Category Archives: 2nd Cavalry

Reserve Brigade Attrition in the Gettysburg Campaign

20 Thursday Jun 2013

Posted by in 1863, 1st Cavalry, 2nd Cavalry, 5th Cavalry, 6th Cavalry, battle of Brandy Station, Casualties, Gettysburg campaign, manning, Reserve Brigade, Stoneman's Raid

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Few would dispute the performance of Gen. John Buford on July 1st at Gettysburg.  He did an excellent job of fighting his division, especially since he was short one brigade.  The Reserve Brigade, without question his favorite in the division, was miles away guarding the wagon trains of the Army of the Potomac at the time of the biggest fight of his career.  The fact that he accomplished all that he did on that July day is not only a tremendous credit to Colonels Devin and Gamble, but to Buford’s ability to employ unfamiliar commands effectively.

It is an established fact that Gen. Buford preferred regular units to volunteers.  While the performance of the 6th Pennsylvania Cavalry during Stoneman’s Raid went a long way toward changing his mind about volunteers, there can be little doubt that he would have preferred to have the Reserve Brigade with him on July 1st.  Indeed, he requested their return several times prior to that morning. (OR, Vol. 27, pt. 1, pgs. 923-924)

Why was the Reserve Brigade guarding wagon trains?  The answer is simply attrition, of officers even more than enlisted men.  By the end of June 1863, the brigade was simply fought out, and needed a day or two to reorganize before returning to the fight.  During the preceding two months, each of its regiments averaged losses in excess of 15% of their enlisted strength and nearly half of their officers.

At the end of April 1863, just prior to Stoneman’s Raid, this was the strength of the regiments of the Reserve Brigade.  Data for the 6th Pennsylvania is not shown.

Regiment         Officers           Enlisted            # Companies

1st US               10                    371                  7

2nd US              17                    304                  10

5th US              12                    424                  10

6th US              13                    498                  12

Total                52                    1,597               39

A full strength cavalry regiment was authorized 12 companies, including 42 officers and 1,100 enlisted men at this point in the war.  The companies present with the brigade averaged 1.3 officers and 40.9 enlisted men.  The brigade was commanded by a major, and each of the regiment’s by a captain.

At the end of May 1863, after Stoneman’s Raid and prior to Brandy Station, this was the brigade’s strength.  Data is unavailable for the 6th Pennsylvania. (National Archives, RG 94, Returns from Regular Army Cavalry Regiments, 1833-1916. Hereafter “Regimental returns”)

Regiment         Officers           Enlisted            # Companies

1st US               14                    322                  7

2nd US              16                    334                  12

5th US              12                    421                  11

6th US              13                    468                  12

Total                55                    1,545               42

Despite the addition of three officers and three companies, enlisted strength was down by 52 men.  Many of the losses were to the dismounted camp near Dumfries for mounts to replace those lost in the raid.  Each company still averaged 1.3 officers, but only 36.7 enlisted men.  The regiments were commanded by one major and three captains.

At the battle of Brandy Station, General Buford used his 1st and 2nd Brigades primarily defensively after crossing the Rappahannock and losing Colonel B.F. Davis early in the battle.  Once his lines were established, he used the Reserve Brigade for the majority of his attacks on the Confederates, first at St James Church, and later on his right flank.  These attacks resulted in correspondingly higher casualty rates for the brigade.  The 1st U.S. Cavalry picketed north of the river for the majority of the battle, and saw very little fighting.  The Gettysburg Campaign in Numbers and Losses by J.D. Petruzzi and Steven Stanley provides an excellent roll-up of regimental strengths and losses by engagement for the campaign.  Their numbers for the battle of Brandy Station are listed in the table below. (Petruzzi and Stanley, The Gettysburg Campaign in Numbers and Losses, pgs. 5-6. Also, OR, Vol. 27, pt. 1, pg. 905.)

Regiment         Strength   Killed  Wounded   Missing       Total    % Strength

1st US               350            1           1                 0           2             .6%

2nd US              435          11         29               26          66          15.2%

5th US              330            6         17               15           38          11.5%

6th US              510            8         26               32           66          12.9%

6th PA              310            5         25               78         108           34.8%

Total              1,935          31         98              151        319          14.5%

Total strength for the brigade may be conservative, as Gen. Pleasonton’s official report lists their strength on June 9, 1863 at 1,857. (Ibid., pg. 906)

Total losses for Buford’s right wing in the battle, including the infantry brigade, were 471.  The Reserve Brigade losses of 319 were 67.7% of this total.  As devastating as these numbers appear, they may be conservative.  The commander of the 2nd U.S. Cavalry during the battle, Wesley Merritt, later reported 8 of 14 officers were killed or wounded, and 68 killed or wounded of only 225 engaged.  These equate to losses of 57% of officers and 30% of enlisted men in this regiment. (Rodenbough, From Everglade to Canyon, pg. 290.)

