Tag Archives: american-civil-war

Thomas Montgomery, 1st U.S. Cavalry

04 Thursday Jul 2024

Posted by in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , ,

Thomas Montgomery was born in Dublin, Ireland in 1839. After immigrating to the United States, the family settled on a farm near Baltimore, Maryland. On November 2, 1860 he was enlisted into Company F, 1st U.S. Dragoons by Lieutenant David Bell. His enlistment documents describe him as 5’4″ tall, with blue eyes, brown hair and a ruddy complexion.

After his initial training at Carlisle Barracks, PA, he joined his company in California, serving there until the regiment was recalled to Washington after the start of the Civil War. Company F left San Francisco on board the steamship Sonora on November 30, 1861. After arriving in Panama on December 4th, the company disembarked and traveled across the isthmus. The company embarked on board the steamship North Star and arrived in New York on December 24, 1861. They departed New York by train on Christmas day and arrived the next day in Washington, D.C., where they established the regiment’s camp. Camp Sprague served as the regiment’s home for the remainder of the winter, drilling with the other regular regiments.

Company F, along with companies A, B and K, departed Camp Sprague on March 10, 1862 to join the Army of the Potomac in the field. They were followed a few days later by the remainder of the regiment. They moved to a new camp in Alexandria until the 29th, when they embarked on schooners for the peninsula. They reached Hampton, Virginia on April 3rd. They disembarked on the 4th and went into camp at Kentucky Farm. All eight companies shifted camp to Ship Point on the 11th and to Camp Winfield Scott on the 24th.

Following the evacuation of Yorktown, Montgomery and the rest of the regiment were part of the pursuit of the Confederate army. He fought in the regiment’s first eastern theater engagement of the war on May 4th at Williamsburg, escaping unscathed. He survived the remainder of the campaign on the peninsula and the Maryland campaign without incident.

Private Montgomery remained with Company F until August 6, 1862, when it was deactivated and consolidated with Company C. He left Harrison Landing with his new company two days later, arriving at Yorktown, Virginia on August 20th. He was promoted rather quickly in his new company to corporal and then sergeant.

Following the battle of Fredericksburg, the regiment went into winter camp at Camp Allen, near Falmouth, Virginia. They spent the winter rotating picket duty on Rappahannock fords with the other regular regiments. Company C was one of the companies from the 1st and 5th U.S. Cavalry regiments which fought at the battle of Kelly’s Ford on March 17, 1863, losing one man killed and three horses.

The regiment joined the Reserve Brigade the same month, and accompanied them on the Stoneman Raid in late April and early May 1863. A few weeks later the regiment particpated in the battle of Brandy Station on June 9th. Assigned to picket duty on river fords initially, the were recalled after the battle started and arrived in the early afternoon. During the movements which culimnated at Gettysburg, he participated in the regiment’s heavy fighting at Upperville, Virginia on June 21st, one of the few who escaped unscathed.

161 years ago today, Sergeant Montgomery’s luck ran out at Gettysburg. He was shot and mortally wounded during the Reserve Brigade’s fight on what is now South Cavalry Field. Thomas Montgomery died of his wounds on July 15, 1863.

Thomas Corbett, 2nd US Cavalry

11 Tuesday Jun 2024

Posted by in 1864, 2nd U.S. Cavalry, battle of Trevillian Station, cavalry, Civil War

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

, , , , , ,

Thomas Corbett was killed 160 years ago today, during the first day’s fighting at the battle of Trevilian Station.

Thomas was born in Tipperary, Ireland in 1837. He appears to have immigrated at the age of 13, with his father and an older sibling. They arrived in New Orleans on the Sea King on October 19, 1849 and eventually moved to Memphis, TN.

He and his wife, Margaret Feeney, were married at St Peter’s Church by Rev. T.L. Grace in Memphis on February 20, 1859. Their son John was born there on October 9, 1860. At some point in the next three years he moved to Cincinnati with his young family. They resided at No. 131 East 6th Street and he worked as a laborer.

