Crossed Sabers

I thought I’d posted this months ago. I discovered this morning that the post never went through. Rather delayed, here is a review of an excellent, groundbreaking new volume on the Gettysburg campaign. I apologize for the oversight. If you haven’t already taken a look at this book, do so today.

Don


One Continuous Fight: The Retreat from Gettysburg and the Pursuit of Lee's Army of Northern Virginia, July 4-14, 1863. By Eric J. Wittenberg, J. David Petruzzi, and Michael F. Nugent.

One could fill a room with the books published on the Gettysburg campaign. Until recently, however, no single volume examined the tactical maneuvering following the battle itself as both armies maneuvered toward the Potomac. In most coverage of the campaign, scarcely a page covers the events between the end of the battle and the arrival of both armies at the Rappahannock River near Culpeper. This groundbreaking book finally provides just such an examination.

One Continuous Fight covers the nearly two dozen different engagements that took place during Lee’s retreat to the Potomac and Meade’s pursuit. While all three authors are recognized Civil War cavalry experts, this is a work for the sake of the cavalry. Cavalry units are simply the medium through which the majority of the story is told, as they were the principal players in the majority of the fighting. It was Confederate General Jeb Stuart’s task to protect the exposed columns of Lee’s army as it maneuvered toward the Potomac. The majority of the effort to intercept and disrupt these columns was assigned to Union general Alfred Pleasanton’s Cavalry Corps of the Army of the Potomac. The army itself hurried in pursuit to complete the destruction of Lee’s army if brought to bay.

Many people think that Meade’s pursuit was simply a footrace for the Potomac by both sides, marked by little actual fighting. The authors do an excellent job of illustrating the continuous and desperate fighting that occurred throughout the pursuit. Noah Andre Trudeau wrote an extremely thought provoking essay on Meade vs. Lee that is an excellent set up for the authors’ narrative.

This book draws upon a truly massive array of sources, including letters, diaries, newspaper accounts, and published primary and secondary sources. Many of the primary sources are previously unpublished. These new resources enable the authors to carefully describe each engagement within the framework of the overall pursuit. While the tactical discussions are very detailed, they enhance rather than bog down the story. The authors do a masterful job of weaving primary sources and text into a captivating tapestry that is at once easy to read and nearly impossible to put down.

To my mind, this framework makes the book all the more valuable as a reference. Each engagement, analyzed in detail from both a tactical and strategic standpoint, is contained within in its own chapter. After reading the entire book, the reader is left in essence with an encyclopedia of the retreat and pursuit.

The authors were remarkably evenhanded in their treatment of the pursuit. Both Union and Confederate viewpoints and sources are utilized throughout the book. Both sides are equally praised and critiqued, as appropriate to the situation. Such objectivity is unfortunately rare.

The conclusions chapter is yet another illustration of this, and a major strength of the book. It provides a balanced look at the various controversies surrounding the retreat. They attempt to break down the questions concerning each one and answer them in the context of the personalities and information available at the time. Each is answered in detail, with the same evenhanded consideration to opposing schools of thought that characterizes the rest of the book. In the end, my impression was that Lee was very fortunate to get away with his army intact, and that it was a much narrower escape than previous reading had led me to believe.

Unlike many works, this book is complimented by excellent work from start to finish. The book is well-constructed, with a wonderful jacket and great printing and binding. Savas-Beattie is to be commended for the quality of the work. Eighteen maps greatly enhance the reader’s ability to visualize the engagements, and dozens of photos show the participants. Two comprehensive driving tours are included as appendices, including GPS coordinates for those who enjoy following the footsteps of those who fought. These are particularly important in this book, as many of the places mentioned are unmarked by historical markers. While there are some editing errors in the first edition of the book, they don’t detract from the overall excellence of the work and have reportedly been corrected in the second edition.

Overall, this is an excellent book, both as an entertaining read from the amateur, and a detailed study for the more discriminating historian. The authors have greatly enhanced the body of knowledge on Meade’s pursuit of Lee following the battle. It will appeal to anyone interested in the Civil War, and deserves a place on the shelf of any civil War historian’s library.

Thomas Hight was born in Indiana, and appointed to West Point from there in July 1849. He graduated 9th in his class on July 1, 1863 and was promoted to brevet second lieutenant of dragoons. He served as an instructor at the Cavalry School for Practice at Carlisle, Pennsylvania until the following year.

Hight was promoted to second lieutenant in the 2nd US Dragoons on May 24, 1854. he joined his new regiment at Jefferson barracks, Missouri, then accompanied them on frontier duty from Fort Leavenworth for the next two years. He participated in an expedition against the Sioux and one into New Mexico. When the army formed two new cavalry regiments in 1855, he was offered a position as a second lieutenant in the 1st US Cavalry, which he declined. He served on recruiting duty in 1856 and was promoted to first lieutenant in the 2nd Dragoons on February 2, 1857. From 1857 to 1860, he participated in the Utah Expedition and a march to Oregon.

Lieutenant Hight was on a leave of absence when the war broke out, but rejoined the regiment and was promoted to captain on May 13, 1861. He spent the summer at Camp Knox in Rockland, Maine, where he was the mustering officer for seven of the state’s initial ten volunteer regiments. He was detached from 2nd US Cavalry to serve as the lieutenant colonel of the 1st Maine Cavalry on October 19, 1861, but resigned from volunteer service to rejoin his regular regiment on March 14, 1862.

He commanded a squadron during the peninsula campaign, and was captured with his squadron by Confederate General Fitzhugh Lee’s brigade during a reconnaissance following Second Manassas. His squadron was so small that General Stuart reported it as a single company in his official report on the campaign. He was paroled after Stuart linked up with General Jackson’s forces two days later.

Captain Hight served in Washington, DC during the winter of 1862. He resigned on April 27, 1863, after being absent without leave since January 21st.

After his resignation, he joined the 31st Maine Infantry as a lieutenant colonel of volunteers on March 12, 1864. The regiment was mustered in on April 17th, and immediately pushed forward to Virginia. He was promoted to colonel on April 29th, and commanded the regiment during the Wilderness and Overland campaigns. The regiment lost heavily in the Wilderness, and then lost a further 195 killed, wounded and missing at Spotsylvania Court House on May 12th. He was honorably discharged after the battle of Cold Harbor on July 2, 1864.

Thomas Hight returned to Augusta, Maine following his discharge, where he worked as a druggist until his death on August 17, 1867, at the age of 38.

Sources:

Cullum, George W. Biographical Register of the Officers and Graduates of the U.S. Military Academy, Volume 2 (Boston: Houghton, Mifflin and Company, 1891), pgs 527-528.

Heitman, Francis B. Historical Register and Dictionary of the United States Army (Washington: Government Printing Office, 1903), page 529.

Rodenbough, Theophilus F. From Everglade to Canyon with the Second United States Cavalry (New York: D. Van Nostrand, 1875)

I'm not sure why the last couple of posts have been about things gone wrong. The picket line story was too funny to pass up, and then I found this one. Not the way I would normally pick to feature my favorite (and parent) regiment, but you have to admire the way Captain Thomas Hight makes this report. Though addressed to the adjutant, the report is intended for the regimental commander. Can you imagine having to write a report to explain this to your commander?

To put the report into context, Captain Hight had just disembarked from the transports which had sailed them from the peninsula back to Washington when he was ordered out to join General Sumner. August 31, 1862 was the day after the end of the battle of Second Bull Run. I'll have more on Captain Hight in the next few days.