The campaign continued, and the brigade rode north with the rest of the division.  Less than two weeks later, on June 21st, the division engaged in another battle at Upperville. (Petruzzi and Stanley, pgs. 33-34.)

Regiment         Strength   Killed  Wounded   Missing      Total    % Strength

1st US               345            1         13               39         53          15.4%

2nd US              372

5th US              301            1                                            1             .3%

6th US              463                         6                 3            9            1.9%

6th PA              240

Total              1,735              2         19               42            63

Again, these numbers may be conservative, as Captain Cram of the 6th U.S. Cavalry claimed in his official report, “The regiment marched out 12 commissioned officers and 242 enlisted men strong.” (OR, Vol. 27, pt. 1, pg. 947.)  This would increase the regiment’s loss to 3.6%.  During the battle, Gen. Buford again employed the Reserve Brigade as his primary attack force, and they paid commensurately. The 1st U.S. Cavalry, who had missed much of the previous battle, figured prominently in this one.  Division losses for the engagement totaled 115.  The Reserve Brigade, composing 39.8% of the division’s strength, suffered 54.7% of its casualties.  Two more officers were lost, one each from the 1st and 6th U.S. Cavalry. (Ibid., pg. 922.)

By the end of June, conditions within the brigade had changed dramatically from just one month before.  Regular regiment strengths as reported on their monthly returns for June 1863 are listed below. (Regimental returns.)

Regiment         Officers           Enlisted            # Companies

1st US                 8                       313                 8

2nd US                5                       505               12

5th US                9                       441                11

6th US                9                       461                10

Total                32                    1,720                 41

While enlisted strengths remained roughly the same per company, primarily due to replacements from the dismounted camp as mounts became available, officer strengths had plummeted.  Over the month, 21 of 52 officers were lost killed, wounded or missing, a loss of 40%. (Ibid.)  This left less than one officer per company.  Despite the continual reinforcements, companies remained at 40% strength on average, with near-constant disruptions to the ranks.  Additionally, the brigade received its third commander of the month on June 30th in the person of newly-promoted Brigadier General Wesley Merritt.

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Fortunately, 21 of the remaining 32 officers were former enlisted men in the regiments. (Ibid. Also, National Archives, RG 94, Register of Enlistments in the U.S. Army, 1798-1914 and Heitman, Historical Register and Dictionary of the United States Army, Volume 1.)  The brigade was still an experienced, battle-hardened formation, it simply needed a couple of days to reorganize.  This was proven on July 3rd and throughout the pursuit of the Army of Northern Virginia following the battle of Gettysburg.

To some extent, however, the loss of the Reserve Brigade may have done much to reveal Buford’s battlefield acumen.  Had they been present, it seems very likely that he would have relied on them heavily once again.  Instead, he was forced to utilize the tools he had at hand, specifically his other two brigade commanders.  Both were very capable cavalry leaders, they simply had not yet had a good opportunity to demonstrate their ability to their division commander.  They proved themselves in the crucible on July 1st.  The lessons that Gen. Buford learned about them and their commands in this fight greatly enhanced his ability to fight his division through the rest of the campaign.  A look at Gen. Buford’s reports from the campaign will show that he maneuvered the division differently before and after the fighting at Gettysburg.  Following the battle, they appear to have much more autonomy in their movements.

 

Stoneman’s Raid – Buford’s Report

31 Friday May 2013

Posted by in 1863, 1st Cavalry, 2nd Cavalry, 5th Cavalry, 6th Cavalry, cavalry, Reserve Brigade, Stoneman's Raid

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Report of Brig. Gen. John Buford, U.S. Army, commanding Reserve Brigade.

Hdqrs. Cavalry Reserve, Deep Run, May 15, 1863.

Sir: I have the honor to report that, in obedience to instructions from corps headquarters, the brigade, composed of the First, Second, Fifth, and Sixth U.S. Cavalry, left camp at Falmouth at 8 a.m. on April 13, and marched to Morrisville, 21 miles, where it encamped for the night. Elder’s four gun battery joined the column at Hartwood.

On the 14th, at daylight, the brigade was in front of Kelly’s Ford, where it remained until 4 p.m. The object in view at Kelly’s Ford was to make a demonstration in favor of the portions of the corps that were to cross the river higher up. The demonstration was a success, as it has since been ascertained that all of the forces at or near Culpeper were hurried to Kelly’s Ford. While at the ford, the enemy opened upon the brigade with two 10-pounder Parrotts; fired 13 shots. Lieutenant Elder replied from his four guns, firing 12 shots, and drove the rebel guns out of sight. The enemy occupied the rifle-pits on their side of the river and fired upon us, doing no damage, save wounding 3 horses of Captain Clary’s squadron, of the Second Cavalry. The enemy had 5 men hit during the day about their rifle-pits. Not a man of the brigade was touched.

