The Chatham Artillery is an artillery unit that has played a leading role in the history of the state of Georgia since the American Revolution. In 1776, Thomas Lee was authorized to enlist a provincial company of artillery for the defense of Savannah, the first such unit in Georgia's history. Commanded by Joseph Woodruff, they defended the right flank of American forces when the British attacked Savannah. They saw service in the Oconnee wars, The Embargo Wars, and The War of 1812. They were part of the force that occupied Fort Pulaski that opened the American Civil War, and served in and around Savannah and Charleston South Carolina before joining General Johnston's forces in Columbia, South Carolina. After the reorganization in 1872, they mustered out to the border with Mexico, to stop Pancho Villa's raids in the United States. They served with the "Dixie Division" in France during World War I, and landed on Normandy Beach on D-day plus 4 in World War II. They breached the Siegfried Line, and were at the Elbe River when the war ended. In 2005 they were mobilized again into federal service, as an element of the 48th Brigade Combat team serving in Iraq, part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The Chatham Artillery was re-mobilized in 2009 to support Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, personally training Afghan Troops and Police Forces. They were demobilized in 2010 at Fort Stewart, Georgia. Today they remain in service, as a modular artillery brigade of the Georgia Army National Guard, the 118th Field Artillery.

As part of the 48th Infantry Brigade, the 118th FA is one of the oldest units in US Army history. It is one of few units in the US military that also saw service as a unit of the Confederate States of America during the US Civil War.

Heraldry A gold-color metal-and-enamel device inches (2.86 cm) in height, consisting of the coat of arms of the regiment blazoned: SHIELD: Gules, a saltire Gray fimbriated Or, in chief a lion passant guardant, in base a fleur-de-lis, of the last. CREST: On a wreath of the colors, Or and Gules, a boar's head erased Gules, in the mouth an oak branch Or. Attached below the shield an arced Gold scroll inscribed "NESCIT CEDERE" in Black.

Scarlet is the color traditionally associated with artillery organizations. The lion and fleur-de-lis denote service in the Revolutionary War and World War I, respectively. The gray saltire represents Civil War service as Confederate troops.

History and lineage The 1st Battalion, 118th Field Artillery Regiment, traces its lineage to the 118th Field Artillery which was organized on April 18, 1751, in the Georgia Militia in the District of Savannah as four independent volunteer companies, 3 of foot and one of horse. It was mustered into service of the colony June 11, 1751, at Savannah under the command of Captain Noble Jones. It was reorganized on April 2, 1757, as the 1st Regiment of Foot Militia, Division of Savannah, under the command of Colonel Noble Jones.

There is a punch called Chatham Artillery Punch that is named after the regiment.

American Revolutionary War It was reorganized on April 2, 1757, as the 1st Regiment of Foot Militia, Division of Savannah, under the command of Colonel Noble Jones; in January 1776 with two battalions (Savannah and Christ Church Parish in the 1st Battalion). It was disbanded on January 29, 1778, at Savannah when the city was captured by the British.

It was reorganized in 1782 in the Georgia Militia as the 1st Regiment (Savannah and Chatham County in the 1st Battalion), 1st Brigade, 1st Division. The 1st Battalion (Chatham Battalion), 1st Regiment, expanded, reorganized, and was redesignated in 1784 as the 1st Regiment (Chatham Regiment), 1st Brigade, 1st Division.

George Washington visits Savannah in 1791 When George Washington visited Savannah on May 12, 1791, the Chatham Artillery saluted him with 26 discharges from their field guns. The company found such favor with the President, that he sent a gift of two field pieces captured at Yorktown on October 19, 1781. These "Washington Guns" are still on display in Savannah today near the city hall. Two historical markers there outline the history of the guns.

First marker:

Second marker:

National expansion and reform It reorganized in March 1793 to consist of the 1st (or city) Battalion in Savannah and the 2nd (or county) Battalion in Chatham County; and reorganized again wholly in Savannah in December 1807.

The Savannah Volunteer Guards (Organized in 1802) and the Republican Blues (Organized in 1808) were mustered into Federal service in east Florida in June 1812 as elements of Colonel David Newman's provisional battalion of Georgia Volunteers, and mustered out of Federal service in October 1812. Heavy Artillery Company (organized in 1812) mustered into Federal service October 19, 1812, at Fort Jackson, Georgia; and mustered out of Federal service November 23, 1812.

The unit was mustered into Federal service on January 22, 1815, at Savannah as the 1st Regiment, Georgia Volunteers; and mustered out of Federal service on February 23, 1815 (the volunteer companies in the 1st Regiment, Georgia Militia, reorganized on December 13, 1829, as the Chatham Legion; while the Irish Jasper Greens, organized in 1842, were mustered into Federal service on June 12, 1846, at Columbus as Company F, 1st Regiment, Georgia Volunteers; and mustered out of Federal service May 26, 1847, at New Orleans, Louisiana).

The Volunteer companies (Chatham Legion) were withdrawn on January 20, 1852, from the 1st Regiment and reorganized as the Independent Volunteer Battalion of Savannah to consist of the following companies: Chatham Artillery (organized in 1785) Savannah Volunteer Guards (organized in 1802) Republican Blues (organized in 1808) Phoenix Riflemen (organized in 1812) Irish Jasper Greens (organized in 1842) German Volunteers (organized in 1845) DeKalb Riflemen (organized in 1850)

The 1st Regiment, Georgia Militia, reorganized with new companies – hereafter separate lineage.

