During the first post-war expansion of the United States Army following independence, a 13th Regiment of Infantry was formed on 16 July 1798, and was mustered out 11 January 1800.

It participated in the battles of Haynes Bluffs, Champion Hill, Black River, and on 19 May 1863 took part in the assault at Vicksburg.

In 1897, the 13th US Infantry was filmed at Fort Jay on Governors Island, New York where they were posted in the years before World War I.

[3] In June 1898 the regiment was sent to Cuba and led the 1st Infantry's attack on San Juan Hill, capturing the Spanish flag.

[4] The regiment found itself fighting through the hedgerows of France beginning in July 1944, and led the drive to the Ay River.

The regiment spent ten months in combat in Normandy, Northern France, The Rhineland and Central Europe.

Private First Class Walter C. Wetzel was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for sacrificing his life to save his comrades.

Following World War II the unit was inactivated at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri on 18 November 1945.

Both training blocks were completed by mid June and the regiment achieved "combat ready" status.

On 27 February 1989, the 13th Infantry Regiment was transferred to the United States Army Training and Doctrine Command and reorganized at Fort Jackson, South Carolina.

Later, the story came to the attention of General John A. Logan, who ordered a cartridge box with the lettering "40 rounds" to be used in the Corps insigna.