At 6.30 a.m. on the 15th, the brigade was at Rappahannock Bridge, ready to cross. Here orders were given to await further instructions.

At 11 a.m. the ford was swimming. At 10 a.m. Lieutenant Walker, of the Fifth, unaccompanied, crossed the river, in easy range of the enemy’s picket guard, 35 strong.

At midnight of the 15th, the Sixth was ordered to Morrisville to guard the trains. The country at that hour was like a sea. The regiment reached Morrisville on the 16th, having had Marsh Run to swim.

The brigade bivouacked near the Rappahannock Bridge until the morning of the 18th, when it moved up the railroad to near Bealeton. The enemy threw a few shells into the bivouac just after the command had marched.

On the 20th, the brigade marched to near Fayetteville, and picketed the river.

On the 22d, the brigade marched to Warrenton Junction; remained there until the 28th, then started for Kelly’s Ford; was prevented from reaching Kelly’s Ford by bad roads and fog.

Arrived at and crossed Kelly’s Ford on the 29th, and marched about 4 miles, when the advance was fired into.

On the night of the 29th, Captain Drummond’s and Lieutenant Walker’s squadrons, of the Fifth, dashed off to Brandy Station to communicate with General Averell. At Brandy Station they found the Thirteenth Virginia Cavalry and a battery opposed to General Averell. No communication could be made with General Averell. The squadrons returned during the night, having accomplished their mission in a most handsome manner. The Sixth Pennsylvania Cavalry joined the brigade at Kelly’s Ford, and served with it up to the present time. While halted at the forks of the road near Stevensburg, my pickets were fired upon on four different roads. They all behaved handsomely, and dispersed the foe opposed to them.

On the morning of the 30th, the packs were sent to General Slocum, and the column started for Mitchell’s Ford, on the Rapidan. The leading squadron, Lieutenant Mason’s, of the Fifth, swam the river at Mitchell’s, and scoured the country up to Morton’s and Raccoon Fords. Mitchell’s Ford was found impracticable. The command moved up to Morton’s, and there crossed the river, one squadron of the Sixth Pennsylvania taking the lead, and joining Mason’s squadron on the south side of the river. These two squadrons scoured the country up to Somerville Ford, and drove off some of the enemy’s forces, capturing some 15 prisoners. Lieut. Peter Penn-Gaskell drove the rebel pickets from Raccoon Ford, and found the ford a practicable one. The brigade bivouacked at Raccoon Ford, and marched at daylight to Verdierville, crossed the Plank road, and encamped on the south side of the North Branch of the North Anna. General Gregg pushed on to Louisa Court-House.

On May 2, the brigade passed through Louisa Court-House, and proceeded to Yanceyville. At Louisa, Captain Lord, with his regiment, the First Cavalry, was detached toward Tolersville and Frederickshall, to destroy the railroad and to burn the bridge over the North Anna, on the road from Fredericksburg. He accomplished all that he was sent to do thoroughly.

May 3 found the brigade at Thompson’s Cross-Roads. Captain Lord returned. Captain Drummond, with 200 men of the Fifth, was detached for a special purpose, which he accomplished. Captain Harrison, with the remainder of his regiment, went to Flemmings’ Cross-Roads.

On the morning of the 4th, Captain Harrison was attacked by over 1,000 of the enemy’s cavalry. He made a determined stand; met this overwhelming force with 30 men, and checked it until he could get in his detached parties and save his led horses. His loss in the engagement was 2 officers (Captain Owen and Lieutenant Buford) and 30 men, all supposed to be prisoners from this date. He brought off his wounded. Captain Harrison speaks in the highest terms of the officers and men with him in his engagement, and he deserves the highest praise for his coolness and gallantry displayed in extricating his command from the clutches of a force that was more than ten times superior in numbers. I feel confident that had he had the 200 men of his regiment with Captain Drummond, he would have disposed the force that attacked him.