American Civil War The unit was redesignated on May 17, 1856, as the Independent Volunteer Regiment of Savannah; on December 20, 1859, as the 1st Volunteer Regiment of Georgia. It was ordered into active state service on January 2, 1861, to take possession of Fort Pulaski in the Savannah harbor and mustered into Confederate service by elements May–July 1861. The Chatham Artillery detached from the regiment on September 28, 1861, and reorganized as an independent light battery (Claghorn's or Wheaton's Georgia battery); they surrendered April 26, 1865, near Greensboro, North Carolina. A portion of the regiment was captured on April 11, 1862, at the surrender of Fort Pulaski.

The Savannah Volunteer Guards detached from the regiment on April 11, 1862, and were expanded, reorganized, and redesignated as the 18th Battalion, Georgia Infantry: they surrendered on April 26, 1865, at Appomattox Court House, Virginia. The Phoenix Riflemen detached from the regiment and were expanded, reorganized, and redesignated as the 13th Battalion, Georgia Infantry: they were absorbed on December 23, 1862, by the 63d Georgia Volunteer Infantry Regiment. The regiment itself reorganized in October 1862 as the 1st Georgia Volunteer Infantry Regiment upon exchange of elements captured at Fort Pulaski. It consolidated in April 1865 with the 57th and 63d Georgia Volunteer Infantry Regiments and was redesignated as the 1st Georgia Composite Infantry Regiment. It surrendered on April 26, 1865, near Durham, North Carolina.

Reconstruction era The former 1st Volunteer Regiment (Chatham Regiment) of Georgia reorganized on September 26, 1872, in the Georgia Volunteers at Savannah as the 1st Infantry Regiment. Its elements consolidated with elements of the 2d and 4th Infantry Regiments and mustered into Federal service on May 11, 1898, at Griffin as the 1st Georgia Volunteer Infantry: it mustered out of Federal service on November 18, 1898, at Macon and resumed state status as the 1st Regiment of Infantry (The Georgia Volunteers were redesignated on December 21, 1899, as the Georgia State Troops: and on October 1, 1905, as the Georgia National Guard).

World War I The unit was drafted into Federal service on August 5, 1917. It converted and was redesignated on September 23, 1917, as the 118th Field Artillery and assigned to the 31st Division. It demobilized January 14–18, 1919 Camp Gordon, Georgia.

Reorganized in 1921 in the Georgia National Guard as the 1st Field Artillery, its headquarters was Federally recognized on December 30, 1921, at Savannah. The unit was redesignated on April 27, 1922, as the 118th Field Artillery and assigned to the 30th Division. Battery A (Chatham Artillery) was withdrawn on April 17, 1925, and reorganized as Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 55th Field Artillery Brigade, an element of the 30th Division.

Interwar era Reorganized in 1921 in the Georgia National Guard as the 1st Field Artillery, its headquarters was Federally recognized on December 30, 1921, at Savannah. The unit was redesignated on April 27, 1922, as the 118th Field Artillery and assigned to the 30th Division. Battery A (Chatham Artillery) was withdrawn on April 17, 1925, and reorganized as Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 55th Field Artillery Brigade, an element of the 30th Division.

The 118th Field Artillery and Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 55th Field Artillery Brigade, was inducted into Federal service on September 16, 1940, at Savannah. Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 55th Field Artillery Brigade, reorganized and was redesignated on February 7, 1942, as Headquarters and Headquarters Battery (Georgia part), 30th Division Artillery; the 118th Field Artillery was concurrently broken up and its elements reorganized and were redesignated as elements of the 30th Infantry Division as Headquarters and Headquarters Battery and the 1st battalion as the 118th Field Artillery Battalion and 2d Battalion as the 230th Field Artillery Battalion.

World War II After February 7, 1942, the above units underwent changes as follows: Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 30th Division Artillery, inactivated on November 20, 1945, at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. It was redesignated on July 5, 1946, as Headquarters and Headquarters Battery (Georgia part), 48th Division Artillery. It was reorganized and Federally recognized on June 18, 1947, at Savannah; and on November 1, 1955, as Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 48th Armored Division Artillery.

The 118th Field Artillery Battalion inactivated on November 20, 1945, at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. It was relieved on July 5, 1946, from assignment to the 30th Infantry Division. It reorganized and was Federally recognized on April 21, 1947, at Savannah before being reorganized and redesignated on November 1, 1955, as the 118th Armored Field Artillery Battalion and assigned to the 48th Armored Division.

The 230th Field Artillery inactivated on November 20, 1945, at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. It was relieved on July 5, 1946, from assignment to the 30th Infantry Division and assigned to the 48th Infantry Division. It reorganized and was Federally recognized on April 22, 1947, at Savannah, before being reorganized and redesignated on November 1, 1955, as the 230th Armored Field Artillery Battalion (the 48th Infantry Division concurrently reorganized and was redesignated as the 48th Armored Division).

Cold War