Tag Archives: Civil War

5th U.S. Cavalry at the Stone Fence

09 Monday Jun 2025

Posted by in 1863, 5th U.S. Cavalry, battle of Brandy Station, Reserve Brigade

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Author note: with many thanks to LTC Greg Hope, who was instrumental in obtaining a copy of Harrison’s report from the USMA library.

During the battle of Brandy Station, 162 years ago today, the 5th U.S. Cavalry had a critical task on Brigadier John Buford’s right flank. They seized and then secured a stone fence from Confederate cavalry units under Colonel John Chambliss. This fence was bitterly contested for hours, with the Fifth Cavalry resorting to their pistols after expending all their carbine ammunition.

Captain James E. Harrison commanded the regiment on that day. Only three squadrons were present, under Lieutenants Thomas Maley, Frank Dickerson and Henry Jones. The amount of close quarters fighting is easily determined by the number of troopers captured, listed here as missing in action.  

The regiment, reduced to three squadrons, under the command of Captain Harrison, was under fire until half-past six o’clock p.m., and suffered a loss of thirty-nine officers and men killed, wounded, and missing, and sixty-two horses killed. It is not clear from the monthly return where the missing companies were located.

Captain Harrison’s report, in his own hand, differs slightly from the one printed in the Supplement to the Official Records of the War of the Rebellion.  

“After crossing the river, my regiment consisting of three small squadrons was detailed to support Elder’s Battery and almost immediately after, I was ordered to move forward at a quick gait for the purpose of checking a large force of cavalry that was driving in a small party of our men. I moved forward at a gallop and formed in an open field, preparatory to advancing on them when I received orders to deploy my men as skirmishers and take possession and hold a stone fence about two hundred yards in my front, having detached one squadron under Lt. Maley to support Graham’s Battery. I advanced one squadron under Lt. Dickerson to the stone fence and held the remaining squadron under Lt. Jones as a support to the skirmishers. I held my position until my ammunition was entirely expended when after having been relieved by two fresh squadrons. I retired and acted as a support to a section of Graham’s Battery during the rest of the day. At 6.30 I received orders to recross the river. I beg leave to recommend to the General Commanding Lieuts. Dickerson, Urban, Jones, Baden, Moylan, Brophy, Henly & Hastings whose conduct for gallantry and intrepid bravery while skirmishing with the enemy under a terrible fire of artillery & sharpshooters was most conspicuous. Lieuts. Dickerson & Urban were each wounded, the former in the head & the latter in the upper thigh, neither of them seriously, the rest of my casualties were (6) men killed and buried on the field, 15 wounded and 15 missing and 62 horses killed and so badly wounded as to make it necessary to leave them on the field. A correct list of casualties giving name & rank has been furnished to Bde HdQrs. “

Casualty reports for the regiment vary widely, but this is the list posted in the regimental monthly returns following the 1863 annual return:

Killed in action:

Lieutenant Otis Tillinghast enlisted George Hozzell into Company F, 5th U.S. Cavalry on September 3, 1860 in Baltimore, MD. Born in Hesse, Germany, his enlistment documents describe him as 5’10” tall, with brown hair, brown eyes and a fair complexion. He was a 22 year old farmer prior to his enlistment. George was killed in action on June 9, 1863, probably at the stone wall.

Lieutenant Fitzpatrick enlisted Alexander Rayner into Company B, 5th U.S. U.S. Cavalry on December 11, 1860 in Baltimore, MD. Born in Plymouth, NC, he was also a 22 year old farmer prior to his enlistment. His enlistment documents describe him as 5’7” tall, with hazel eyes, brown hair and a sallow complexion. Alexander was also killed in action on June 9, 1863, probably at the stone wall.

Wounded, by company:

Company A

Sgt John Kane, severely in thigh

Bugler Julius Goldring, severely in ankle

Bugler James Collins, slightly in thigh

Company B

2d Lt Gustavus Urban, severely in thigh

Pvt Henry Connolly, slightly in arm

Pvt William Muckler, slightly in leg

Company C

Sgt Jacob Buck, slightly in shoulder

Pvt Daniel Cimmino, mortally in left breast (died same day)

Pvt Richard Hanlon, severely in left thigh

Company D

2d Lt Frank W. Dickerson, slightly in head

Pvt Joseph Marshall, severely

Company G

Pvt Michael Dougherty, severely in groin

Company I

Pvt Ira R. Bailey, mortally (died of wounds June15th)