May 5. – At Flemmings’ Cross-Roads all of the strong horses of the brigade were selected, 646 in number, and the command started to Gordonsville. After crossing the South Anna at Yanceyville, my intention was to go across the country, keeping south of the railroad and Gordonsville, but soon found it impracticable, from the broken ground and impenetrable forests. The only alternative was to march by Louisa. At Louisa I found telegraphic communication had been restored with Gordonsville. The wires were again destroyed, the post-office seized, and the command started down the railroad to Gordonsville. At Trevilian’s Station we destroyed the pumps and water-tanks, 2 hand-cars, a large supply of subsistence stores, and 2 wagons loaded with ammunition and arms. The wood and ties along the road were burned, and the telegraph destroyed by taking out long pieces of the wire. When within 2 miles of Gordonsville, the enemy’s infantry and artillery were found in position awaiting our arrival. The command then turned north, and marched until nearly daylight, and stopped safe on the north side of the North Anna, near Orange Springs. The water in the North Anna was rising fast when the head of the column struck it, and before the rear of my short column passed it was swimming. The rear guard found it impassable, and crossed it on rafts.

General Stoneman, with General Gregg and the rest of my brigade, came up early on the 6th, just as I was about starting for Raccoon Ford.

Toward evening the command marched again, and arrived at Raccoon Ford about 2 a.m. on the 7th. The brigade was all across at 4 a.m.

At the crossing of the Plank road, the Second was sent to Germanna Mills to hold that ford against the enemy. Here we received the first reliable information that General Hooker had recrossed the Rappahannock. The command reached Kelly’s Ford in the night, and found the river swimming. The brigade was all posted on the approaches to the ford, and remained standing to horse until daylight, when the brigade began crossing. The crossing was effected without losing a man. Two worn out horses were lost.

On the 8th, the brigade encamped near Rappahannock Bridge and drew forage.

On the 9th, moved to Bealeton for supplies.

On the 10th, started for Falmouth, and reached Deep Run, where instructions were received to picket the river from Rappahannock Bridge to Falmouth, which duty the brigade is performing now.

From the time that the brigade struck the river at Rappahannock Bridge on the 15th, up to the crossing of the river on the 29th, it seemed as though the elements were combined against our advance; such rains and roads I had never seen. During the whole expedition the roads were in a worse condition than I could have supposed to be possible, and the command was called upon to endure much severe discomfiture. The men’s rations were destroyed almost as soon as issued. No fires could be lighted to cook or dry by, and the dark, cold, wet nights that the men were compelled to march wore them out; but all, without exception, were full of enthusiasm, ready for any emergency, and did their duty with hearty good-will. I have not heard of a complaint or murmur. Each regiment has had about the same amount of duty to perform. The Fifth probably had a little the most, and most nobly have they all responded when called upon.

There were a number of men from the brigade left whose horses had to be abandoned. It will be impracticable to get the names of these men or the number until the brigade is again concentrated. The Sixth Pennsylvania Cavalry, under Major Morris, had its equal share of trials and exposure, and has been more than equal to any task imposed upon it. A number of animals of inferior quality were captured, which served to bring out of the country the men whose horses had failed.

At Thompson’s Cross-Roads a train of 15 new wagons was captured and destroyed by Captain Keough, one of my aides, and Lieutenant Walker, of the Fifth. The mules, 60 in number, were distributed to the dismounted men of the command.

I have not received the reports from the regimental commanders of the operations of their respective commands, except from Captain Harrison, of the Fifth, and Captain Lord, of the First Cavalry; these are transmitted herewith. Captain Harrison speaks of his officers and men in most flattering terms. He himself has behaved most heroically throughout.

All of my staff – Captains [Myles W.] Keough, [Joseph] O’Keeffe, and [Theodore C.] Bacon; Lieutenants [John] Mix, Peter Penn Gaskell, [Philip] Dwyer, and [William] Dean – have been severely worked, and have rendered valuable service to me. Untiring and zealous, they have relieved me of much anxiety, and have promoted good feeling through the brigade.

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Jno. Buford,
Brigadier-General of Volunteers, Commanding.
Lieut. Col. A.J. Alexander,
Assistant Adjutant-General, Cavalry Corps.

Source: OR, Vol. 25, pt 1, pgs 1087-1090

150 Years Ago: 2d U.S. Cavalry, May 1863

03 Friday May 2013

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Charles J. Whiting, Courtesy of David Perrine Collection

Charles J. Whiting, Courtesy of David Perrine Collection

At the beginning of May 1863, the 2d U.S. Cavalry’s regimental strength with the Army of the Potomac was 17 officers and 304 enlisted men in ten companies. Although authorized twelve companies, Company M was not yet mustered and Company C had just reached Washington from the western theater. The regiment was commanded in May by Major Charles J. Whiting, the only field grade officer present for duty with his regiment of the four regular cavalry regiments in the Army of the Potomac.

All ten companies with the army participated in Stoneman’s Raid, apparently with a steep bill in horseflesh. The monthly return shows 165 unserviceable horses in the regiment. Expiration of enlistments was fast becoming a problem as well, with 32 veterans departing the regiment this month. Average company strength was only 30. Not a single company had its full complement of officers. Of the ten companies, three were commanded by captains, four by first lieutenants and three by second lieutenants. All three of the second lieutenants were former first sergeants.
Source: NARA, Returns of Regular Army Regiments, 2d U.S. Cavalry, April 1863, images 223-224.

