- 1862 -
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Second Cavalry in 1862 Slide Show
(Last update 3/01/08)
Frustration
With the exceptions of companies C, G, and I, the regiment had formed together in Washington by early 1862.
The regiment's headquarters were known as "Cantonment Holt", and was in reality the Park Hotel in Washington City. A second lieutenant of the regiment wrote a lengthy piece for Rodenbough's book entitled "...Letters of a subaltern". In it, he describes life in and around the city early in the war. From an officer's standpoint, life wasn't so bad as "...and in all respects we are as comfortable as at Carlisle". The regimental staff and officers of two companies were quartered in the hotel, with all the rest being housed in newly built frame buildings nearby.
This un-named writer, actually 1st Lt. T.F. Rodenbough himself, was given command of company A due to the assigned captain, "L" (Brockholst Livingston) having been on sick call for 6 months. He indicates that duty for the first few months of 1862 involved patrolling the city (4 regular cavalry companies each day) with these duties:
- Supply sentinels for all the "principle crossings"
- An officer and 6 men patrol the streets every two hours
- Require all mounted officers and men to show their passes
Rodenbough further says that "We are very hardly worked here, but we have good feed, good appetites, and a comandant who is an accomplished soldier and gentleman". I believe he refers to "Major [John W.] D"[avidson], then commanding the 2nd regiment in the field as Colonel Wood, while assigned, was off in the west with other duties. Davidson would later serve extensively in Missouri and Arkansas and achieve Brevet Maj. General (of volunteers) rank. He returned briefly to command the 2nd Cavalry in the fall of 1866, and then assume the Lt. Col. position with the new 10th Cavalry in December 1866 and serve there through 1874.
Major Davidson instructed his younger officers in drill and expected them to excel. Brig Gen'l Cooke held brigade level drills every two weeks and on some occasions Lt. Rodenbough commanded 2 companies instead of just his own. The drill occurred a mile form the capitol in very muddy conditions. Rodenbough says that "After marching and counter marching, wheeling in column and then in line, it closed with a magnificent charge in column of squadrons of the whole brigade (in which several men of the 5th and 6th cavalry were thrown by getting into holes, but never a man of ours, although several horses were down). Colonel Sacket, Inspector General of the army, was present and pronounced ours the best regiment on the ground; as he observed to General Cooke, 'The old Second still keeps up it's reputation.' We returned home at four o'clock p.m., tired and muddy, having been six hours in the saddle".
The Peninsula Campaign*
Seven companies (A, B, D, E, F, H, K) from the Old Second camped near Washington D.C. were selected to form a part of McClellan’s army which was to invade Virginia from Yorktown Peninsula. In March, 1862, this army was transported south and the siege of Yorktown began. The second Cavalry was fortunate in being unloaded soon after its arrival at Fort Monroe as the harbor was crowded with over 250 ships, and many of the transports had waited for some time with men and animals still on board. On April 4 the regiment encamped at Hampton from Fort Monroe.
When McClellan’s army made its advance April 5, Company H, 2nd Cavalry, was selected as the escort for the General Headquarters. The company hurried along the road with the General for fifteen miles toward the front and went into camp. The next morning the remainder of the regiment joined, along with four companies of the First Cavalry, which made up the mounted force at General Headquarters. The Second at this time formed a part of the cavalry reserve about five regiments under its old commander Brigadier General St G. Cooke. During the campaign this force performed picket and reconnaissance duty. After the withdrawal of the Confederates up the Peninsula, they were engaged further on reconnaissance duty and had skirmishes almost daily on the advance to Chickahominy. The regiment was prevented from participating in some of the engagements during this period, as it usually acted as escort for the General.
Companies H & K, under Capt George A. Gordon, were engaged with the enemy at New Bridge, Virginia on May 24. The squadron was sent on reconnaissance as a support to the Fourth Michigan Volunteers. At this place the nature of the marshy ground and the deep Chickahominy River prevented the squadron from taking a very active part in the engagement. The enemy artillery, which was posted on the opposite bank, fired tow pieces at the squadron for nearly an hour, causing some casualties. The Fifth Louisiana regiment was driven away form the bridge where they had been acting as pickets.
In the passage of the Army of the Potomac over the Chickahominy, June 27, the cavalry, with the Fifth Army Corps, was placed under the orders of General Porter, who was charged with covering the movement. The line of battle formed a semi-circle parallel to the river and Cooke’s cavalry was placed on a plateau in the rear to the left of the line. As the day drew to a close, the Confederates made a desperate assault to cut the left of the line off from the bridge. The infantry gave way and uncovered the artillery, which was left exposed. General Cooke then ordered the artillery to remain there and brought up the cavalry to support it. Under cover of a charge, the artillery was safely withdrawn. After the fight at Gaines’ Mill, the 2nd Cavalry was the last to leave the north bank of the Chickahominy and took up the pontoon bridge under a heavy fire from the Confederates.