"Washington, D.C., September 3, 1862.
Lieut. J.F. McQuesten,
Adjutant, Second U.S. Cavalry:

Sir: In reply to your communication of this date I have the honor to make the following report of the manner in which my squadron was captured on the 31st ultimo:

On the 30th ultimo I was ordered with my squadron from Alexandria to report to general Sumner at Annandale. I moved with the squadron to the place designated, and finding that General Sumner had moved on, I followed with the squadron, sending to General Sumner to know if I should join them with the squadron. I received orders to do so, and joined him about 5 or 6 miles from Centreville, where the command spent the remainder of the night.

At daylight the next morning I was directed by General Sumner to leave him twelve orderlies, and with the remainder of the squadron to make a reconnaissance several miles to the right and front, returning to meet him in the rear of Centreville.

After performing this duty I met General Sumner at Centreville and reported that I had found no trace of the enemy. I then moved with General Sumner to a short distance to the right of Centreville, when I was again directed to make a reconnaissance to the right as far as Germantown. I accordingly moved to the right as far as the turnpike, and learning that Germantown was to the rear on the road, I turned in that direction, and after going 2 or 3 miles halted my command for rest and to give my horses a small feed, as they had been nearly twenty-four hours without being unsaddled or having anything to eat. About fifteen minutes after halting my sentinel reported horsemen in the rear on the road over which I had just come, but as we had been passing stragglers for the last few miles I supposed that they were some of our own men, but went to see myself; not being satisfied, I gave directions to bridle up. It was again reported that they were our troops, but immediately after my command was charged by two squadrons of Confederate cavalry, closely followed by the light division of Major-General Stuart, numbering between 2,000 and 3,000 cavalry and two horse batteries. The leading squadrons immediately opened fire upon me, which was returned by a portion of my command, the remainder of the command attempting to make their escape from so overpowering a force by fleeing through the fields toward the shelter of the woods.

Thus surrounded by so large a force, while dismounted, I had nothing left for me but surrender or massacre. I surrendered to Brigadier-General Fitz. Lee, commanding the leading brigade of the enemy, my remaining force, Lieut. R.E. Clary and about 20 men.

The enemy afterward brought in 25 or 30 more men of the squadron and about 20 infantry stragglers that they had picked up on the road over which I had passed.

The men were paroled, and myself and Lieutenant Clary taken along with the enemy as prisoners.

Private Martin Kelley of my command was badly wounded, and left behind, with a wounded soldier of the enemy.

Lieutenant Rodenbough of the squadron was brought in the next morning to General Lee.

I remained a prisoner with the enemy until the morning of September 2, when I was paroled and sent with Lieutenants Clary and Rodenbough to our pickets near Falls Church.

I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
THOS. HIGHT,
Captain, Second Cavalry"

Source: Official Records, Volume XII, Part 3, pages 809-810.

I turned up this article not long ago, and was initially somewhat torn about posting it. I eventually decided to put it up, for several reasons. One, it illustrates that cavalry duty wasn’t all charging into battle with sabers extended and carbines blazing. Second, there aren’t too many first person accounts by Regulars of wartime experience. Third, having participated in countless night maneuvers, I can sympathize with Sergeant Ellis while still finding the whole story pretty amusing. The 11th New York Cavalry was unofficially known as “Scott’s 900,” and twenty rods is slightly more than 100 yards. The article is transcribed exactly as Sergeant Ellis wrote it. The entire article is reprinted from The Maine Bugle, Campaign II, Call 3, July 1895, pages 204-207.



“A Terrible Night on the Picket Line

“By Sergeant Hiram Ellis, Second U.S. Cavalry

“In October 1863, after the great flanking march of the Army of the Potomac, the regiment which I belonged, the 2d U.S. Cavalry, was sent into Maryland to get necessary supplies and to relieve our horses from the hardships of the campaign which had rendered them almost useless. We passed through Leesburg, crossed the Potomac at Young’s Island, followed the tow path down to Seneca Locks, under the canal through the culvert and went into camp near the main or river road. We had hardly got settled for the night when the patrol that was always marching up and down on the tow path, reported that an important post of the picket a few miles down the river was without guard. And it was afterwards found that the patrol on its downward march had reported the same to the Scots 900, a regiment stationed a few miles further down. Upon receipt of this report our colonel issued the following order:

“Send a company to that point to guard it for the night, to place one sentinel at the mouth of the culvert and two others at his discretion.”

“At that time I was first sergeant and temporarily in command of the company. The sergeant-major brought the order to me, saying that my company was detailed for that duty, and gave me directions how to find the place. We saddled up and set out, arriving at the place just after dark, and posted the sentinels according to orders. In order to make my story clear I will make this explanation.

“From the main, or river, road to the canal, it was about twenty rods by a small road or by-path, surrounded with sparsely growing shrubs and small pines. This path had a slight rise for about half the distance, then fell off sharply to the bottom of a ravine, this ravine running parallel with the river. The path here made a slight turn to the right, continuing to the bed of a stream that flowed through the culvert, beyond which was a ford of the river. Directly across the ravine, on a slight bluff, stood a block house, or “bomb proof,” and I must describe this, as it has much to do with my story. It was built by setting two rows of timber like a stockade, one outside the other about seven feet apart, and the space between filled with earth, the top covered with heavy timbers and then with earth to a depth of about seven feet. The only entrance to this block house was through a hole so small that only one man could get through at a time, and on hands and knees at that. While the sentinels were being posted, some of the men investigated the hole, got inside and built a small fire so that the inside of the place could be seen. It looked like a good place to spend the night. Our horses were ranged along the bottom of the ravine and fastened to trees and bushes that grew plentifully on one side.

“Upon getting inside the block house it was found that while a good place to spend the night, it would be a bad place in case of attack, because one man with a picked stick would hold us all prisoners or starve us to death. It was therefore ordered that if attacked every man should get out and get to his horse as soon as possible. I will say here, that I had posted sentinels as follows: One at the mouth of the culvert, on a bank of the canal further down the stream, and one at the highest point of the by-path already mentioned. We had hardly got ready to spend the night in the block house when the sentinel posted up the road, challenged, and called out the guard. We got out through that unfortunate hole as quick as we could into line and after a parley allowed one of the party to approach and give the countersign. It was then found to be a company of the “Scots 900” sent there with orders almost identical with mine. It was under command of a lieutenant who at once took command of the whole. He looked at my orders and together we rode around and visited my sentinels, who challenged sharply and required the countersign in good style.

“He approved of what I had done and suggested that as his orders required him to post sentinels he would take two men from his company and for relief he would take three men from my company and two from his and so on till morning. One of these men was posted south of the block house, on high ground, and the others to the north on what would be a continuation of the ravine, or what we supposed was a cropping ledge slightly higher than the surrounding intervale. It was afterward found on a direct line with the culvert. These sentinels were posted without saying anything about it to the others. Then our troubles began. I will say that the night was very dark, the stars could be dimly seen through the haze, and the atmosphere was in condition to transmit sound to a long distance. No wind was perceptible. We had scarcely got inside the block house when a shot was fired, immediately followed by others, and a general uproar outside. We all made a dive for that confounded hole and got out, and there was trouble enough. The sentinels on the low ground were chasing each other, challenging and shooting right and left, and those on the high ground were firing and calling out the guard. And then all made a break for the block house. After much confusion order was restored and as no enemy was found, the sentinels were returned to their posts. Then the lieutenant and myself investigated. We found that the last sentinel posted had fired first and he explained that he had heard something and seen something move, and had challenged and threatened and then fired, but since returning to his rest had seen nothing. I had posted Frank Kelley at the mouth of the culvert, as good a man as I had. He explained that he had heard men talking at the further end of the culvert and after a few pistol shots had been fired, a whole battery of artillery fired, and seeing the flash of a gun up in the field felt sure we were attacked, and made all the noise he could. A further investigation showed that the echo in the culvert would account for all the noise he had heard.

