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 Union corps commander in the Eastern Theater. He superbly led the corps through this battle, then through the Battle of Chancellorsville, with the army being led by General Hooker, who left the I 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 GeneralUlysses S. Grant. The Civil War career of the I Corps was ended.
U.S. I Corps Distinctive Unit Insignia
Spanish-American War
The corps was reactivated in 1898 for the Spanish-American War, 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. Both the I Corps from the 19th Century are unrelated to the current I Corps even though they carry the same name.
World War I
Following the American declaration of war on the country of Germany, on April 6, 1917, the I Corps was organized and activated on January 15–20, 1918, in the National Army in Neufchateau, France, as Headquarters & Headquarters Company, I Army Corps. 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, 2d, 26th, 32d, 41st, and 42d Infantry 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 shoulder sleeve insignia was approved by the Adjutant General, American Expeditionary Forces on December 3, 1918.
The I Corps continued to train in France, until it was demobilized on March 25, 1919. I Army Corps was immediately returned to the inactivated list.
Reconstituted June 27, 1944. In the Regular Army as Headquarters, I Corps; concurrently consolidated with Headquarters, I Corps (active) (see Australian information), and Consolidated unit designated as Headquarters, I Corps.
Thereafter, I Corps engaged in the western part of Operation Cartwheel, the encircling and neutralization 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 assigned to Occupation Force Duty in Japan.
Headquarters & Headquarters Company, I Corps was demobilized on March 28, 1950, in Japan, and returned to the Inactive list.
Modern period
HHC, I Corps was reactivated August 2, 1950, at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and was assigned to take control of the UN Forces in the Korean War.
Reassigned to Fort Jay, New York, as its Home Post on May 21, 1951, concurrent with the reactivation of XVIII Airborne Corps at Fort Bragg.
Reorganized and redesignated December 1, 1967, as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, I Corps.
A second Distinctive Unit Insignia was authorized on May 21, 1970.
A third DUI design was approved on September 14, 1982 and cancelled on October 31, 1988.
The current Distinctive Unit Insignia was approved on October 31, 1988.
I CORPS (FORWARD) Served in Mosul, Iraq from January 2004 - January 2005. Led by Brigadier General Carter F. Ham based from Fort Lewis.
Lineage
Organized 15-20 January 1918 in the Regular Army in France as Headquarters, I Army Corps
Demobilized 25 March 1919 in France
Reconstituted 27 June 1944 in the Regular Army as Headquarters, I Corps; concurrently consolidated with Headquarters, I Corps (active) (see ANNEX), and consolidated unit designated as Headquarters, I Corps
Inactivated 28 March 1950 in Japan
Activated 2 August 1950 at Fort Bragg, North Carolina
Reorganized and redesignated 1 December 1967 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, I Corps
ANNEX
Constituted 15 August 1927 in the Regular Army as Headquarters, XX Corps
Redesignated 13 October 1927 as Headquarters, I Corps
Activated 1 November 1940 at Columbia, South Carolina
Redesignated 1 January 1941 as Headquarters, I Army Corps
Redesignated 19 August 1942 as Headquarters, I Corps
