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Regular Cavalry in the Civil War

Regular Cavalry in the Civil War

Tag Archives: James E. Harrison

Birth of the Reserve Brigade, Part 3

24 Sunday Feb 2013

Posted by dccaughey in 1863, 2nd Cavalry, 5th Cavalry, 6th Cavalry, Reserve Brigade

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2nd U.S. Cavalry, 5th U.S. Cavalry, 6th U.S. Cavalry, cavalry, Charles J. Whiting, Civil War, James Brisbin, James E. Harrison, Reserve Brigade

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.

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A 28-year Army veteran takes to the Appalachian Trail to contemplate a life well served & the road ahead

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A Writer's On-Going Search for Just the Right Words

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A Journal of the Digitization of a Civil War Battle

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