Birth of the Reserve Brigade, Part 3

24 Sunday Feb 2013

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The 2nd U.S. Cavalry had the only field grade officer present with his regiment, Major Charles J. Whiting.  He led the famous charge of the 5th Cavalry at the battle of Gaines Mill the previous July as a captain. Seventeen other officers were present with the regiment, four captains and thirteen lieutenants.  Five of the thirteen were former enlisted men, a sergeant major, three first sergeants and a sergeant.  Ten of the regiment’s twelve companies were present at Falmouth with the brigade.  Company C was with Grant’s army at Memphis and Company M was still recruiting and training at Carlisle Barracks.  February’s muster rolls showed 556 men present for duty.

The 5th U.S. Cavalry was led by Captain James E. Harrison, another veteran.  Only 16 officers were present with the regiment, one other captain and 14 lieutenants.  Junior in rank, it may have been the most experienced group in the brigade.  Ten of the 14 were former soldiers in the regiment – a sergeant major, three quartermaster sergeants, five first sergeants and a sergeant.  Nominally all twelve companies were present with the regiment, but Companies L and M were not manned during the war and existed only on paper.  617 men were present for duty in February.

The 6th U.S. Cavalry was led by Captain James Brisbin, wounded at the first battle of Manassas and another veteran of the previous year’s campaigning.  The youngest of the four regiments, the 6th had served in every campaign with the Army of the Potomac, and was part of the army’s advance guard for much of the Peninsula campaign.  Brisbin was the sole captain present with the regiment this month.  Thirteen lieutenants led the regiment’s twelve companies, half of whom were enlisted soldiers prior to receiving their commissions.  The largest of the regiments as it had been since campaigning started, the 6th U.S. Cavalry mustered 817 men in February.

Birth of the Reserve Brigade, Part 1

12 Tuesday Feb 2013

Posted by in 1st Cavalry, 2nd Cavalry, 4th U.S. Cavalry, 5th Cavalry, 6th Cavalry, Reserve Brigade

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150 years ago today, the Reserve Brigade was born.  In Cavalry Corps, Army of the Potomac General Order No.4, Brigadier General George Stoneman laid out the organization of the newly-created Cavalry Corps.  He was assigned command of the corps five days before on February 7th.  The order was written by Assistant Adjutant General A. J. Alexander, on detached duty from his position as a captain in the 3rd U.S. Cavalry.  I have omitted the sections that do not apply to the Reserve Brigade.

“February 12, 1863.  General Orders No. 4, Headquarters Cavalry Corps.

“II. The cavalry of the corps shall be organized as follows: …  The Reserve Brigade, Brig. Gen. John Buford commanding. – First United States, Second United States, Fourth United States, Fifth United States, and Sixth United States.”

This formation wasn’t nearly as powerful as it looked on paper.  Only one squadron of the 4th Cavalry was present with the army, the remainder serving in the western theater.  The remaining regiments were understrength and led by junior officers.  This will be examined in a separate post.

The idea of a cavalry reserve was not a new one in the Army of the Potomac.  Under McClellan, it appeared to mean simply, where to put the cavalry regiments he hadn’t given to someone else.  During the previous year’s campaigning, it had consisted primarily of the regular regiments and a select few volunteer regiments.  The two small brigades of the cavalry reserve had borne the brunt of the campaigning on the peninsula.

“III. The Reserve will be encamped in the vicinity of general headquarters.”

At the time the order was published, Cavalry Corps headquarters was located near White Oak Church.  Its picket posts extended over twenty miles from this location, as far as Banks and United States Fords on the Rappahannock River.

“IV. A detail of one squadron will be furnished to each of the corps of this army to act as orderlies, messengers, &c. … The details for these and general headquarters will be furnished from the Reserve Brigade.”

The creation of the Cavalry Corps did not immediately ease the burden of the multitude of orderly taskings to commanders of the infantry formations.  The burden of the squadron details for Cavalry Corps headquarters and headquarters, Army of the Potomac fell on the Reserve Brigade initially.  Army Headquarters duty was performed by Companies A & E, 4th U.S. Cavalry.  Cavalry Corps headquarters duty rotated among the other regiments.

“V.  The general commanding the corps is desirous that every legitimate means within the reach of the officers and men under his command may be made use of to fit and perfect themselves for the most vigorous and rapid movements.  Requisitions have been made for pack-saddles sufficient to supply the wants of the whole command, and the general gives this timely notice to all that it is his intention to dispense with the use of wagons in all active field service of cavalry.”

