• New Hampshire soldiers served with distinction at Belleau Wood and Saint Mihiel, among other places.
• PFC George Dilboy of Keene was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor
• In a re-organization after the First World War, the NH National Guard departed from its infantry roots to become the 172nd Field Artillery, and the 197th Coastal Artillery
1933 - 1949
Defeating Aggression: World War II Era
In May 1933, the NHNG was called to state active duty to assist in managing the Amoskeag Mill Strike picket lines. All was relatively quiet until 1939, when the War in Europe caused Congress to pass the Selective Service Act.
After Congress declared war in December 1941, New Hampshire soldiers would serve in several vital capacities in both Europe and the Pacific, as well as on the Home front:
• 172nd Field Artillery was sent to the European Theater. Landing just after D-Day, they fired 97,000 rounds in combat over the 10 months they were deployed
• 197th Coast Artillery was called into federal service in September 1940 and sent first to defend NYC, then to Australia where they provided anti-aircraft cover and training of Australian troops
• As the war progressed the 197th moved as part of GENL MacArthur's forces, providing anti- aircraft and even infantry support in New Guinea and through the Philippines
1950 - 1965
Holding Back Communism: Early Cold War
After WWII, the units were again reorganized and renamed, but keeping the lineage of the 172nd and 197th.
On August 13, 1961, the Soviet Union erected barbed wire barriers around West Berlin, cutting its citizens off from supplies. In response to this action, the 1st and 2nd Howitzer Battalions, 172nd Artillery, were mustered into federal service and sent to Fort Bragg to prepare for conflict with the Soviet Union.
At the same time, the NH Air National Guard was called to deliver life-sustaining supplies to West Berlin and ferry other supplies and personnel throughout the world.
1966 - 1976
Service in Vietnam
By 1969, the United States was deeply involved in the conflict in Vietnam. In May 1968, the 3rd Battalion, 197th Artillery, was called to federal service, and arrived in Vietnam in September of that year. They fired 137,400 rounds of howitzer ammunition while in Vietnam, and soldiers of the battalion were awarded 28 Purple Hearts, several Bronze Stars and other service distinctions. In February, 1973, the first female soldier enlisted in the NHNG.
1977 - 1989
Service at Home
During the 1970’s and 80’s, the NHNG’s role was primarily within the state.
• May 1977 - The NHNG was tasked with housing 1,400 protesters arrested at the Seabrook Station nuclear power plant construction site. Lacking capacity at the state’s jails, NHNG armories were used instead
• September 1978 - NHNG troops served at all of Manchester’s fire stations during firefighters contract negotiations, responding to fire and emergency calls and protecting the citizens of Manchester
• October 1978 - NHNG was again called to protect Seabrook Station (still under construction) from a planned mass protest and plan to destroy the project
1990 - 2000
Modern Battlefield
During the Gulf War, the diverse NHNG personnel served in missions around the world:
• 1991 - 744th Transportation Company deployed to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Iraq
• 1159th Medical Company deployed during the Gulf War
• NHNG personnel were deployed to Bosnia in 1995 to support Operation Joint Endeavor and in 1999 to Honduras
2001 - 2011
September 11 and the Iraq War
Following the September 11, 2001 attack on the United States, the NHNG was called to service to Protect the Homeland. Members of the 172nd Mountain Infantry were assigned to secure three commercial airports in NH. During the subsequent war with Iraq, seven units deployed to multiple locations in Iraq and Afghanistan. The 197th Field Artillery (FA) Brigade was activated for service in Kuwait in September 2010. NHNG Soldiers were also called to serve at home:
• 2005 - Troops were deployed to Louisiana to assist in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina
• Spring 2008 - NHNG personnel were called to assist in two 100-year flood events
• December 2008 - NHNG soldiers were called to state active duty during the devastating ice storms that hit the region
2012 - NOW
Always Ready. Always There.
The operations and preparations after 9/11 marked a turning point for the National Guard. A significant step-up in training and preparedness means that the Guard is no longer considered simply a strategic reserve, but an operational force, who is ready to serve at a moment’s notice. The NHNG continues to evolve. The continued focus on readiness, as well as the establishment of a Civil Support Team and model partnerships with El Salvador and Canada, contributes to our overall success in supporting our mission triad. The NH Army Guard's diverse force structure supports the six Army war-fighting functions. From the newest cyber warriors to the time-honored infantry and artilleryman, our present day soldiers continue a long history of excellence and expertise.