Lieutenant Robert Smith enlisted him into Company A, 2nd US Cavalry in Cincinnati, OH on May 22, 1863. His enlistment documents describe him as 26 years old, 5’6″ tall, with hazel eyes, black hair, and a ruddy complexion. He does not appear to have served in a volunteer unit.

After his initial training at Carlisle Barracks, Thomas joined Company A on October 1st. He served with the regiment at Mitchell Station through the winter of 1863, rotating with others on the picket lines. He served in the opening battles of the Overland Campaign in May 1864 without incident or injury.

Thomas was shot in the head and killed during the first day’s fighting at Trevilian Station. Since the company’s commander, fellow Irishman First Lieutenant Michael Lawless, was killed the same day, there was no officer present with the company at the time. First Sergeant James A. Timmons wrote a letter to Margaret notifying her of Thomas’ death. Since Margaret could not read or write, someone had to read the letter to her. It must have been an even more devastating way to learn of her husband’s death.

“Camp 2nd US Cavalry

Near White House Landing Va

June 22nd 1864

Mrs. Corbitt

It is with regret I have to inform you that your husband Thomas Corbitt of Co. A, 2nd US Cavalry was killed on the 11th inst while engaged with enemy at Trevilian Station Va near Gordonsville. He was shot in the head. He did not speak after he was hit. I found on his person the old letter purporting to be from you which I enclose also a silver ring that was all he had about him. At the earliest opportunity I will send his papers to the Adjutant Genl Office Washington and you can get all that is coming to him. Any further information regarding him I will be happy to give.

I am very respectfully your obt svt

James Timmons

1st Sergt Co A 2nd US Cav”

Corbett was initially buried on the field and most likely later reinterred at Culpeper National Cemetery as an unknown soldier when it was established in 1867. Margaret filed a pension claim for herself and John, remaining at the same address in Cincinnati for several years. Later in life she moved to Chicago, where she died about 1903.

Charles W. Canfield, 2nd U.S. Cavalry

10 Monday Jun 2024

Posted by in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , ,

161 years ago today, Captain Charles W. Canfield was killed while leading his squadron at the battle of Brandy Station.

Charles was born to Isaac W. and Deborah W. Canfield in New York City in 1835. His family later moved to New Jersey, and he received an appointment from this state to West Point. Charles attended the United States Military Academy from July 1, 1853 to April 26, 1854 before leaving to pursue a civilian career. He supported his mother and sister after his father died in January 1860.

At the war’s outbreak Charles received an appointment as a second lieutenant in the 2nd U.S. Dragoons. He completed his initial training as a cavalry officer at Carlisle Barracks, where his previous training at West Point stood him in good stead.

In late spring of 1861, he was one of the officers selected to escort a group of 250 recruits to New Mexico to join companies of the 1st and 2nd Dragoons. When they reached Missouri, they were incorporated into Lyon’s Army of the West. The recruits were placed under the command of infantry officers since they were unmounted, and the cavalry officers were spread amongst the regular cavalry companies present with the army. Canfield made quite an impression on another young officer new to the army, Lieutenant George B. Sanford of the 1st U.S. Dragoons.

“He took a fancy to me and helped me a good deal in getting acquainted with the various unwritten laws of the service which are so hard for a beginner to acquire, for the reason that older soldiers take it for granted that you ought to know them instinctively.”

While with Lyon’s army, he briefly served with the 6th Missouri State Militia Cavalry. Initially appointed as a major on April 22, 1861, then lieutenant colonel on April 29th. He did not have permission to serve with a volunteer unit while still a regular lieutenant, however. Canfield resigned his volunteer commission on June 10, 1861, ten days after his promotion to first lieutenant in the 2nd Dragoons.

Lieutenant Canfield commanded Company D, 1st U.S. Cavalry at the battle of Wilson’s Creek on August 10, 1861 due to a shortage of officers present from that regiment. . He performed well and was commended in reports of the battle. He eventually reached the Department of New Mexico a year later, just as Companies G and I, 2nd U.S. Cavalry were ready to depart for the eastern theater to rejoin their regiment. Lieutenant Canfield took command of the squadron, which served as General Canby’s escort to Fort Leavenworth, then continued east. They reached Washington, D.C. on November 23, 1862. Canfield and his men met the newly formed Company L at Fort Albany, VA as they were drawing equipments. The three companies rejoined the regiment at Falmouth on January 13, 1863.