“We then returned to the block house and the lieutenant decided to relieve the guard then and start new so as to avoid any further trouble. The detail was made and we crawled out of that miserable hole and made the rounds systematically, relieving the guard and leaving everything in good order. As the night was chilly, the lieutenant and myself crawled inside once more and had scarcely got in when shots were fired and all hands got outside of that infernal hole and found that the shots we heard were from some party up in the main road, and that a regular battle was going on up there. We felt sure that the enemy was around and made a disposition to give him a warm reception as soon as he came within range. Our whole force was drawn up across the path at the bottom of the ravine. Our carbines were fully charged and every man was instructed just what to do. Soon the firing died out and we could hear a parley going on and after considerable loud talk the whole party seemed to be coming towards us. The lieutenant placed one of his best men at the post on the top of the hill with positive orders to challenge before he fired. True to his instructions, when the party got near enough, he sung out “Who comes there?” fired, and then scampered down the hill to where we stood in line of battle. The forces approaching, then knowing that it was the enemy, opened up on us with everything they could, and we knowing it was the enemy, returned the compliment in kind and together we filled the sky full of bullets for a short time. But our fire soon slackened and the enemy appeared to have retreated. We began to look around to see if any of our men were hurt, when a voice was heard asking what troops we were.

“After a long parley he was allowed to come in, and we found that he belonged to our regiment and that the whole crowd were United States troops sent to our relief. It seems that when we had our first scrimmage the noise we made was heard up to our camp and reported to the colonel that Sergeant Ellis was attacked, and he at once ordered out a company to our relief. The noise was also heard down to the camp of the Scots nine hundred, and a company was ordered out to their relief. These two companies meeting where they had no right to expect any troops, naturally mistook each other for the enemy and pitched into each other, and had a regular fight; but after a while found out their mistake and joined together, but were unable to account for the first firing they had heard. They approached our position, and the reception we gave them led them to believe that the picket was in the hands of the enemy, and had therefore opened on us with all their might. About this time it began to grow light, so the pickets were called in and each party prepared to return to camp and report; but first the ranking officers wanted to find out how the row began.

“The man who fired the first shot was found and taken to the place where he was posted to explain how it was. He insisted that he had seen and heard something that would not answer his challenge; and sure enough on the low ground, right in front of where he stood lay an old cow --- dead, the blood still oozing froma bullet wound. We then started for camp. When we got up in sight of the main road we saw down on the right a line of skirmishers and upon the left a line of skirmishers, all coming towards us, and all wore the blue; and behind each was the rest of their regiment in all the pomp and circumstance of war.

“As soon as we were near enough to understand the case each line involuntarily halted and looked at each other. Then the commander of each regiment, seeming to comprehend, rode to the front between the lines and went at each other, and if you never heard a wordy war you would have heard one then. It did seem as if blood would be spilt then, if not before. But their ammunition was soon expended, and more explanations followed, when it was found that when our second and third fights were going on it was reported to our colonel, “Sergeant Ellis is having another fight down there,” and to the colonel of the Scots 900, “They are at it again up there.” Then each colonel called in all the force he could raise and came to the rescue as I have described. After the investigation had all been gone over again without much satisfaction to any one, each regiment started for its own camp, when a broad smile came over all that had not actually been engaged, but to us who were there, it was a serious affair. We were all badly frightened and much ammunition had been expended but the only thing wounded or killed was that old cow.”

Editor’s afterword: The entire Reserve Brigade was at the Cavalry Depot at Giesboro Point, Washington, D.C. from August 12 to October 11, 1863. The regiment didn’t have a “colonel” serving with it at the time. It was commanded during the Bristoe Run campaign (October 9-22, 1863) by Captain George A. Gordon, and it is reasonable to assume that he was commanding during this incident as well. (Source: OR-Series I, Volume XXIX, Chapter XLI, Pg 212)

Although at first glance more genealogical than historical, this topic is one that I encounter often in my research. When researching a particular soldier, if one can find the state from which the soldier served, more than likely one can find the unit and then probably the county from which he served. A good deal of the time, state muster rolls, adjutant general reports or the appropriate county historical society can steer one the rest of the way home from there.

Not so when researching Regular Army soldiers. Resources are few and far between. Knowledge that an ancestor served in Company C, 6th US Infantry, for example, provides no clues as to where the ancestor was born, when he enlisted, if he survived, and if so where and under what conditions he left the army. At first blush there appear to be no clues, but there are paths to follow if one knows where to start looking for clues.

We’ll assume for the purposes of this article that you don’t want to spend $75-150 or more on a request for the person’s service records from the National Archives (NARA). While the NARA researchers do a very good job, it’s slow and expensive. They’re also limited to the starting information that you can provide them.

A good first step is the National Park Service’s Civil War Soldiers & Sailors database. This is an exhaustingly compiled list of everyone who served during the Civil War from either side, their unit, and their rank entering and leaving service. That’s about the limit of available information, but it’s a very good starting point. It’s also an exceptional resource for attempting to cross-reference those who served in both volunteer and regular units, since many volunteers joined regular units in the fall of 1862. Some unit history for both volunteer and regular units is also available on the site.

There are two cautions about the CWSS. First, officers of the regular army are not included in the database unless they were enlisted men during the war prior to receiving their commission. Thus, Lt Adna R. Chaffee is included, while Maj Gen George B. McClellan is not. This problem has been noted and NPS is working to fix this. Second, the entries for regular army personnel encompass the years 1861-1865 in their entirety and not specifically the dates of the war. For volunteer units this isn’t an issue, but there was tremendous turnover in regular army regiments during the summer and fall of 1865. When researching one company of the 6th US Cavalry, I found 54 soldiers who were listed in CWSS, but joined the regiment after the war had ended. With these two things in mind, however, I still think CWSS is the best place to start.

The next stop should be the Civil War Archive . It also has a comprehensive list of soldiers and units. There is a usage fee for the site, but they periodically provide free access to attract more subscribers. To my mind, it is well worth the price of registration. In my experience, this site has more information and lists the sources for the information on each soldier or unit. One note: if one of the sources listed for a soldier is not the Index of Consolidated Military Service records, or if the name that you’re looking for was in CWSS and is not there, that person probably enlisted in the summer or fall of 1865. This and the Regulars Archive provide the easiest and best unit historical data on the internet.

After using the first two sites to confirm or deny your starting information, I recommend that you go to ancestry.com. If one selects the appropriate membership, one can search the “Descriptive and Historical Register of Enlisted Soldiers of the Army” for an individual’s enlistment information. This is actually a scan of the registers used in Washington to track all of the soldiers enlisted in the regular army by date and then alphabetically. The search on Ancestry will lead you to a scan of the page where the individual’s information is listed, along with 30-40 others. These pages are a tremendous resource. Information includes last name, first name, place of birth, enlistment date and location, presiding officer, hair color, eye color, complexion, company, regiment, and remarks including date and manner of separation from the army. This one oversized sheet will usually tell you if the person in question was killed in action, deserted, or discharged at the expiration of their term of service. One can usually find the location where they left the service and their rank. There are also two cautions for this site. First, prepare yourself for the joys of interpreting 19th Century handwriting and the ensuing headache associated with it. Second, some scans are better than others, and occasionally entries are illegible. This is the most comprehensive information that I’ve been able to find on individual soldiers anywhere. While there is a cost associated with access, it’s for a year of unlimited access, as opposed to a search of one individual’s service records at NARA.

For unit data, I recommend the Regulars Archive or Civil War Archive, both mentioned previously. The first is a free, privately maintained site, which includes unit history information as well as contemporary reference works on tactics, curriculum from West Point, etc. The Civil War Archives’ unit histories are comprehensive, and usually include one or more official reports from the unit on a particular action.

