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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.

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.