The Second was now on the dangerous service of opening the route for the Union army from the Chickahominy to the James River, which it accomplished on June 29. After some skirmishing by the advance guard of the regiment, it reached Carter’s Landing and made contact with the gunboats that evening. During the remainder of the Seven Days battles at Savage Station and Malvern Hill, the regiment was an active participant in the combats.
During July, Companies A, B, and D were broken up. The privates transferred to other companies and the officers, noncommissioned officers and buglers were sent on recruiting duty. Company A went to New York City, Company B to Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania, and Company D to Morristown Pennsylvania. The regiment hat not received a detachment of recruits for four years, and was now reduced to nine officers and 240 enlisted men present for duty.
In McClellan’s retrograde movement from Harrison’s Landing on the James River, Companies E, F, H, K and a squadron of the Fourth Cavalry acted as his escort and had the post of honor at the rear of the whole army. They crossed the Chickahominy near its mouth August 17, and took up the pontoon bridge. After witnessing the whole army embarks for the north, the regiment sailed from Fort Monroe, Virginia August 25 for Alexandria, Virginia and went into camp at Centerville.
Lee’s Invasion North (South Mountain & Antietam)*
Confederate General Robert E. Lee, taking advantage of McClellan’s withdrawal from the Peninsula, had his army cross the Potomac, putting great pressure on President Lincoln and the residents of Washington DC. Lee, instead of attacking Washington and the Union Army shielding that city, pressed through Maryland.
Four companies of the 2nd Cavalry were a part of the Army of the Potomac which followed Lee into Maryland. Leaving the camp at Centerville Virginia September 1, it marched north as Provost Guard, and became part the maligned, "McClellan's personal bodyguard."
Division Commander General Alfred Pleasanton, a former Second Dragoon, took his division to the field and in early September reconnoitered the fords of the Potomac. Although not in good condition for the campaign of Antietam, the cavalry cleared passage through the Catoctin Mountains for the right wing of the Federal army that had reached Frederick, Maryland, September 13. On the 14th , elements of the Second took part in the fighting to drive the Confederates from their position at South Mountain. Pleasanton deployed a part of his cavalry dismounted but did not have an important role in the battle of that day. Lee withdrew to the south, followed by the Union army via Boonesborough. At this place the Federal Cavalry caught up with the enemy rear guard, capturing 250 prisoners, two field-pieces and drove it two miles beyond town.
Sept 17, at the battle of Antietam, the cavalry moved to the Antietam Bridge, within a short distance of Lee’s center. Here it came under heavy crossfire of artillery which caused many casualties. Skirmishers were thrown forward and with the help of Federal guns, the Confederate batteries were driven away. After the battle, the cavalry moved down to the fords of the Potomac and remained there in observations.
Fredericksburg
The cavalry did not take much part in the fighting at Fredericksburg from December 11 to 15, although four companies of the Second were involved. When Sumner’s grand division crossed the river December 12, Pleasanton’s cavalry division was deployed so as to cover the approaches to the upper bridges. When Franklin crossed below the city, he paws preceded by Bayard’s cavalry division which acted as a reconnaissance. Most of the time cavalry was used on picket duty forming a protective screen around the army.
During the battle of Fredericksburg in December, Sergeant Martin Hagan and a handful of troopers held off a Confederate cavalry brigade belonging to J.E.B. Stuart's corps, allowing the Union Army to withdraw across the river. Upon arriving at the river themselves they found the pontoon bridges already cut away, leaving them little choice but to swim their horses across the icy Rappahannock river to safety. Sgt. Hagan accomplished this mission without the loss of a single man, horse, or major item of equipment, and for his gallant action he was awarded the first Medal of Honor of the Second Dragoons
Company C
Fort Henry & Fort Donelson*
By the beginning of 1862, Company C had left Fort Leavenworth and
transferred to Paducah, Kentucky. Company C was assigned to the command of
Brigadier General Charles F. Smith of McClernand’s Division along with one
company of the Fourth Cavalry. At this place it was engaged in scouting and
escort duty until February 5th, when operations against Forts Henry
and Donalson were begun under General Grant. During this time the cavalry was
opposed to the infamous Rebel Cavalier, Bedford Forrest. Fort Henry was
captured without much struggle and the army moved on to Donelson. While on
reconnaissance duty near Fort Donelson, Company C had two skirmishes with the
enemy; once on February 10th and the next on February12th. Arriving
at Fort Donelson, the army soon bottled up the Confederates, causing the
surrender of the entire garrison with exception of the cavalry. Afterward, the
company moved south with the rest the army to Nashville, arriving February 28.