Company K

Sgt Anthony Grothern, severely in left shoulder

Pvt John Roach, slightly

Pvt Anthony Spigel, severely in neck

Missing in action, by company:

Company B

Sgt William McClean

Pvt William Breese

Pvt Richard Burke

Pvt Edward Holbrook

Pvt John Kennard

Pvt John McCarthy

Company D

Corp Thomas Wilson, supposed to be wounded

Pvt Charles M. Blair

Pvt Paul Brider

Pvt Dennis Dunn

Pvt Thomas Dunn

Pvt William Hemphill

Company F

Corp Frank Holpin

Pvt John Jones

Company K

Pvt Benjamin Allen

Pvt George Copland

Pvt Edward Fitzgerald

Pvt F.O. Rogenhart

Total loss of horses: 62

Sources

NARA, Regimental Returns, Fifth Cavalry, June 1863

USMA Library, Special Collections, James E. Harrison papers

Price, George. Across the Continent With The Fifth Cavalry. New York: D. Van Nostrand, 1883.

Thomas Montgomery, 1st U.S. Cavalry

04 Thursday Jul 2024

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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

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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

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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

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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.

Book Review: Small But Important Riots

09 Thursday Feb 2023

Posted by in 1863, book reviews, Gettysburg campaign

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Small But Important Riots: The Cavalry Battles of Aldie, Middleburg, and Upperville. Robert F. O’Neill. January 2023: Potomac Books, 360 pages.

This book provides a definitive account of five days of fighting in the Loudoun Valley during the Gettysburg campaign. O’Neill’s master work not only covers a multitude of engagements, but is able to link them all together coherently while maintaining each in its own context. His analysis includes the larger tactical picture and the intent of the commanders on both sides. The work not only examines the moves of Stuart, Pleasonton and Hooker, but the reasoning behind them that led to the engagements happening where and when they did. In Pleasonton’s case in particular, there are keen insights into why he employed his cavalry corps the way he did.

Small But Important Riots is so exhaustively researched that in some places I spent nearly as much time examining the notes as I did reading the text. The author weaves hundreds of personal accounts from soldiers on both sides together to compose his narrative, many of them previously unpublished.

The plentiful use of Julie Krick’s excellent maps makes it easy for the reader to follow and understand the numerous engagements spread over a large area. The appendices provide additional details concerning order of battle and unit losses. His final appendix on horses and ordnance is so well organized that it could be expanded into a book of its own.

This book should be on the shelf of anyone interested in Civil War cavalry or the Gettysburg campaign.

Levi Bailey Croy, 6th U.S. Cavalry

16 Monday Jan 2023

Posted by in 6th U.S. Cavalry, Uncategorized

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Photo courtesy of John Boggs, Jr.

Reader John Boggs, Jr. was kind enough to share this picture and letter of his ancestor. This is the first censored letter that I have seen from a regular soldier. A biographical sketch follows the letter. Levi Croy is mentioned numerous times in S.M. Davis’ Uncommon Soldier, Common War as well as in our book on the 6th U.S. Cavalry. I have preserved the letter’s original spelling and punctuation.