The regular army expanded by several regiments over the course of the war, particularly in 1861. If one checks where the unit was raised, this might also help determine where the individual was living when they enlisted. It is important to check both the locations where the regiment itself and its companies were raised, as the regiments were seldom raised entirely in one city or even state. The 6th US Cavalry, for example, was raised in at least four states. This particularly helpful for researching immigrants who had been in the country only a short time before the war.

Lablue, Alexander, Private, October 26, 1862. Transferred from Company E to Company B upon reenlistment at Brandy Station, VA on March 10, 1864. Deserted April 26, 1864.

Lauderbach, Andrew J., Private, August 7, 1861. From Allegheny Co, PA. Wagoner Sep 1861. Company teamster Nov 1861. Company wagoner Dec 1861. Discharged at the expiration of his term of service on August 7, 1864, a private.

Leach, Francisco, Private, August 5, 1861. Captured while on picket May 11, 1864. Discharged at the expiration of his term of service at Lighthouse Point, VA on August 5, 1864.

Leader, George, Private, October 27, 1862. Prior service in Company F, 8th PA Reserve Infantry from June 11, 1861. Captured while on picket at Richards Ford, VA on February 15, 1863, one of nine. Paroled on February 20, 1863. Discharged at the expiration of his term of service at Camp 6 Cavalry, VA on April 27, 1864.

Lee, William H., Farrier, October 28, 1862. Prior service in Company B, 72nd PA Infantry. Captured while on picket at Richards Ford, VA on February 15, 1863, one of nine. Paroled on February 20, 1863. Re-enlisted and promoted to farrier by Lt Tupper at Brandy Station, VA on February 10, 1864. Deserted July 28, 1865, apprehended August 3, 1865, deserted again September 23, 1865.

Lewis, Royal P., Private, December 1, 1862. Prior service in Company D, 3rd MI Infantry. Captured at battle of Fairfield, PA on July 3, 1863. Died of disease at Saranac Hosital, Washington, DC on January 20, 1864.

Lewis, William, Private, July 6, 1861. Deserted May 10, 1863.

Linch, James, Private, October 24, 1862. Prior service in Company K, 109th PA Infantry. Discharged at the expiration of his term of service at HQ, Middle Military District on January 24, 1864, a private.

Littell, John, Private, August 14, 1861. Discharged at the expiration of his term of service at Washington, DC on August 14, 1864, a private.

Lux, John, Private, July 27, 1861. Discharged at the expiration of his term of service at Washington, DC on July 27, 1864.

MacGovern, Owen, Private, October 25, 1862. Prior service in Company C, 147th PA Infantry from August 20, 1861. Captured at battle of Fairfield, PA on July 3, 1863. Discharged at Knoxville, MD at the expiration of his term of service on August 7, 1864.

Mackelvey, John W., Private, August 6, 1861. Enlisted in Cleveland by Lt Wade. Discharged/ Died of typhoid fever at camp at Harrison's Landing, VA on August 8, 1862, a private.

Marshall, Milo A., Private, August 10, 1861. Died of typhoid fever at Yorktown hospital on May 10, 1861, a private.

Martin, George, Private. See Martin Schwenk.

McCasey, Patrick, Private, January 1, 1862. Discharged January 1, 1865 at the expiration of his term of service at Winchester, VA, a private.

McClelland, John, Private, August 9, 1861. Enlisted in Cleveland by Lt Wade. Blacksmith, QM Dept Oct 1861. Deserted from Camp East of Capitol on November 14, 1861.

McGee, Robert, Private, March 11, 1864. Discharged at the expiration of his term of service on March 12, 1867 at Austin, TX, a private.

McMahon, William, Private, October 28, 1862. Prior service in Company C, 147th PA Infantry from August 26, 1861. Captured at Richards Ford, VA on February 14, 1863. Paroled on February 20, 1863. Sent forward from Camp Parole, MD to Army of the Potomac May 14, 1863, no further record.

Moore, Sheldon, Private, July 30, 1861. Died of typhoid fever on December 8, 1862 at Burkittsville, MD.

Morfoot, Byron, Private, July 1, 1861. Enlisted in Cleveland, OH by Lt Wade. Discharged for disability at Philadelphia, PA on October 23, 1862.

Morgan, William, Private, July 17, 1861. Discharged for disability at Philadelphia, PA on September 13, 1862.

Murray, William H., Private, August 6, 1861. Enlisted in Cleveland by Lt Wade. Wounded in first two fingers of right hand in skirmish between Uniontown and Upperville on November 3, 1862. Captured at battle of Fairfield, PA on July 3, 1863. Re-enlisted at Camp 6 Cavalry on February 8, 1864, a private.

Newton, James R., Private, July 30, 1861. Enlisted in Cleveland, OH by Lt Wade. Captured at White House, VA on June 15, 1864. Discharged on March 30, 1865 at the expiration of his term of service at Camp Parole, Baltimore, MD.

Oakley, Walter H., Private, December 10, 1864. Enlisted in Cincinatti as a substitute for J.W. Cox. Deserted December 26, 1865.

Paddock, George H., Private, August 2, 1861. Discharged for disability at Washington, DC on January 1, 1862.

Palmer, Grats H., Private, October 28, 1862. Prior service in Company B, 110th PA Infantry. Re-enlisted on February 8, 1864 at Brandy Station, VA as a private. Discharged for disability on June 10, 1865 at Carlisle Barracks, PA.

Pardonner, Jonathan E., Private, October 28, 1862. Prior service in Company B, 110th PA Infantry. Captured at battle of Fairfield, PA on July 3, 1863. Discharged in the field at the expiration of his term of service on August 28, 1864.

Peffer, John, Private, October 28, 1862. Prior service in Company F, 8th Ohio Infantry. Discharged at the expiration of his term of service in the field on June 22, 1864, a private.

Phalor, Theobalt, Private, August 6, 1861. First name also Fichalt in some records. Discharged at the expiration of his term of service in the field on August 6, 1864.

Porter, Franklin, Private, October 28, 1862. From NY. Captured at battle of Fairfield, PA on July 3, 1863. Discharged at the expiration of his term of service in the field on June 29, 1864, a private.

Prichard, John W., Private, August 5, 1861. Discharged at the expiration of his term of service on August 5, 1864 at Lighthouse Point, VA.

Reynolds, James T., Private, August 7, 1861. Teamster in QM Department December 1861-February 1862. Deserted November 2, 1862.

Rich, Anson, Wagoner, August 2, 1861. Company teamster September - December 1861. Discharged at the expiration of his term of service in the field on August 2, 1864.

Schreiber, Charles E., Private, August 2, 1861. Also Schriver and Schriber. Discharged for disability in Washington, DC on May 14, 1862, a private.

Scott, Joseph B., Private, July 29, 1861. Enlisted in Columbus by Lt Wade. Discharged for disability at Washington, DC on January 9, 1863, a private.

Senn, Henry, Private, October 26, 1862. Enlisted as a private in Co E, 28 PA Infantry July 15, 1861. Discharged at the expiration of his term of service at Carlisle Barracks, PA on July 10, 1864.

Short, Edmund W., Private, July 30, 1861. Enlisted in Cleveland by Lt Wade. Discharged for disability at Georgetown, DC on August 14, 1862, a private.

Skiff, Henry R., Private, July 26, 1861. Enlisted in Cleveland by Lt Wade. Captured at battle of Fairfield, PA on July 3, 1863. Re-enlisted February 8, 1864 at Camp 6 Cavalry, VA, a private.

Smith, John H., Private, July 30, 1861. Enlisted in Cleveland by Lt Wade. Captured at battle of Fairfield, PA on July 3, 1863. Discharged at the expiration of his term of service in the field on July 30, 1864.