This paragraph was more a statement of intention to wield the corps as an active and offensive organization than a set of instructions to subordinate units.  The pack-saddle concept, though attempted during Stoneman’s Raid in May, never really came to fruition.

“VI. All horses permanently disabled, or which cannot by the means of treatment be made available within a reasonable time, will be turned over to the quartermaster’s department after proper condemnation by competent authority.”

I am really not sure why this was included in the order, unless it had become a problem.  Reporting numbers of unserviceable horses per company in each regiment was a requirement in the regular regiments prior to the war, and hadn’t been discontinued.

Sources: OR, Vol. 25, pt. 2, pgs. 71-72

Frank Welcher, The Union Army, pg 516

2nd U.S. Cavalry Regimental Staff

01 Tuesday Jan 2013

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I include the colonels, lieutenant colonels and majors in these lists somewhat reluctantly, as very rarely do they reflect an actual presence with the regiment in the field.  They do, however, reflect who was holding the official position.  This is the reason why the regiments were generally led by captains from 1863 to the end of the war.

 

Colonels

Philip St.G. Cooke                   June 14, 1858 – November 12, 1861

Thomas J. Wood                      November 12, 1861 – June 9, 1868

 

Lieutenant Colonels

Marshall S. Howe                    June 14, 1858 – September 28, 1861

Enoch Steen                           September 28, 1861 – September 23, 1863

Innis N. Palmer                       September 23, 1863 – June 9, 1868

 

Majors

Charles A. May                       October 23, 1855 – April 20, 1861

Lawrence P. Graham              June 14, 1858 – October 1, 1861

William N. Grier                      April 20, 1861 – February 15, 1862

Washington I. Newton           October 1, 1861 – October 26, 1861

J. W. T. Gardiner                     October 26, 1861 – November 14, 1861

J. W. Davidson                       November 14, 1861 – December 1, 1866

Alfred Pleasonton                   February 15, 1862 – January 1, 1868

Charles J. Whiting                  July 17, 1862 – November 5, 1863

Frank Wheaton                      November 5, 1863 – July 28, 1866

 

Adjutants

Beverly H. Robertson             June 1, 1860 – March 3, 1861

Wesley Merritt                       July 1, 1861 – January 1, 1862

James F. McQuesten              January 1, 1862 – October 17, 1863

Robert Lennox                       October 17, 1863 – July 1, 1865

 

Quartermasters

Edward Ball                           September 24, 1861 – July 25, 1865

 

Commisaries

Edward J. Spaulding              October 1, 1862 – February 12, 1867

 

 

Sergeants Major

Thomas W. Burton                  March 12, 1860 – February 12, 1862

Robert Lennox                         February 12, 1862 – 1863 (date unknown)

Charles H. Polk                        1864 (date unknown) – November 15, 1864

Thomas F. Delacour                November 15, 1864 – March 18, 1865

Daniel Mount                           March 18, 1865 – June 1, 1865

 

Quartermaster Sergeants

John Frazer                             June 24, 1859 – March 31, 1861

Edward J. Spaulding               October 27, 1861 – 1863 (date unknown)

Daniel Stiene                          1863 (date unknown) – 1864 (date unknown)

Charles K. Halleck                   1864 (date unknown) – October 17, 1865

 

Commisary Sergeants

Samuel J. Kingston                 1864 (date unknown) – February 1865 (date unknown)

George O. Chandler               February 1865 (date unknown) – April 28, 1865

 

Chief Buglers

Charles W. Egan                    September 1, 1859 – May 23, 1864

William J. Russell                    January 31, 1860 – 1863 (date unknown)

Charles Polk                           May 1, 1863 – 1864 (date unknown)

William H. Elliott                     July 1, 1864 – February 4, 1867

 

Sources: Heitman, pgs 32-33; Lambert, One Hundred Years With The Second  Cavalry, pgs 397-400

Military Justice, Part 2

08 Tuesday May 2012

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General Orders No. 19.
War Department
Adjutant General’s Office
Washington, January 12, 1864.

I. Before a General Court Martial, which convened at the Headquarters, Cavalry Reserve Brigade, near Culpeper Court-house, Virginia, November 25, 1863, pursuant to Special Orders, No. 66, dated October 31, 1863, and Special Orders, No. 70, dated November 5, 1863, Headquarters, 1st Cavalry Division, and of which Major H.C. Whelan, 6th Pennsylvania Cavalry, is President, was arraigned and tried —

2. Private Walter Sheets, Company “B,” 2nd U.S. Cavalry

Charge – “Desertion.”