“Sixth U.S. Cavalry

Col. Emory Commanding

Letter No. 1, Aug. 2, 1862

My dear family; I rec’d yours of 27 of July, today. I had not rec’d any for so long I began to be uneasy. I was glad to learn of your health & sympathise with you very much in regard to your potatoes. I am very glad to hear you have a cow. Please let me know who of your neighbours was so kind. What did cow cost. I saw young Alexander today in the 10th Pa. reserves. He is well. Nite before last we had a nice spree the rebbels came down on the opposite side of the river & planted 6 or 8 guns & blazed away at our camps. I tell you they threw the shells & solid shot in fast. They had a cross fire on our camp & don no damage but kild one horse & riddled two tents not a man hurt the shell flew about 2 miles as far as the Pennsylvania reserves. A good many horses were kild in different camps but very few men. Our seage guns & gun boats got in action in a few minutes & made them skedaddle in short meetee. We have a heavy force (censored) river. Now I think (censored) no danger of another (censored). You asked when the war (censored). That is a question I am (censored) to answer but I am afraid be some time. However I think we will make a move before long I had made up my mind there would be nothing don this month. But it is my belief now we will haf to fight soon or give it up for a bad job but I believe if they let McClelan have his own way he will take Richmond & do it pretty easy. Pope is in the Shenandoey valley & I have more faith in him than all the others except McClelan he is the pet of the Army of the Potomac. Since writing the above our Regt has bin ordered out whare or for what purpos I don’t know. I am so bothered by diareahe that I have remaind in camp it is dark and I will quit for tonite. – Aug. 3rd a beautiful morn. Our Regt returned about 3 o’clock this morning was out mearly on a reconnaissance. All quiet so far as they went or seen. Our camps has not been disturbed since. I think there will be a move soon& I will be able to send the glad news to you that the Army of the Potomac is in Richmond. I am expecting our pay every day & as there is a chance to send the money by express I will wait a while & send you $25 at once it will cost the same.  I don’t think you receive all my letters so I have numbered this & will continue to no. them as I write. You do the same & still mention the no. of the ones you receive & I will do the same then we can tell if any is miscarried. I have asked you in several letters if you ever recd the letter containing the $5 in & have got no answer. I sent you a book most a month ago & put 2 post stamps on & was told by the P.M. it would go. I have asked you in 2 letters if it came to hand I have got no answer. I got the book at the Battle of Hanover Courthouse as it was taken by me from the nap sack of a fallen rebel & would be very interesting to the children also beneficial to them. I hope it has reached you safe. I recd the stamps and am much obliged for them. I am out again & would be glad if you could send me som more as they cant be had here only as friends sends them. I am glad to hear of Roberts situation what salery does he get. I think you try to get as small sheets of paper as possible & don’t fill them either. I understand there will be drafts made do you think Mercer Co. will rase its quota without. I hope so I would be very sorry to have my native place compeld to draft soldiers to protect its country. If Thomas wishes I will write him a scetch of the proceedings of the army so far as it has come under my my own observation for Publication. But I suppose he has plenty of others. Give my Respects to all the friends & tell Beccy Peirce I am obliged to her & when I com home I shal surely call for the chicken & I am sure if I had it here I would make quick havoc with a verry large one. I had some butter for supper last nite the first I have tasted for months. Please let me receive no. one letter soon. I remain your affectionate

Levi”

Levi Bailey Croy was born on May 16, 1826 in Butler County, Pennsylvania. He was the second son and fifth of seven children. His father was a merchant in Shenango, Pennsylvania in 1850, according to census data. Levi lived worked as a trader and lived with his parents. He married Jennie Irwin the same year and the two had four children prior to the outbreak of the Civil War.

Lieutenant Hancock McLean enlisted Levi into Company F, 6th U.S. Cavalry on July 3, 1861 in Pittsburgh. His enlistment documents describe him as 5’ 10” tall, with gray eyes, light hair and a fair complexion.

Levi served ably through the regiment’s initial campaigns, earning promotions to corporal and sergeant. He was captured at the battle of Fairfield and later imprisoned at Belle Isle. He was fortunate enough to be paroled in late September and was not sent to Andersonville like some of his companions. He returned to the regiment and continued to serve until the expiration of his term of service in the field on July 3, 1864.

Levi returned to his family in Pennsylvania. According to census data, by 1870 he worked as an engineer at oil wells in Venango County. The family now included six children, and they added a seventh before the 1880 census. By 1880 the family settled near the city of Beaver in Clarion County, where Levi worked as a farmer.

Levi Bailey Croy died on August 8, 1880 at the age of 54. He is buried in St. Paul’s Union Cemetery, Beaver, Clarion County. Pennsylvania.

Leroy S. Elbert, 3rd U.S. Cavalry

07 Wednesday Dec 2022

Posted by in 3rd U.S. Cavalry, Civil War, officers, Regiment of Mounted Rifles

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Leroy S. Elbert was born in Logan County, Ohio on September 4, 1837. His parents moved to Iowa early in his childhood. His father, a prominent doctor, convinced Senator Andrew Hall to nominate Leroy to West Point from Iowa in January 1857. Leroy joined his class there on July 1, 1857.

Elbert graduated  near the bottom of the June class of 1861, only six places ahead of George Custer . He was assigned to the Regiment of Mounted Rifles as a brevet second lieutenant upon graduation, all vacancies in the regiment being full at the Adjutant General’s office. Due to the chaos caused by so many officers resigning and declining appointments, however, he was promoted very rapidly. By the time the smoke cleared with General Order #62 from the Adjutant General’s Office in August, Leroy received his appointment, promoted to second lieutenant in Company L and first lieutenant in Company E effective the day of his graduation, June 24, 1861. Over two years would pass before he joined his regiment.  