Staly, Eli, Private, October 28, 1862. Also Staley. Prior service in Company F, 8th Ohio Infantry. Captured while on picket at Richards Ford, VA on February 15, 1863, one of nine. Paroled on February 20, 1863. Discharged at the end of his term of service on June 22, 1864 in the field, a private.

Stroup, James, Private, September 1, 1862. Enlisted as a private in Co H, 37th PA Infantry from April 30, 1861. Wounded in right knee at Brandy Station on October 11, 1863. Discharged at the expiration of his term of service in the field on July 26, 1864.

Swift, Moses A., Private, August 10, 1861. Discharged in the field at the expiration of his term of service on August 10, 1864, a private. Subsequently served as private, Co B, 5th OH Cavalry.

Turner, Nelson W., Private, October 28, 1862. Prior service in Company H, 3rd WI Infantry. Discharged at the expiration of his term of service at Harpers Ferry, VA on June 29, 1864.

Van Duenter, William, Private, October 27, 1862. Often referred to as Vanderender in records. Captured at Funkstown, MD on July 7, 1863. Re-enlisted by Lt Tupper at Brandy Station, VA on February 11, 1864. Killed in action March 15, 1865 at Hanover Junction, VA, a private.

Vanzant, Joseph F., Private, August 19, 1861. On detached service recruiting duty until September 24, 1861. Captured during a night reconnaissance on August 6, 1862. Killed in action on August 5, 1862 at Malvern Hill, VA.

Vick, Holland E., Private, August 5, 1861. Discharged for disability October 18, 1862 at Fort Monroe, VA, a private.

Vorderman, Andrew H., Private, August 5, 1861. Discharged at the expiration of his term of service in the field on August 5, 1864.

Webb, Leister A., Private, October 26, 1862. Prior service in Company F, 1st MN Infantry. Captured while on picket at Richards Ford, VA on February 15, 1863, one of nine. Paroled on February 20, 1863. Discharged on May 5, 1864 at the expiration of his term of service at Ft Snelling, MN, a private.

Webster, Robert, Private, October 26, 1862. Prior service in Company K, 5th Ohio Infantry. Captured while on picket at Richards Ford, VA on February 15, 1863, one of nine. Paroled on February 20, 1863. Captured at Funkstown, MD on July 7, 1863. Discharged at the expirtion of his term of service at Bolivar, VA on August 26, 1864, a private.

Wilson, William H., Private, August 12, 1861. Discharged August 12, 1864 at the expiration of his term of service in Washington, DC, a private.

Wolf, David H., Private, February 13, 1864. Enlisted in Co B, 6 Cavalry from 1st US Cavalry. Discharged at the expiration of his term of service at Austin, TX on September 23, 1867.

Wood, William, Private, June 11, 1864. Enlisted in Avon, NY. Deserted May 29, 1865.

Woods, James R., Private, 10 Oct 1861. Transferred from Company B, 1st MA Infantry at Bladensburg, MD. Discharged at the end of his term of service on May 23, 1864 at Camp 6 Cavalry, a private.

Yochum, John, Private, July 22, 1861. Enlisted in Columbus by Lt Wade. Died of typhoid fever on November 13, 1862 in Washington, DC, a private.

Eaton, William, Private, October 26, 1862. Enlisted at Knoxvile, MD by Lt Coats. Captured at battle of Fairfield, PA on July 3, 1863. Discharged at the expiration of his term of service on May 26, 1864, a private.

Edwards, William A., Private, November 25, 1862. Prior service in Company E, 12th MA Infantry. Re-enlisted July 5, 1864 at Camp near Mitchell's Station, VA, a private.

English, Charles, Private, August 1, 1861. Deserted in Washington March 23, 1862.

Farrow, William, Private, October 25, 1862. Enlisted at Knoxville, MD by Lt Coats. Died of acute dysentery at Cavalry Corps Hospital at City Point, VA on August 8 1864, a private.

Ferguson, John, Private, August 9, 1861. Company blacksmith September 1861. Deserted November 2, 1862.

Fitzpatrick, Edward, Private, August 1, 1861. Discharged at the expiration of his term of service at Lighthouse Point, VA on August 1, 1864, a private.

Fletcher, Wiiliam T., Private, August 5, 1861. Enlisted in Columbus by Lt Wade. Discharged for disability at Cincinatti, OH on October 30, 1862, a private.

Frazer, Peter B., Private, July 18, 1861. On detached duty with Recruiting Service in Bladensburg, MD until September 23, 1861. Transferred from Company B to Company I at Camp East of the Capitol, Washington November 1, 1861. Discharged at the expiration of his term of service at Carlisle Barracks, PA on July 18, 1864, a private. This was his second enlistment, he previously served in Company D, 1st US Cavalry.

Gaunt, Benjamin, Private, September 23, 1861. Deserted from Alexandria, VA on March 26, 1862.

Geould, William E., Private, August 6, 1861. On sick leave January 27, 1862. Deserted February 20, 1862 from Camp East of Capitol, Washington, DC.

Gibbey, Marshall K., Private, August 2, 1861. Wounded in arm during skirmish at Sugar Loaf Mountain on September 10, 1862. Deserted October 11, 1862.

Gordon, Thomas W., Private, October 28, 1862. Prior service as a corporal in Company F, 8th Ohio Infantry. Discharged at the expiration of his term of service in the field on April 28, 1864.

Greenwood, Thomas J., Private, August 5, 1861. Discharged August 5, 1864 at the expiration of his term of service at Lighthouse Point, VA.

Grieble, Henry, Private, August 13, 1861. Captured at battle of Fairfield, PA on July 3, 1863. Discharged August 13, 1864 at the expiration of his term of service at Washington, DC.

Groomes, Thomas C., Private, July 18, 1861. Enlisted in Columbus by LT Wade. Reenlisted at Camp 6 Cavalry on February 8, 1864, a private.

Hadden, Samuel, Private, July 25, 1861. Enlisted in Columbus by Lt Wade. Discharged at the end of his term of service at Lighthouse Point, VA on July 24, 1864, a private.

Hardy, Harrison, Private, August 8, 1861. Sick since November 3, 1861. Died of smallpox at Kalorama Hospital, Washington DC on December 13, 1861.

Harris, Amos E., Private, October 28, 1862. Prior service in Company H, 3rd WI Infantry. Captured at battle of Fairfield, PA on July 3, 1863. Captured September 17, 1864 near Charlestown, VA. Discharged at the expiration of his term of service at Petersburg, VA on March 25, 1865.

Harronn, George T., Private, October 28, 1862. Captured at battle of Fairfield, PA on July 3, 1863. Discharged at the expiration of his term of service at Camp 6 Cavalry on May 26, 1864, a private.

Hartman, Henry, Private, October 25, 1862. Prior service in Company C, 147th PA Infantry from August 26, 1861. Died at Belle Plain, VA on December 23, 1862, a private.

Hartman, James, Private, August 7, 1861. Transferred from Company B to Company K at Camp East of the Capitol on November 6, 1861. Discharged February 11, 1864 to re-enlist into Battery K, 4th US Artillery at Brandy Station, VA.

Hartzell, Henry W., Private, July 29, 1861. Enlisted in Columbus by Lt Wade. Discharged at the expiration of his term of service at Lighthouse Point, VA on July 29, 1864, a private.

Henry, Edwin S., Farrier, August 5, 1861. Discharged at the expiration of his term of service at Lighthouse Point, VA on August 5, 1864.

Heverin, Thomas, Private, February 9, 1864. Initially enlisted in Company F, re-enlisted into B Company at Camp 6 Cavalry, VA, a private. Discharged February 10, 1867 at expiration of term of service at Austin, TX, a private.