Specification – “In this; that the said Private Walter Sheets, of Company ‘B,’ 6th U.S. Cavalry, did, on or about the 10th day of July, 1863, at or near Funkstown, Maryland, willfully desert the service of the United States, with his horse, arms, and accoutrements. All this at or near Funkstown, Maryland, and remained absent until apprehended at Lewistown, Maryland, October 27, 1863, by Captain Smith. For his apprehension was paid thirty dollars ($30).”

To which charge and specification the prisoner, Private Walter Sheets, Company “B,” 2nd U.S. Cavalry, pleaded “Not Guilty.”

Finding.

The Court, after mature consideration on the evidence adduced, finds the prisoner, Private Walter Sheets, Company “B,” 2nd U.S. Cavalry, as follows:

Of the Specification, “Guilty, except the words ‘at Lewistown, Maryland, October 27, 1863, by Captain Smith. For his apprehension was paid ($30) thirty dollars.’”
Of the Charge, “Guilty.”

Sentence.

And the Court does therefore sentence him, Private Walter Sheets, Company “B,” 2nd U.S. Cavalry, “To forfeit all pay and allowances that are now or may come due him; to be indelibly branded on the left hip with the letter D, one and a half inches long, in presence of his Regiment; and to be confined at hard labor, with a ball and chain attached to one of his legs, for the period of (10) ten years. The place of confinement to be designated by the Secretary of War.”

The disparity between the two sentences is interesting. Two years of desertion is worth five years of hard labor, but three months of desertion with all equipment is worth branding and ten years of hard labor.

So who was this fellow?

Walter Sheets was born in Salem County, New Jersey in 1843. He worked as a blacksmith before the war. He initially enlisted into Company F, 5th New Jersey Infantry on August 22, 1861 at the age of 18. This regiment was commanded during the Peninsula campaign by Samuel H. “Paddy” Starr, on detached service as a colonel of volunteers while a captain in the 2nd U.S. Cavalry. On October 26, 1862, Private Sheets was discharged to join the Regular Army.

On October 27th, Walter Sheets enlisted into Company B, 2nd U.S. Cavalry at Alexandria, Virginia. His enlistment documents confirm his age and birthplace, as well as describing him as 5’ 5 3/4” tall, with gray eyes, brown hair, and a dark complexion. The officer who enlisted him? Captain Samuel Starr, who had resigned his volunteer commission and was serving on recruiting duty for his regular army regiment.

Volunteer Reinforcements, Part II

04 Monday Jun 2007

Posted by in 2nd Cavalry, 6th Cavalry, recruiting

≈ 2 Comments

It appears that I mis-titled the first part of this series. Closer reading of JD’s initial post brought the realization that he didn’t say Starr’s men went with him to the 6th Cavalry, he said they came back to service in the Regular Army with him.

I’ve had a lot of fun chasing this particular thread down. I was able to find a copy of the classic New Jersey in the Civil War online (misplaced the website, will post the link tomorrow), which contains the muster rolls for the 5th New Jersey. Starr was recalled to regular service in October 1862 (the entry, of course, doesn’t say why. From Everglade to Canyon says he resigned, but also doesn’t say why.). That same month, 90 members of his regiment were “discharged to join the Regular Army.” The majority of them probably thought they were following Starr back to his old regiment, the 2nd Cavalry, as did he.

Of the 90, 50 enlisted in the 2nd Cavalry, in Companies A, B and D. Five enlisted in the 14th US Infantry, and two in the 2nd US Artillery. One each enlisted in the 1st and 6th Cavalry regiments, and three are listed for both the 2nd and the 6th US Cavalry in the CWSS. The remaining 27 names had no record or had names so common that they couldn’t be reliably attributed to a unit without the gaining unit’s muster rolls (lots of John Browns and William Smiths out there).

Companies A, B and D of the 2nd Cavalry were broken up in July 1862, their privates sent elsewhere in the regiment and the officers, noncommissioned officers and buglers detached for recruiting duty. Apparently some of them found a welcome home recruiting in Starr’s regiment. I’ll check in the morning, but I believe Starr was assigned to one of these companies before he came to the volunteers.

At least some of this had to be due to his popularity. A quick check of another regiment in his brigade, the 6th New Jersey, showed only four men leaving for regular service in October 1862, and seven over the course of the war. Three of the first four went to the 2nd Cavalry, and there was no record of the fourth person. One of the remaining three went to the 2nd Cavalry, one to the 16th Infantry, and one had no record. As time permits, I’ll check the other two regiments in the brigade (7th and 8th NJ).

Starr was promoted and transferred to the 6th Cavalry in the spring of 1863. I haven’t as yet had time to check the muster rolls of the regiment, but I’m willing to bet at least three of the men (John Murphy, George C. Curtis, and James Campbell) transferred from the 2nd to the 6th with him. Apparently strict disciplinarians are quite popular in some quarters during time of war, and the regiment had performed very well under his leadership.

