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U.S. I Corps(Redirected from US I Corps)
The I Corps (First Corps) —nicknamed America's Corps— is a corps of the United States Army with headquarters in Fort Lewis, Washington. The I Corps serves under the U.S. Army Pacific Command (USARPAC) and has a distinguished history dating back to the American Civil War.
HistoryThe Civil War
In the American Civil War, the I Corps was probably the most distinguished and veteran corps in the entire Union Army. It was commanded by very distinguished officers. It was created in March 1862, when President Abraham Lincoln ordered the creation of a four-corps army, then under the command of Major General George B. McClellan. The first commander of this corps was Major General Irvin McDowell, containing three divisions. It was held in defense of Washington, while the rest of the Army of the Potomac advanced to the Peninsula Campaign. It was then consolidated in the Army of Virginia under Major General John Pope, and fought in the Second Battle of Bull Run, as the Third Corps, Army of Virginia. Afterwards, its name was restored. Then, it rejoined the Army of the Potomac, and crossed the Potomac River into Maryland to fight in the Battle of Antietam, under Major General Joseph Hooker. There, the division of Pennsylvania Reserves , under Brigadier General George G. Meade, took heavy casualties through its hard fighting, and was withdrawn to replenish. The command of the Army of the Potomac then changed to Major General Ambrose E. Burnside, and they moved southward to fight General Robert E. Lee's army at the Battle of Fredericksburg, where the corps was commanded by Major General John F. Reynolds, arguably the best eastern Union corps commander. He superbly led the corps through this battle, then through the Battle of Chancellorsville, with the army being led by General Hooker, who left this superb corps in reserve. In its last major battle, the Battle of Gettysburg, General Reynolds was killed just as the first troops arrived on the field, and command was inherited by Major General Abner Doubleday. Although putting up a ferocious fight, the I Corps was overwhelmed by the Confederate Third Corps (A.P. Hill) and forced to retreat through the town of Gettysburg, taking up defensive positions on Cemetery Hill. The next day (July 2, 1863), the command was given to Major General John Newton, a division commander from the VI Corps, who led it through this battle, including the defense against Pickett's Charge, and through the Mine Run Campaign that fall. Afterwards, the I Corps was disbanded and its units were reorganized and absorbed into the rest of the army, now led by Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant. The Civil War career of the I Corps was ended. The Spanish-American WarThe corps was reactivated in 1898, under the leadership of Major General John R. Brooke , and elements landed on July 31, 1898 to take part in the Puerto Rico Campaign . It advanced to Guayam , where it fought a battle on August 5, but the armistice was signed before they could partake in a slated major attack. World War IFollowing the American declaration of war on the country of Germany, on April 6, 1917, the I Corps was the first unit activated, and moved into the war in Europe. Its subordinate units were shipped to Europe, and the Corps was deactivated. However, it was reactivated again on January 15, 1918, in Neufchateau, France. Assisted by the French XXXII Corps , the headquarters was organized and trained; on January 20, Major General Hunter Liggett took command. In February, the corps consisted of the 1st, 2nd, 26th , 32nd , 41st, and 42nd Divisions. From February to July, 1918, the German Army launched four major offensives, attempting to secure victory before the full American force could be brought to bear. The final offensive, started in July 1918, was an attempt to cross the Marne, in the area of Chateau-Thierry, but the American lines (including I Corps) held, and the offensive was fought back. Thereafter, the I Corps, along with other U.S. and Allied units, moved forward, breaking the German will to fight, until the armistice, signed on November 11, 1918. The I Corps continued to train in France, until it was deactivated on March 25, 1919. Sub-Units 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 26th, 28th, 32nd, 35th, 36th, 41st, 43rd, 77th, 78th, 80th, 82nd, 90th, 91st, and 92nd American Divisions. 62nd, 167th, and 5th Cavalry French Divisions. World War IIDuring WWII, the corps fought in the South West Pacific Area. Its initial operations were in Papua, reinforcing Australian forces, which had turned back Japanese attacks along the Kokoda Track. The Allied forces then took the offensive, against the Japanese beachheads at Buna and Gona. Thereafter, I Corps engaged in the western part of Operation Cartwheel, the encircling and neutralisation of the Japanese base at Rabaul in New Britain. After this operation was completed, I Corps took part in prolonged Allied mopping-up operations along the northern shores of New Guinea. In by far the largest series of operations in the theater during the war, I Corps took part in the invasion of Luzon. It was still engaged on mopping up operations there at the end of the war. After the end of hostilities, I Corps was inactivated. Current Order of BattleThe current order of battle of I Corps is somewhat muddy.
Likely Subordinate Units
*These units are technically under divisional command, and are arbitrarily assigned to brigades
Likely Subordinate National Guard/Reserve Units
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