Higgins, Bernard, Private, July 1, 1864. Prior service in Battery K, 2nd US Artillery. Deserted April 7, 1865.

Hoadley, Edward J., Private, August 5, 1861. Captured July 6, 1862. Discharged for disability at Fort Monroe, VA on October 24, 1862.

Hults, William, Private, August 5, 1861. Deserted from Camp East of Capitol on November 23, 1861.

Jack, Gavin, Private, October 28, 1862. Captured at battle of Fairfield, PA on July 3, 1863. Discharged June 22, 1864 at expiration of term of service at Camp 6 Cavalry, VA, a private.

James, David B., Private, July 16, 1861. Captured while on picket at Richards Ford, VA on February 15, 1863, one of nine. Paroled on February 20, 1863. Died March 2, 1864 of pneumonia at Richmond, VA while a prisoner of war.

James, John F., Private, July 11, 1864. Prior service Company D, 2nd US Cavalry from February 16, 1860. Re-enlisted into 6th US Cavalry at Lighthouse Point, VA. Discharged for disability in Washington, DC on August 17, 1865.

Jones, Isaac, Private, July 27, 1861. Deserted August 27, 1861.

Jones, William A., Private, November 19, 1861. Teamster, QM Dept Oct 1861 to Jan 1862. Transferred from Company A to Company B, date unknown. Discharged for disability at Carlisle Barracks, PA on January 25, 1864.

Kaelber, Gustav, Private, July 26, 1861. Also Keller. Enlisted in Columbus by Lt Wade. Re-enlisted at Camp 6 Cavalry, VA on February 8, 1864, a private. Deserted December 26, 1865.

Kirby, Byron, Private, September 7, 1861. Enlisted in regiment at Bladensburg. Promoted to sergeant in November 1861. Appointed 2LT of volunteers at Camp East of the Capitol on November 24, 1861.

Kopke, Hermann, Private, July 19, 1861. Enlisted at Columbus, OH by Lt Wade. Deserted at Camp East of Capitol on January 2 or 23, 1862.

Kraft, William, Private, August 12, 1861. Enlisted in Columbus, OH by Lt Wade. Discharged in the field at the expiration of his term of service on August 12, 1864.

Ackerman, John, Private, October 25, 1862. Prior service in Company E, 28th PA Infantry from July 6, 1861. Discharged in the field on July 6, 1864 at the expiration of his term of service.

Addis, Edward F., Private, August 4, 1861. Wounded in leg during skirmish at Barbour's Crossroads on November 5, 1862. Discharged for disability at Alexandria, VA on April 27, 1863.

Albreght, Henry W., Private, February 9, 1864. Reenlisted at Camp 6 Cavalry, VA. Discharged at the expiration of his term of service on February 10, 1867, a private.

Anis, Samuel, Private, August 1, 1861. Also Annis. Teamster in QM Dept January 1862. Discharged August 1, 1864 at the expiration of his term of service at Lighthouse Point, VA, a private.

Arnold, James H., Private, October 28, 1862. Enlisted at Knoxville, MD by Lt Claflin. Pvt, Co D, 7th MI Inf April 1, 1862-October 28, 1862, wounded August 1, 1862 at Malvern Hill. Discharged at the expiration of his term of service at Petersburg, VA on April 1, 1865, a private.

Ball, John A., Private, July 19, 1861. Discharged for disability at Frederick, MD on July 19, 1863.

Bartlett, George D., Private, August 4, 1861. Died of wounds received at Malvern Hill, VA on August 5, 1862.

Bascom, Levi B., Private, July 27, 1861. Deserted October 11, 1862.

Beach, Ephraim M., Private, October 28, 1862. Also Beech. Prior service in Company D, 106th PA Infantry. Re-enlisted at Camp 6 Cavalry on February, 8, 1864, a private.

Beckman, Francis, Farrier, October 9, 1861. Enlisted into Co A in Philadelphia by Lt Dodge. Transferred to Co B date unknown. Deserted from Alexandria, VA March 26, 1862.

Bergner, Luis F., Private, July 31, 1861. On detached service at Fortress Monroe March 30 to May 1, 1862. Deserted February 17, 1863.

Bestor, Nelson H., Private, July 31, 1861. Discharged at the expiration of his term of service at Lighthouse Point, VA on July 31, 1864.

Bestor, William H., Private, 1 Aug 1861. Discharged August 1, 1864 at the expiration of his term of service at Lighthouse Point, VA, a private.

Bigelow, Jonas I., Private, July 26, 1861. Captured at Funkstown, MD on July 7, 1863. Discharged in the field at the expiration of his term of service on July 24, 1864.

Boles, William, Private, August 5, 1861. Died of typhoid fever at Powhitesville, MD on November 8, 1862.

Brock, Andrew J., Private, October 26, 1862. Prior service in Company H, 1st MN Inf May 23, 1861 to October 24, 1861. Captured while on picket May 11, 1864. Discharged at the expiration of his term of service at Camp 6 Cavalry, VA on May 26, 1864, a private.

Bullard, Lorenzo D., Private, August 10, 1861. Discharged for disability at Fort Monroe, VA on November 15, 1863, a private.

Butler, Samuel, Private, July 18, 1861. Company carpenter December 1861. Discharged for disability at Morris Hospital, Philadelphia, PA on October 9, 1863.

Carroll, Hercules, Private, August 5, 1861. Enlisted in Columbus by Lt Wade. Clerk in adjutant general's office August to December 1861. Transferred to Regimental Field & Staff, date unknown. Re-enlisted as a sergeant by MAJ Williams in Washington, DC into General Service with the AGO on February 13, 1864. Discharged on April 14, 1864 due to appointment as "Clerk Class I AGO."

Chapman, Francis R., Private, August 5, 1861. Enlisted in Columbus by Lt Wade. Discharged at the expiration of his term of service in the field on August 5, 1864.

Chilcoat, Allen E., Private, October 28, 1862. Prior service in Co B, 110 PA Infantry from October 24, 1861. Captured at battle of Fairfield, PA on July 3, 1863. Reenlisted as a private on February 8, 1864. Discharged at the end of his term of service at Austin, TX on February 12, 1867, a sergeant.

Clifford, Jeremiah, Private, October 26, 1862. Prior service in Company F, 21st MA Infantry. Captured at White House, VA on June 15, 1864. Died of disease at Andersonville Prison on September 17, 1864.

Closz, John, Private, July 22, 1861. Enlisted in Pittsburgh by Lt McLean. Discharged at the expiration of his term of service at Camp 6 Cavalry on July 22, 1861, a private.

Cook, George H., Saddler, August 5, 1861. Company saddler Nov-Dec 1861. Discharged in the field on August 5, 1864 at the expiration of his term of service.

Cotton, Jara L., Private, December 1, 1862. Captured at battle of Fairfield, PA on July 3, 1863. Discharged on April 12, 1864 at expiration of his term of service at Camp 6 Cavalry, VA, a private.

Cray, Wiliam H., Private, October 28, 1862. Captured at battle of Fairfield, PA on July 3, 1863. Reenlisted February 12, 1864, a private. Deserted November 10, 1865.

Croishant, Charles, Private, July 24, 1861. Commisary baker for regiment Sep 1861. Post baker, Camp East of Capitol, Oct 1861-Feb 1862. Killed in action at Malvern Hill, VA on August 5, 1862.

Cruse, Henry F., Private, July 5, 1861. Company tailor Dec 1861. Sick at Washington March 10 to May 1, 1862. Missing in action at Beverly Ford after battle of Brandy Station on June 9, 1863. Discharged at the expiration of his term of service at Sandy Hook, MD on August 4, 1864.