First Lieutenant Elbert remained very active in the meantime. Since his regiment was in New Mexico, Leroy hurried directly to Washington, D.C. immediately after graduation like most of his class. He participated in the Manassas campaign and worked through the winter of 1862 drilling troops and seeking a staff position. Since his company was disbanded following the surrender at San Augustine Springs, he saw no compelling need to join his regiment in New Mexico and had no orders to do so.  

He initially applied in January 1862 to serve as an aide de camp to Brigadier General Curtis in St Louis. Despite an endorsement from President Lincoln, this request was denied by Major General McClellan and the Adjutant General’s Office because regular officers were not permitted to serve as aides for generals of volunteers. He served with Captain William P. Chambliss’ squadron of the 5th U.S. Cavalry during the siege of Yorktown and battle of Williamsburg. At the battle of Hanover Court House he served on Brigadier General Emory’s staff as an acting aide de camp. He later served on the staff of Brigadier General Alfred Pleasonton in the same capacity during the Maryland campaign from September to November 1862.

He transferred to the Artillery Reserve of the Army of the Potomac before the battle of Fredericksburg. Placed in charge of the ammunition, First Lieutenant Elbert provided nearly 5,000 rounds to the batteries on the army’s right. Brigadier General Hunt cited his performance in his report on the battle.

During the spring of 1863, Major General Stoneman selected him for the staff of the Cavalry Corps. He served here as an aide de camp through Stoneman’s Raid and the beginning of the Gettysburg campaign. On June 27th, word of his promotion caught up to him. Promoted to Captain of Company G, 3rd U.S. Cavalry on March 11, 1863, he was ordered to immediately join his regiment in the western theater.

Captain Elbert joined his company at Camp McRae, near Memphis, Tennessee. He served there until September, when he became ill with typhoid fever. The regimental commander, Captain George W. Howland, granted him sick leave to go home to Iowa and recover on September 11th. He didn’t make it home.

Captain Leroy S. Elbert died on the steamboat “City of Alton” on September 13, 1863 while en route to St Louis. Captain Samuel Gilbert of the 2nd Iowa Cavalry was with him and sent his body and belongings home from St Louis. He is buried in Oak Lawn Cemetery, Keosauqua, Van Buren County, Iowa.

Fiddler’s Green: Michael Lawless

15 Friday Oct 2021

Posted by in 2nd Dragoons/ 2nd Cavalry, 2nd U.S. Cavalry, battle of Brandy Station, battle of Trevillian Station

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Michael Lawless was born in Waterford, Ireland about 1826. He appears to have emigrated from Galway in 1849 on the brig Clarence with his older sister “Biddy” (Bridget?). He listed his occupation as farmer on the passenger list. They arrived in New York on February 10, 1849, and moved to Boston shortly thereafter.

On December 4, 1849, Michael was enlisted into Company I, 1st Dragoons by Lieutenant Charles Jordan. His enlistment documents describe him as 5’7″ tall, with black hair, hazel eyes and a dark complexion. Lawless was working as a laborer at the time of his enlistment. He left the Army at the end of his enlistment on December 4, 1854 as a private at Fort Thorn, NM.

He soon rejoined the Army, enlisting in Company H of the 2nd Dragoons in St Louis, MO on March 13, 1855. This is roughly the amount of time it would have taken him to travel east on the Santa Fe Trail as a civilian from Fort Thorn. Lawless was more successful this enlistment, with promotions to corporal and sergeant. He re-enlisted into the same company on January 13, 1860 at Camp Floyd, Utah Territory. His company commander was Captain Alfred Pleasonton.

Sergeant Lawless accompanied his regiment on its march east at the outbreak of the Civil War, reaching Cantonment Holt in Washington, D.C. by the end of 1861. He served ably in the company during the campaign on the peninsula, rising to the rank of first sergeant by the summer of 1862. On July 19, 1862, he, the regimental sergeant major and several other first sergeants were recommended for commissions by regimental commander Major Alfred Pleasonton through the provost marshal of the Army of the Potomac.

Lawless was promoted to second lieutenant in the same company on July 17, 1862. Interestingly, this was two days before the date of Pleasonton’s recommendation. Due to the pace of operations within the army that summer, he didn’t learn of his promotion until September, just after the battle of Antietam. He accepted his commission on September 23, 1862 at the regiment’s camp near Sharpsburg, MD. There must have been quite a party in the camp that evening, as the sergeant major, quartermaster sergeant and three first sergeants were all notified of their appointments the same day.

