U.S. Army Table of Organization Circa 1900

During the Moro Campaigns

Regiment

   The 1,300 man regiment was the principle organizational unit of the U.S. Army circa 1900, with the eight-man rifle squad its core building block. Commanded by a Colonel or Lt. Colonel, each regiment was responsible for their own enlistment, training, movement, logistics, and supply. You did not “join the Army”, you enlisted in a regiment that had vacancies. There was no “basic training”; a few veteran sergeants in each regiment were assigned to “break-in” and train new recruits. Most regulars, officers and men, spent their entire career in the same regiment. Typically there were 40 line officers, 204 non-commissioned officers (60 sergeants and 144 corporals), and 1,008 privates in a regiment. An additional 6 officers, 20 n.c.o.’s, and 22 privates served in staff or support functions, usually administrative or clerical. Generally there were three staff officers, one a deputy c.o., and six enlisted men in the H.Q. A regiment was subdivided and organized as follows:

Three Battalions in each Regiment 

  A regiment was made up of three 430 man battalions, each commanded by a Major, with  a battalion staff of one officer, two n.c.o.’s  and two enlisted men.

 Four Companies per each Battalion

  A battalion consisted of four companies, each with 106 officers and men, and commanded by a Captain. Each company commander was assisted by one field sergeant, one staff sergeant and one private (clerk).

 Two Platoons in each Company

  There were two 51 man platoons in each company, ideally one commanded by a 1^st Lieutenant, serving as the backup to the company c.o., and one by a 2^nd Lieutenant.

 Two Sections in each Platoon

  A sergeant commanded each 25 man section, consisting of three rifle squads totaling 24 men.

Three Rifle Squads in each Section

   The basic combat fighting unit, each rifle squad consisted of seven privates led by one corporal.

To summarize, within a fully subscribed regiment there would be:

3 Battalions

12 Companies

24 Platoons

48 Sections

144 Rifle Squads