The Regiment of Voltigeurs and Foot Riflemen, was one of nine new infantry regiments authorized by Congress in 1847 for one year service in the Mexican-American War. Unlike the others it was not numbered but was named, called the Regiment of Voltigeurs and Foot Riflemen. It was to be a special unit with half of its men to be mounted, the other half were to be on foot. The intent was to have each horseman paired with a foot soldier who was to get up behind him for rapid movements.

However this arrangement was never used, the Voltigeurs became a regiment of foot riflemen, armed with the muzzle-loading Model 1841 rifle, the same rifle as was used by the Regiment of Mounted Riflemen. The Voltigeurs and Foot Riflemen regiment included a company of mountain howitzers and war rockets.