The earliest mention of troops in
Augusta, Georgia was in 1738; a Captain Kent commanded a detachment of Rangers
that consisted of 10-15 men, that were garrisoned at a Fort in Augusta.
The Richmond Hussars was
organized as a volunteer company as part of the Independent Volunteer Battalion
of Augusta on 3 March 1856. The Richmond Hussars mustered into confederate
service as Company A, Cavalry Battalion, Cobb's Legion, in August 1861
(subsequently furnished Company I, same battalion). Cavalry of Cobb's Legion
reorganized as 9th Regiment, Georgia Cavalry, 11 July 1864. Surrendered 26 April
1865 and disbanded and prevented from reorganization by federal law until 1872.
"Hussars"
is defined as: a member of the light infantry (light horse), lightly armed,
usually with brilliant dress uniforms.
Reorganized 17 February 1873 as
the Richmond Hussars.
Reorganized 9 April 1873 as the Independent Volunteer Battalion of Augusta.
Redesignated 1st Battalion, Georgia Volunteers, 8 November 1889.
Redesignated 6th Infantry Regiment, Georgia Volunteers, 29 January 1894.
Elements consolidated with elements of 3rd and 5th Regiments and mustered into
federal service for the Spanish-American war as the 2nd Georgia Volunteer
Infantry Regiment 11-14 May 1898, at Griffin, Georgia, and mustered out 22
November - 9 December 1898 at various locations. Disbanded 21 September 1899 and
elements assigned to other units.
Redesignated Troop K, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 3 October 1899.
Redesignated Troop K, 2nd Squadron of Cavalry, 2 December 1907. Mustered into
federal service for the Mexican Border, 16 July 1916; returned to state but not
mustered out; drafted into federal service as Troop K, 1st Squadron of Cavalry,
5 August 1917. Converted and redisignated as Company C, 106th Field Signal
Battalion, 31st Division, 20 October 1917, at Camp Wheeler, Georgia. Demobilized
in April 1919 at Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia.
Reorganized and federally recognized as Battery A (Searchlight), Coast Artillery
Regiment (Antiaircraft), 1 October 1939. Called into active federal service 25
November 1940 at Augusta, Georgia.
Assigned to provisional seachlight battalion, authorized to be organized at Camp
Stewart, Georgia, 30 July 1941. Reassinged 214th Coast Artillery Regiment at
Camp Stewart, Georgia without personnel and equipment, 1 May 1942. Constituted
as 3rd Battalion, 214th Coast Artillery Regiment (Antiaircraft), 27 May 1942.
Activated as a gun battery 27 June 1942 at Benicia, California.
Redesignated Battery A, 528th Antiaircraft Artillery Gun Battalion, 10 November
1943. Inactivated 26 December 1945 at Camp Anza, California.
Consolidated with Battery A, 528th Antiaircraft Artillery Gun Battalion;
consolidated unit designated 250th Antiaircraft Gun Battalion.
Consolidated with 250th Antiaircraft Searchlight Battalion; consolidated unit
redesignated 250th Antiaircraft Artillery Gun Battalion and federally recognized
28 May 1947 and authorized the traditional designation "Richmond
Hussars". Ordered into active federal service 14 August 1950 at Augusta,
Georgia. Released from active federal service 13 May 1952 and returned to state
control.
Redesignated 250th Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion (Gun) 1 October 1953.
Redesgnated 1st Gun Battalion (90mm), 214th Artillery Battalion, 108th Artillery
Brigade in 1959.
Redesignated 5th Medium Tank Battalion (Patton), 108th Armor in 1962.
Redesignated 878th Engineer Battalion (Construction) in 1968.