Where, then, did the 6th Cavalry’s reinforcements come from? I don’t know yet, but at least I have an idea or two fo where to look.

Private Sidney Davis, of F Company, 6th Cavalry, had this to say of the War Department orders mentioned in the last post: “In consequence of this curious order there was a terrific rush from the volunteer infantry to the regular cavalry and artillery — two branches of service then popularly believed to be a sort of sinecure, if there be such a thing as sinecure in a common soldier’s life. [break[ The strength of the regiment was about doubled under this order, being reiforced by some five hundred and fifty men. However, no actual benefit was derived from them for several months afterward, as they had yet to be mounted and drilled. When the next campaign began they were sent to Washington by rail, where they went into camp.” (Common Soldier, Uncommon War, pg 235)

I’ll just keep pulling on this thread and see where it goes. If time permits, I’ll print the October and November 1862 returns this week, but free time’s a bit short with the movers coming on Thursday.

Another Trip to Iraq for the 2nd and 3rd Cavalry

09 Wednesday May 2007

Posted by in 2nd Cavalry, 3rd Cavalry

≈ 2 Comments

Received this through the association this afternoon. Since the 2nd and 3rd are two of the Army’s remaining three cavalry regiments, I thought it still relevant to the theme of the blog. Both are still on continuous active service since before the Civil War, though they look a great deal differently today. The 2nd Cavalry has been relatively fortunate thus far, this is only their second trip to Iraq vice the third for the 3rd Cavalry. Godspeed and best of luck to the troopers of both regiments.

2nd Cavalry, Vilseck, Germany, Alerted for Deployment to Iraq From the New York Times (Electronic) 9 May 2007

WASHINGTON, May 8 – The Pentagon said Tuesday that it had informed an additional 35,000 soldiers that they were likely to be heading to Iraq by December, a move that would allow the Army to maintain heightened American troop levels into next year.

Bryan Whitman, a Pentagon spokesman, said the decision to alert the 10 Army brigades scheduled to deploy between August and December did not mean that the Bush administration had decided to extend the current reinforcement, a buildup of about 30,000 troops that is expected to be completed in June. A decision on that issue will be made in September, officials said.

Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and other officials have made clear that reversing the American troop buildup was among the steps that could be taken by the end of the summer if Iraq’s government failed to make progress on legislation aimed at achieving reconciliation between Sunni and Shiite Arabs.

At the same time, some military officials have argued privately that it will be necessary to prolong the higher troop levels into next year in order to have any permanent effect on security.
Overall American force levels in Iraq will reach close to 160,000 when all the additional units ordered to Iraq by President Bush arrive this summer. Only three of the five additional Army brigades ordered to Iraq are now in place, with the final two scheduled to arrive over the next two months.

Mr. Whitman said a reduction of that force later this year remained a possibility. The Pentagon “has been very clear that a decision about the duration of the surge will depend on conditions on the ground,” he said.

The replacement troops announced Tuesday would go to Iraq under the new Pentagon policy of sending units for 15 months at a time, though Mr. Whitman added that shorter tours were also possible if security conditions improved.

The 10 brigades identified by the Pentagon on Tuesday for deployment are the Second Stryker Cavalry Regiment from Vilseck, Germany; the Fourth Brigade, Third Infantry Division, from Fort Stewart, Ga.; the First, Second and Third Brigades of the 101st Airborne Division from Fort Campbell, Ky.; the Third Armored Cavalry Regiment from Fort Hood, Tex.; the Second Brigade, First Armored Division, from Baumholder, Germany; the Fourth Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, from Fort Polk, La.; the Second Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, from Schofield Barracks, Hawaii; and the First Brigade, Fourth Infantry Division, from Fort Hood, Tex.

A brigade has about 3,500 soldiers.

President Bush earlier this month vetoed an effort by the Democrat-controlled Congress to force the beginning of a phased withdrawal of American forces beginning as early as Oct. 1. But his new strategy of sending more troops has intensified the strain on the Army, leaving few combat-ready units in reserve and forcing the Army to turn increasingly to National Guard forces.

If the higher troop levels continue into 2008, the next combat units sent to Iraq are likely to be from the National Guard, officials have said.

The Army also said that close to 1,000 more support troops from the U.S. Army Reserves would deploy in August.

2nd Cavalry Association Wishes Our Brethen Godspeed and Come Home Safe! To all the men and women of the 2d Stryker Regiment your association stands behind you and your families with support and encouragement in the difficult days ahead. Do not hesitate to call on us at any time. Godspeed to you all,

The Members of the 2d Cavalry Association