Dennis, Selby, Artificer, July 23, 1861. Transferred from Company B to Company A and back, December 1861. Discharged at the expiration of his term of service at Lighthouse Point, VA on July 21, 1864, a saddler.

De Roemer, Russell, Private, October 25, 1862. Prior service in Company C, 147th PA Infantry from August 30, 1861. Discharged December 18, 1863 for disability at McClellan Hospital in Philadelphia, PA, a private.

Donley, Upton, Private, October 28, 1862. Prior service in Company L, 1st MN Infantry. Captured while on picket at Richards Ford, VA on February 15, 1863, one of nine. Paroled on February 20, 1863. Discharged October 8, 1864 at the expiration of his term of service at Cedar Creek, VA, a private.

Duzett, Edward S., Private, August 1, 1861. On sick leave January-February 1862. Captured during a night reconnaissance on August 6, 1862. Discharged at the expiration of his term of service at Lighthouse Point, VA on August 1, 1864.

This company was featured here recently in a series of posts titled One Company’s War after I found a company history written the year after the war. This discovery inspired me to see if I could manage to find all of those who served in the company during the war. With a tremendous amount of research help from the indefatigable Patty Millich and some digital wrestling to get it formatted into something that would be reasonably coherent when posted on the blog over the last month and a half, I think it’s finally ready to go. This may or may not be of interest to anyone, but the worst case is that it will be available online for anyone out there researching ancestors until the regular cavalry website is eventually established. This list contains only wartime information, as that is the focus of the blog. Anyone interested in further information on individuals outside of the war can contact me through the comments page and I’ll be happy to pass along what I have.

Company B was recruited primarily in Columbus and Cleveland, Ohio by Lieutenant James F. Wade. Lieutenant Wade was never assigned to Company B, but the fact that his father was a prominent senator from Ohio at the time probably helped him in his recruiting duties.

The company was officially organized on August 16, 1861 at Camp Scott, near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Its captain was August V. Kautz, the first lieutenant Herbert M. Enos, and the second lieutenant Curwen B. McLellan. Since he later accepted a volunteer commission, Kautz remained the assigned commander throughout the war, but many lieutenants served in the company, including one from the 3rd US Cavalry for a period of five months. A total of 150 enlisted men served in the company during the war, 37 of whom joined from volunteer units in the fall of 1862. Unlike the original enlistees, the majority of these men were from Pennsylvania units.

The roster below lists all of the enlisted men assigned to the company during the war. The rank listed is the highest enlisted rank achieved. The date listed is the date the soldier enlisted into the 6th US Cavalry. There appears to have a been a good bit of movement up and down the ranks, probably due to troopers being taken prisoner. The officers are not posted, as they are treated individually in Fiddler’s Green installments.

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated, as the number of man-hours required to put something like this together is nearly prohibitive when one looks at 12 companies each for 6 regiments of regular cavalry.

Cusack, Patrick, First Sergeant/ Sergeant Major, November 6, 1861. Transferred to Company B November 6, 1861 at Camp East of Capitol. Prior service as Sergeant, Battery K, 4th US Artillery. Initially company first sergeant, then promoted to regimental sergeant major. Appointed Captain, 6th US Colored Cavalry on March 1, 1865.

Nolan, Nicholas M., First Sergeant, September 5, 1861. Transferred from Co K, 2nd US Dragoons to 6 US Cavalry as a Sergeant. Joined regiment at Bladensburg, MD. Later first sergeant on the peninsula, then discharged due to appointment as 2nd LT at Sharpsburg, MD on September 12, 1862.

Oby, George W., First Sergeant, June 29, 1861. Enlisted in Cleveland by Lt Wade. Captured July 6, 1862 as a corporal. Captured at Funkstown, MD on July 7, 1863 as a first sergeant. Discharged July 29, 1864 at Lighthouse Point, VA, a sergeant.

Pike, William H., First Sergeant, January 18, 1862. Discharged from Company C at the expiration of his term of service at Camp Russell, VA on January 18, 1865, a first sergeant. Transferred from Co B to Co C date unknown.

Speed, Frederick, First Sergeant, July 10, 1861. Prior service in Co H, 12 US Infantry. Enlisted into Company H in Philadelphia by CPT Savage. Discharged at the expiration of his term of service at Lighthouse Point, VA on July 10, 1864, a first sergeant.

Beck, Frederick, Sergeant, July 19, 1861. Enlisted as sergeant. Captured at battle of Fairfield, PA on July 3, 1863 as a corporal. Discharged July 19, 1864 at the expiration of his term of service at Lighthouse Point, VA, a sergeant.

Cocker, John J., Sergeant, July 29, 1861. Captured at Funkstown, MD on July 7, 1863. Discharged at the expiration of his term of service at Lighthouse Point, VA on July 29, 1864, a sergeant.

Dodd, Thomas, Sergeant, July 24, 1861. Captured at battle of Fairfield, PA on July 3, 1863. Discharged at the expiration of his term of service at Lighthouse Point, VA on July 30, 1864.

Drake, George W., Sergeant, August 12, 1861. Sick at Washington December 1861. Discharged August 12, 1864 at the expiration of his term of service at Giesboro Point, DC.

Elliott, Daniel D., Sergeant, August 1, 1861. Re-enlisted in the field on July 8, 1864 as a corporal.

Lepper, William, Sergeant, August 7, 1861. Wounded in arm during skirmish between Uniontown and Upperville, VA on November 3, 1862. Discharged August 10, 1863 for disability at Baltimore, MD.

Marshal, John P., Sergeant, July 31, 1861. Discharged July 30, 1864, at expiration of term of service.

Murphy, John, Sergeant, September 5, 1861. Transferred from Co K, 2nd US Cavalry to 6 US Cavalry. Company QM Sergeant September 1861.

Palmer, Myron T., Sergeant, July 24, 1861. Promoted to sergeant when he re-enlisted on February 8, 1864. Deserted July 29, 1865.

Schwenk, Martin, Sergeant, January 6, 1862. AKA George Martin. Prior service in Battery E, 2nd Artillery. Awarded Congressional Medal of Honor for bravery at Millerstown, PA on July 10, 1863. Discharged at the expiration of his term of service on January 6, 1865, a sergeant.

Burroughs, Levi S., Corporal, August 1, 1861. Captured at battle of Fairfield, PA on July 3, 1863 as a private. Captured at Brandy Station on October 11, 1863. Discharged at the expiration of his term of service in the field on August 28, 1864, a corporal.

Callender, William C., Corporal, July 31, 1861. Enlisted as corporal. In charge of horses August 1861. Discharged for disability at Governor's Island, New York harbor on October 28, 1862 as a private. Subsequently served in the 9th Independent Battery, Ohio Light Artillery, according to his pension records.

Eckerman, Lewis H., Corporal, August 7, 1861. Transferred Company B to Company L date unknown. Discharged at the expiration of his term of service at Washington, DC on August 7, 1864, a corporal.

Gilbreath, Joseph S., Corporal, July 27, 1861. Company farrier Sept 1861. Discharged at the expiration of his term of service on July 27, 1864, a corporal.

Grinnell, George N., Corporal, October 26, 1862. Discharged in the field at the expiration of his term of service on April 26, 1864.

Hare, John W., Corporal, August 5, 1861. Enlisted as a private by Lt Wade in Cleveland or Columbus, OH. Sick at Washington, Nov 7, 1861 to December 1861. Captured at battle of Fairfield, PA on July 3, 1863 as a corporal. Discharged at the expiration of his term of service at Lighthouse Point, VA on August 5, 1864, a corporal.

Hatch, Samuel G., Corporal, August 1, 1861. Discharged August 1, 1864 at the expiration of his term of service at Charlestown, VA, a corporal.

