With the help of the Army Registers for each of the war years and the monthly regimental returns, I’ve been able to piece together all of the officers who served in the 3rd U.S. Cavalry (formerly Regiment of Mounted Riflemen) during the Civil War. I’ll feature a few of the more interesting members in the Fiddler’s Green series. Since I included the entire war, those members of the regiment who resigned their commissions are listed. Each member is listed at the highest rank they achieved in the regiment during the war. Departures from the regiment are listed when possible.
Colonels
William W. Loring- resigned May 13, 1861
John S. Simonson- retired for incapacity, September 28, 1861
Marshall S. Howe
Lieutenant Colonels
George B. Crittenden- resigned June 10, 1861
Charles F. Ruff
George Stoneman
Majors
Benjamin S. Roberts
Thomas Duncan
Edward W.B. Newby
Kenner Garrard
Captains
Andrew J . Lindsay- resigned May 5, 1861
Thomas Claiborne Jr.- resigned May 14, 1861
John G. Walker- resigned July 31, 1861
Llewellyn Jones- transferred to Major, 1st Cavalry, retired November 1, 1861
Washington L. Elliott- transferred to Major, 1st Cavalry
Robert M. Morris
John P. Hatch
Gordon Granger
Alfred Gibbs
William B. Lane
George W. Howland
Alexander McRae- killed at Valverde, NM February 21, 1862
Joseph G. Tilford
Christopher H. McNally
Edward Treacy- died at Cincinnati, OH February 15, 1864
John V.D. DuBois
William W. Averell
Edward P. Cressey
Leroy S. Elbert
Andrew J. Alexander
Elisha W. Tarlton
William Hawley
First Lieutenants
Laurence S. Baker- resigned May 10, 1861
Hyatt C. Ransom- appointed AQM, vacated regt commission June 10, 1861
Roger Jones- appointed AQM, vacated regt commission July 31, 1861
Sidney Banks
James R. Kemble
Charles E. Hay
Frank Stanwood
William A. DuBois
Frederick Van Vliet
Henry Sachs
Philip K. Thomas
William G. Hoffman
Francis H. Wilson
William M. Watts
John E. Phelps
Frederick J. James- died near Cold Spring, NY August 4, 1864
Charles Meinhold
Richard Wall
Gerald Russell
Second Lieutenants
William H. Jackson- resigned May 16, 1861
Henry C. McNeill- resigned May 12, 1861
Joseph Wheeler Jr.- resigned April 22, 1861
John Falvey
Deane Monahan
William Ewing
George O. McMullin
Samuel Hildeburn
Alexander Sutorius
William J. Cain
George Harrington- killed in attack at Memphis, TN August 21, 1864
George J. Campbell
Henry Carroll
Charles Newbold- transferred to 5th U.S. Infantry August 20, 1862
Armon Trimble- commission revoked September 18, 1863
Carter B. Harrison- declined appointment
Theodore Texter- commission revoked September 18, 1863
Brevet Second Lieutenants
Mathis W. Henry- resigned August 19, 1861
George O. Watts- resigned August 10, 1861
John M. Kerr- dismissed
Regular Cavalry in the Civil War 
Don:You have not included my great Uncle Richard Wall He came through the Ranks from Pvt. to Full FirstSergeant then commission to Full2nd LT. 17 Jul 1862. He was with Ccompany 1st mounted rifles then 3rd. Cav. he was at Valverde andwas with K Company Apache canyon.thhis is in Chivinington's report.he was Brevet 1St. LT Tuscumbia 15 nov 1863. Full 1St. lt. feb 1864.during war he K,F,G,C and B during the war.
Sir,I'm sorry, you didn't leave your name, so I have no way to contact you. I didn't forget your ancestor, he's the next to last name in the first lieutenant group, as he was the next to last person promoted to 1LT during the war. I plan to feature him in the next day or two, but would love to learn of any additional information that you may have.
Don:My Name is Robert Fleckyou could contact aat fleckrbrt@aol.comHere is what I know from my family and things I have seen.Richard left Ireland at 15 and joined 1ST. Mounted Rifles Company C.He had a set of Nickle and Ivory handled Colts from Sam Colt The letter says thanks for getting colt being choosen for use by Army.Richard was left handed.I know nothing of his enlisted service other then promotions Pvt. To Full first Sergeant in five years.I have contacted 3RD ACR Historian and have offical list and dates of companys he commanded.
Don,Might you know (or know how to obtain) the names of any veterinary surgeons attached to the 3rd US Cavalry during the period 1863-65? ThanksRD
RD,Unfortunately, the only way I know of would be to go through the monthly returns for the regiment to try to find them. The good news is that they're available on Ancestry. The bad news is that it wasn't an officer position as near as I can tell, so I don't think they'll be listed by name on a regular basis.
As I am headed to Gettysburg this Sunday, July 6th 2014 to see the reenactment of the cavalry engagement at East Field, I will take with me the record of my great grandfather, Samuel Hildeburn (30 Dec 1844 – 5 Oct 1891) of Philadelphia to attempt to learn his exact participation at Gettysburg.
Since he was breveted November 15, 1863 at Tuscumbia, AL to First Lt. I believe you should correct his record in this blog.
I attach his military history from Heitman and a tintype (restored at Philadelphia’s Conservation Center) if it will post here. My family retains the original brevet doument signed by President Johnson.
I was fascinated to read here in your blog that he served in the Third Cavalry with his first cousin, George Ord McMullin! Thank you for your excellent work. Please feel free to contact me. Linnard R. Hobler, Washington, DC
Samuel Hildeburn DOB: 30 Dec 1844 DOD: 5 Oct 1891
Date of Enlistment: 28 Jan 1863
Company B 15th Pennsylvania Cavalry
Enlisted in the Regular Army General Service Infantry on 28 Jan 1863.
Promoted to Full 2nd Lieutenant on 19 Feb 1863.
Mustered out on 19 Feb 1863.
Commissioned an officer in the Regular Army 3rd Cavalry Regiment on 19 Feb 1863.
3rd U.S. Cavalry (formerly Regiment of Mounted Riflemen)
Promoted to Brevet 1st Lieutenant at Tuscumbia, AL on 15 Nov 1863. (after Gettysburg)
Promoted to Full 1st Lieutenant on 28 Sep 1865. (War ended Jun 2, 1865)
Promoted to Full Captain on 03 Jan 1869.
Sent to the Arizona Territories in 1869, served at Camp Hualpai (also called Camp Tollgate where I have visited) in northern Arizona about 30 miles north of Prescott. He took his wife and family with him.
His cousin, George Ord McMullin was listed with him in this unit, also as a Second Lieutenant as noted on your blog.
I can send you the photo to your email address if you wish.
Linnard,
Thank you very much for your email, and I hope you enjoy the reenactment. Wish I could see it.
The list in the blog post is accurate. Brevet promotions were honorary promotions, and were not actual positions, nor were the officers paid in their higher rank. I only show actual positions on rosters, though I try to always include the brevet promotions when I write a biographical sketch of an officer.
I’m not sure what he would have been doing during the battle of gettysburg, as the 3rd US Cavalry was never closer to Pennsylvania than Tennessee during the war. Let me take a look and see if I can find any clues.
Yes, I would definitely be curious to see the photo.
Don
Linnard,
No, he was in Arkansas that weekend. sent you a few documents that may prove of interest.
Best,
don