Shiloh & Pocahontas Farm*
March 1, Company C marched south with Grant’s army, 300 miles to Pittsburgh Landing (Shiloh). The regimental returns have the following to say about this company during the year:
“Engaged in the battle of Pittsburg Landing (Shiloh) April 6 and 7, 1862. Left ther the 14th under command of General C.F.Smith, and drove back the enemy’s pickets, returning to camp at Pittsburg Landing, the same day. Left Pittsburg Landing on a reconnaissance April 27 and marched within five miles of Purddy, returning to camp at Pittsburg Landing April 30, 1862.”
“Left Pittsburg Landing Tennessee, May 4 and arrived Corinth, Mississippi, June 7 1862. Remained at Corinth, Mississippi, until September 25 when we marched to Pocahontas Farm same day and engaged and dispersed the Confederate Cavalry. The Company lost five men and eighteen horses in this engagement. It returned to Corinth, Mississippi September 26, 1862.”
Leaving Corinth on November 5th, the company made its way to Memphis by January 15th, serving there as General Grant's escort until transferred to the regiment in the east.
Company G
Val Verde*
Preceding the battle of Val Verde, the Federal force concentrated at Fort Craig, New Mexico, consisted of parts of the Fifth and Seventh Infantry, Company G/2nd Cavalry, one company of the 3rd Cavalry, and two regiments of New Mexican Volunteers under Kit Carson. Company G and the men from the 3rd Cavalry were converted to artillery. This artillery crew in a 6 gun battery was commanded by Captain Alexander McRae.
February 21, the Federal forces at Fort Craig marched out to meet a small Confederate invasion force from Texas commanded by General HH Sibley. In an ironic twist of fate, General Sibley was the former Brevet Major in the 2nd Dragoons/ Company I (see below). He was also the chief designer of the popular “Sibley Tent” used by the federals throughout most of the war. Commanded by Brigadier General E. R. S. Canby, the small Federal force moved north along the east bank of the Rio Grande. At 6:00 AM Captain McRae’s light battery received orders to move to the front, and going forward at a gallop, it crossed the river and took a position opposite a Rebel battery about four hundred yards distance. Here it remained during the morning, when it dislodged the opposing battery, enabling the infantry to cross to the opposite bank. At noon it crossed to the east banks and for some time fired occasional shots at the enemy cavalry. Later, the battery advanced to the front on the left of the line of battle. Soon after arriving here it was found they were within one hundred yards of two enemy batteries which were masked behind a hill. These Texas batteries soon did great damage to them, and followed this cannonade with a charge of their infantry. The New Mexican volunteers fled, leaving a few Union troops to repulse the charge, which was done gallantly. The Texas troops soon charged again, led by General Sibley himself. There followed a severe hand-to-hand fight resulting in many casualties to both sides. General Canby ordered a withdrawal to the east bank and after a short time the whol command fell back to Fort Craig. They barely got away at all, leaving 4 of 6 guns behind and losing 9 men killed, 8 wounded, and 2 missing from the Dragoons alone. Capt McRae was killed. Of the temporary artillerists Col. Joseph MacBell writes:
“Too much praise cannot be given to the companies of the Second and Third Cavalry, manning the battery, for the part they took in the fight Failing in no duty, regardless of themselves, and having in view the honest performance of all that was to be done, they bore themselves as men of courage throughout the day, and the regiments to which they belong can claim with pride a participation in the battle of Val Verde..."
Company I
Located in Taos NM, the company soon found its officers depleted with Brevet Major HH Sibley of Louisiana and Lt. John Pegram of Virginia "going south". Lt. C.J. Walker of Kentucky stayed on and the company left Fort Union, arriving at Fort Garland CO on October 9. Staying on there, the company left in late September 1862 with Company G for Fort Leavenworth. The squadron then made it's way through St Louis to Washington on November 23, 1862.
1862: CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF BATTLES/ENGAGEMENTS THAT SECOND CAVALRY TROOPS PARTICIPATED
DATE EVENT/LOCATION COMPANY
Feb 12-16 Ft Donelson/TN C
Feb 21 Valverde/NM G
Apr 5 – May 4 Siege of Yorktown/VA A, B, D, E, F, H, K
April 6-7 Shiloh/ TN C
- Pittsburg Landing
May 23-24 Hogan’s and New Bridge/VA H, K
- near New Bridge
June 27 Seven Days Battle/VA A, B, D, E, F, H, K
- Gaines’ Mill,
- Cold Harbor,
June 30-July 2 Crew’s or Poindexter Farm/VA A, B, D, E, F, H, K
- Malvern Hill,
- Malvern Cliff,
- Turkey Bridge
Aug 31 Skirmish/VA E, H
- between Centerville & Germantown
Sept 14 South Mountain/ MD E, F
- Turner’s Pass
Sept 16-17 Antietam/MD E, F, H, K
Sept 26 Pocahontas/MS C
Dec 11-15 Fredericksburg/VA E, F, H, K
*Note: Excerpts and the Chronological list were taken from:
Lambert, Joseph I., Major USA, One Hundred Years with the Second Cavalry, Newton Publishing Company, San Antonio TX 1999