Organization
The Twenty-Seventh Infantry regiment of the United States Army was organized in accordance with the provisions of the Act of Congress approved February 2nd, 1901.1 Organizations of the American Army, designated as the Twenty-Seventh Infantry, had been authorized and organized prior to 1901, but after short periods of existence, these had been consolidated with other units to form regiments of different numerical designation.2
The organization of the regiment was prescribed in General Orders, No.14, A.G.O., Washington, D. C., dated February 12th, 1901, establishing the regimental headquarters at Plattsburg Barracks, New York.3
Colonel J. M. J. Sanno, Eighteenth Infantry, was given the task of organizing the Twenty-Seventh Infantry, and was attached for this duty on February 19th, 1901. The first adjutant of the regiment was Captain Frank B. Andrus, Fourth Infantry, attached to the new organization on April 18th, 1901. The first enlisted man assigned to the regiment was John T. Hutchcroft, transferred from Company “F”, Fifteenth Infantry, and assigned to the Band, March 12th, 1901.
During the spring of 1901 units of the Twenty-Seventh Infantry were formed. The Band and the Non-Commissioned Staff were organized at Plattsburg Barracks, New York, during the month of April. Companies “A”, “B”, “C” and “D” were formed at Fort McPherson, Georgia, by transfer of men from the Second Battalion of the Twenty-Sixth Infantry stationed in the south. The transfer was effected May 29th, 1901. Companies “E” and “F” were organized at Plattsburg Barracks April 24th, 1901. Practically all of the men of these two companies were newly enlisted.
On May 14th Company “G” was completely organized at Plattsburg Barracks, and was followed by Company “H”, at the same place, June 11th, 1901. Both companies were formed principally by enlistment. The personnel to form Companies “I” and “K” was transferred from corresponding companies of the Twenty-Sixth Infantry at Fort McPherson, June 3rd, 1901. These companies joined the other units of the regiment at Plattsburg Barracks on June 27th, Company “L” was organized at Fort McPherson June 11th, from the men enlisting in the south, and moved to Plattsburg Barracks soon after organization.
With the organization of Company “M” at Plattsburg Barrack, on July 5th, 1901, all units of the regiment were complete. From the above it will be noted that the Regimental Headquarters, the Band and the Second and Third Battalions were at Plattsburg Barracks, New York, whereas the First Battalion remained at Fort McPherson, Georgia.
1 The Army Register, 1930
2 History of the Hawaiian Division, 1921.
3 See: The Military Situation in 1901 (Appendix V).
