On the 3rd of December, 1774, the militia was organized by Mordecai Ghist and became known as the Baltimore Independent Cadets.  They fought through the entire American Revolution, but most notably the Battle of Brooklyn in August of 1776. George Washington himself remarked, “Oh, what brave men I must this day lose” when 400 Maryland volunteers repeatedly bayonet charged the British army in order for the Continental Army to escape.  This was also the first bayonet charge recorded in America’s military history. These actions earned Maryland the title of “Old Line State” and the 400 volunteers became known as the Maryland 400. 

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During the Civil War, the state of Maryland essentially split into two factions at Harpers Ferry: the first Maryland Confederate State’s Army (CSA) and the Maryland Union State Army (USA).  Marylanders fought each other, earning campaign honors at Manassas, Appotomax, Gettysburg and more. Later, the 29th Infantry Division would honor both sides with their yin yang blue grey symbol becoming known as the “blue and the grey”. In WWII, the 29th Infantry Division owned Omaha Beach, receiving massive casualties from the 115th and 116th. The 175th Infantry Regiment would arrive on the beaches D-Day plus one. the 175th continued the fight through Isigny, St Lo and Hill 108 (Purple Heart Hill), for which the Regiment would receive the Crioux de Guerre and Presidential Unit Citation.