Captain Canfield no sooner reported to the regiment before being sent away again. He commanded the Indianapolis recruiting station for the Mounted Recruiting Service from January 15 to February 26, 1863. He was then ordered to close the station and return to take command of the newly formed Company M at Carlisle Barracks. By early March he and Company M moved to Camp East of the Capitol, where they made final preparations to join the regiment. While in camp, he requested the discharge of a 13 year old who had been recruited to the regiment and attempted to acquire a bugler who could perform the bugle calls.

After a month of rotating his troopers on picket duty with the rest of the regiment, Captain Canfield led his company during Stoneman’s Raid in May. By the following he commanded a squadron. During the fighting at Brandy Station on June 9th, he was shot through the heart while leading his men. A fellow squadron commander had this to say of his death.

“Young and brave, full of hopes for the future, and inspired with a determination to do his duty, he fell early in the action, gloriously, in the front of battle, dying a death which all soldiers, whether young or old, may well covet.”

Captain Canfield was buried in Saint Peter’s Churchyard, Morristown, New Jersey.

Michael Shaughnessy – 2nd U.S. Cavalry

09 Friday Feb 2024

Posted by in 2nd Dragoons/ 2nd Cavalry, 2nd U.S. Cavalry, Gettysburg campaign

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

, , , , , ,

Michael Shaughnessy was born in New York, NY about 1840. He enlisted in Company A, 2nd U.S. Cavalry by Captain Robertson at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas on August 7, 1861. His enlistment documents describe him as 5’11” tall, with gray eyes, brown hair and a fair complexion. He listed his occupation as laborer.

Private Shaughnessy remained at Fort Leavenworth awaiting the arrival his company, which had already been ordered east from Fort Kearny, Nebraska. It arrived November 22nd and reached Cantonment Holt near the Park Hotel in Washington, D.C. by rail on November 29th.

Shaughnessy spent the winter of 1861 with the rest of the regiment, drilling and performing provost guard duty in the city. In March 1862 they travelled to the peninsula with the rest of the Army of the Potomac. The regiment primarily served as the army headquarters and provost guard and did not see a great deal of action. In July 1862 the severely understrength regiment deactivated A, B and D companies consolidated its remaining soldiers in other companies. Shaughnessy and his fellow Co. A soldiers were transferred to Co. E on July 6th.  

Private Shaughnessy participated in Stoneman’s Raid and emerged unscathed from the battle of Brandy Station in June 1863. The regiment suffered nearly 25% casualties, but he was fortunate to not be one of them. He was not so lucky the following month in Pennsylvania.

Michael was one of the six members of the 2nd U.S. Cavalry captured during the fighting on South Cavalry Field on July 3, 1863 during the battle of Gettysburg. He was paroled in August, and remained at the parole camp in Annapolis, MD until April 1864. The most likely explanation for his long stay in Annapolis is that he was wounded. Otherwise the parole process should have taken nearly so long.

Shaughnessy served through the initial fighting of the Overland Campaign of 1864 without incident. He was wounded again, this time in the left leg, at Cold Harbor on May 30, 1864. He recovered more quickly from this wound, returning to the regiment in the Shenandoah in early August according to the monthly returns. Michael was discharged at the expiration of his term of service on August 7, 1864 at Harpers Ferry, VA.

Michael commissioned into Company G, 47th Illinois Infantry on March 9, 1865 as a first lieutenant at Rock Island, IL. A veteran regiment, it consolidated into four companies in November 1864 and recruited six new companies. Lieutenant Shaughnessy served with his new regiment until he mustered out on January 21, 1866. I found no indications of why he went to Illinois following his army service.

I was not able to definitively determine his activities following the war, as his was a very common name. There are records of one in Mississippi after he mustered out and another who was a federal marshal in Utah for a number of years. It is possible that they were the same person but I was unable to prove the connection. He filed an invalid pension on August 4, 1909 and died the following year.