Lieutenant Lawless served with Company H through the remainder of the 1862 campaigns, as well as Stoneman’s Raid. He fought well at Brandy Station, where he was one of the few officers of the 2nd Cavalry not killed or wounded. Indeed, he was the only one of the five officers he was commissioned with not to be wounded in the battle. He was promoted to first lieutenant in Company A after the battle, with a date of rank of June 9, 1863. He fought with this company for the rest of the year, frequently commanding it in the absence of its assigned captain.

First Lieutenant Lawless opened the 1864 campaign once again commanding Company A. He led it during the fighting at Todd’s Tavern, Sheridan’s “first raid,” and Old Church. in command of the company. The regimental commander cited him as “distinguished for his personal intrepidity in action and other good qualities as a soldier” during the fighting.

On June 11, 1864, during the opening phase of the battle of Trevillian Station, Lieutenant Lawless was killed while leading his company. In his report on the battle, Brigadier General Wesley Merritt said of him, “he was a fearless, honest, and eminently trustworthy soldier, ‘God’s truth’ being the standard by which he measured all of his actions.”

Originally buried on the battlefield, Lawless was later moved to Culpeper National Cemetery. He appears not to have had a next of kin, as I found no record of a pension claim.

Joseph Frederick, 6th U.S. Cavalry

02 Saturday Jan 2021

Posted by in 6th U.S. Cavalry, battle of Trevillian Station, recruiting, volunteers

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Joseph Frederick was born to German immigrants on January 15, 1837 near Pittsburgh, PA. He worked as a barber in Pittsburgh prior to the war.

Jospeh mustered into Company C, 37th Pennsylvania Volunteers on April 17, 1861. Raised in the Pittsburgh area, the regiment was ordered to Washington, D.C. on July 30th, and initially served near Tennallytown, MD. It moved to Camp Pierpont near Langley, VA in October, where it spent the winter. After service near Fredericksburg in the spring of 1862, the regiment moved to White House in early June. It arrived just in time for the Seven Days’ Battles, where it lost 230 men killed, wounded and missing in the course of little more than a week. In August, it moved north to join General John Pope’s army and fought at Groveton and Second Manassas, it lost another 52 men. The regiment lost another 54 at South Mountain, and over 50 more at Antietam.

Joseph had seen enough, and he was not alone. He was one of over a dozen members of the 37th Pennsylvania who joined the 6th U.S. Cavalry over a two week period from the end of October to mid-November. Joseph enlisted into Company G near Knoxville, MD on October 28th. His enlistment documents describe him as 5’9″ tall, with light hair, blue eyes and a light complexion.

After time spent in the regiment’s dismounted camp learning to be a cavalryman, Private Frederick joined the regiment in its winter camp near Belle Plain, VA. He, like the rest of the regiment, spent the winter rootating from the camp to picket duty at various fords along the Rappahannock River.

Jospeh’s first real action as a cavalryman came during Stoneman’s Raid in May 1863, which he weathered without incident. He was not so fortunate the following month during his first cavalry fight at Beverly Ford, becoming a prisoner of war. He was most likely captured during the fighting near the Welford house between his squadron and the 100th Virginia Cavalry of W.H.F. Lee’s brigade on Yew Ridge.

After a relatively short stint in prison on Belle Isle, Frederick was exchanged and returned to his regiment after the Gettysburg campaign. He served with the regiment through the fall and spring campaigns at the headquarters of the Cavalry Corps. Almost a year to the day after being captured, misfortune struck again. The regiment left Private Frederick as a hospital attendant with the wounded following the battle of Trevilian Station. This time he was sent to Andersonville Prison. He was fortunate enough to survive the experience, unlike several of his regimental comrades. To make the experience worse, his enlistment expired on July 29, 1864, but he wasn’t exchanged and released from service until February 13, 1865.

Joseph returned to Pittsburgh after his discharge, where he married Catherine Schneider laterr in the year. They settled in Bridge Street in Etna and he lived there for the rest of his life. In 1905, he returned to Andersonvillle to attend the cermonies at the dedication of a memorial there.

Joseph Frederick died in Etna on August 9, 1915 of arterio sclerosis and hepatic cirrhosis. He is buried nearby in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Sharpsburg, PA.