Jones, Lyman, Corporal, 17 July 1861. Cook December 1861. Discharged July 17, 1864 at the expiration of his term of service at Lighthouse Point, VA.

Lauer, Benjamin, Corporal, July 24, 1861. Discharged July 26, 1864 at the expiration of his term of service, a corporal.

Lepper, John, Corporal, August 7, 1861. Captured during a night reconnaissance on August 6, 1862. Captured while on picket at Richards Ford, VA on February 15, 1863, one of nine. Paroled on February 20, 1863. Re-enlisted into service in the Adjutant General's Office October 6, 1864 at Washington, DC.

Oby, David E., Corporal, June 31, 1861. Enlisted in Cleveland by Lt Wade. Killed in action at Funkstown, MD on July 7, 1863, a corporal.

Schmith, William, Corporal, July 18, 1861. Enlisted in Columbus by Lt Wade. Wounded in right knee at Brandy Station on October 11, 1863. Discharged at the expiration of his term of service at Lighthouse Point, VA on July 19, 1864, a corporal.

Bartlett, Marcus B., Bugler, August 3, 1861. Discharged August 3, 1864 at expiration of his term of service at Lighthouse Point, VA, a bugler.

Beck, Conrad, Bugler, August 7, 1861. Discharged August 7, 1864 at the expiration of his term of service at Lighthouse Point, VA, a bugler.

Horse artillery batteries were a much rarer commodity in the western theater than they were in the east. During the Atlanta campaign, for example, there was only one battery assigned to each cavalry division, according to David Evans’ excellent book Sherman’s Horsemen.

The Chicago Board of Trade is one of the country's oldest currently operating futures and options exchanges. It was responsible for raising several units of Illinois volunteers during the course of the Civil War. President Lincoln sent out a call on July 6, 1862 for an additional 300,000 volunteers. On the evening of the 21st, the Board decided to raise a battery of artillery. By 4 pm on July 23rd, $15,000 had been raised and 180 men volunteered for the battery. 156 of these men were selected by the mustering officer, Captain J. Christopher, and mustered into federal service on August 1st as the Chicago Board of Trade battery, Illinois Volunteers.

Captain James H. Stokes was mustered in as captain of the battery. He graduated seventeenth in his class at West Point in 1835. A veteran artillerist, he had served five years as an artilleryman fighting Indians in Florida and three years as a quartermaster before resigning in 1843. He gained a great deal of notoriety by assisting Captain Nathaniel Lyon in securing and moving small arms from the St Louis Arsenal to Springfield, Illinois to equip Illinois volunteers in April 1861.

On August 2nd the battery marched in review past the Board of Trade offices despite a lack of uniforms and went into camp near 37th Street and Stanton Avenue. By the 4th, all officers and noncommissioned officers had been appointed and the command was organized. The battery received six James rifled six-pounder field artillery guns on August 11th, followed by its horses nine days later.

By September 10th, the battery was fully equipped and assigned to the command of General Don Buell. A week later the battery exchanged four of its rifled guns for smoothbore six-pounder guns. They moved with the army on October 1st, and their first engagement was at Lawrenceburg on October 11th.

On December 4th, muskets were issued to the cannoneers, enabling them to act as their own infantry escort for the battery. Ten days later the battery suffered its first casualties when a foraging party was attacked. The loss was one man wounded and six taken prisoner.

In late December 1862, the battery distinguished itself in its first major engagement as an entire battery at the battle of Stone’s River. Positioned by General Rosecrans himself in a gap in the Union line, the battery held its ground against cannon fire and repeated charges by Confederate infantry. Although one charge reached within 30 yards of the guns, the battery repulsed them with canister and held its ground. According to the battery’s historian, “By 11 o’clock the enemy had learned that neither bravery nor numbers could carry the battery in the front, and all was quiet. Three of our men lay dead by their disabled gun.” (Sketch, pg 22)

“After the battle of Stone River, General Rosecrans, commanding the Army of the Cumberland, issued a special order, giving the Battery the privilege of carrying the colors presented by the Chicago Board of Trade, this being the first time in the history of the army where a battery of artillery was allowed a stand of United States colors and a battery flag.” (Sketch, pg 31) By the end of the war, the names Stones River, Elk River, Chickamauga, Farmington, Dallas, Decatur, Atlanta, Lovejoy, Nashville and Selma had been inscribed on the flags. Tragically, the battery’s flags were returned to the Board of Trade after the war and destroyed by fire in 1871.

In March 1863, the battery was changed from field artillery to horse artillery. On May 16, 1863, the battery was attached to the Second Cavalry Division, Army of the Cumberland. They were then ordered to be equipped as horse artillery, the first battery in the western theater to do so, according to the unit historian (Sketch, pg 44-45). Interestingly, they kept their same cannons. The battery remained with this division until the end of the war.

The battery was split during the battle of Chickamauga. The second section of the battery, under Lieutenant Griffin, fought with Minty’s brigade on the Union left during the battle. The first and third sections fought under the battery commander on the Union right. The entire battery withdrew on September 22nd through Chattanooga to Washington, Tennessee, claiming to be the last battery to retire from the field (Sketch, pg 45).

In October 1863, the battery participated in the pursuit of General Wheeler’s command to Alabama, and was engaged in the battle of Farmington. On October 20th, Captain Stokes was relieved of command to assume duties as the Inspector of the Quartermaster, Military division of the Mississippi as a lieutenant colonel of volunteers. Captain George I. Robinson succeeded Stokes in command of the battery. There was no loss of the battery’s discipline or ability, as Robinson had been its senior lieutenant since it was mustered into service.

In February 1864, the battery turned in their brass guns and was issued six 10-pounder Parrot guns. The battery was engaged in numerous actions while advancing with General Sherman’s army on Atlanta, including Dallas, Resaca, Kennesaw Mountain, Peach Tree Creek, Marietta, Vining Station, Noon Day Creek, Stone Mountain and Decatur.

The battery participated in General Kilpatrick’s raid around Atlanta from August 18-22, losing five men and two guns disabled. When Sherman split his army in November, the battery turned all of its good horses over to Kilpatrick’s command and moved north to Nashville under General Thomas. Upon their arrival, they were placed behind breastworks for the first and only time during the war.

They were assigned to General Wilson’s command during the battle of Nashville and the subsequent pursuit, arriving at Waterloo, Alabama just before the end of the year. The battery wintered near Waterloo.

When the spring campaign began in March 1865, they accompanied General James Wilson’s Second Cavalry Division on its raid through Alabama into Georgia. At the battle of Selma on April 2nd, they accompanied the charging advance after the outer works were seized. The battery continued to accompany the division until Macon, Georgia was reached on the 20th, and they learned that the war was over.

On May 23rd, the battery started home. In early June, they turned in their remaining four Parrot guns at Nashville, Tennessee. By June 27th, the battery arrived once again in Chicago. The men of the battery were mustered out a week later on July 3, 1865.

The battery suffered relatively light casualties during the war, with a total of only 19 fatalities. Ten enlisted men were killed in action or died of their wounds, while an additional nine died of disease, according to Dyer’s Compendium. A monument to the battery was erected in Rosehill Cemetery, Chicago, on May 30, 1901.


Sources:

Dyer, Frederick H. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion. 3 vols. New York: Thomas Yoseloff, 1959.

http://www.civilwararchive.com

Historical Sketch of the Chicago Board of Trade Battery. Chicago: Andrew Finney Co., 1902.

Robinson, George I. “With Kilpatrick Around Atlanta,” War Papers, Commandery of Wisconsin MOLLUS, Volume 1. (New York: Nostrand Van Allen, 1891) pages 201-227.