The 1st Maryland Cavalry Regiment
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Unit History
The First Maryland Cavalry was organized in Baltimore and Williamsport, Maryland, Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, and Washington, D.C., from August of 1861 to June, 1862. The regiment enlisted for a term of three years. At the end of it's term of service all but the veterans were mustered out, who remained on active duty until August 8, 1865.
Company A., B., C., D. & E. were recruited in Baltimore City. Company F. at Cockeysville, G. & K. at Pittsburg, H. & I. in Washington and Allegany Counties, and L. & M. were recruited in Washington, D.C.
In January of 1862, while the regiment was still organizing, Companies G., I. & K. were transfered to West Virginia in response to Stonewall Jackson's Winter Campaign through the upper Shenandoah and his move against Hancock, Maryland. Company I. particularly distinguished itself on February 14, 1862 at Bloomery Gap, West Virginia.
In May of 1862, Companies A., B., C., G. & I., under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Wetschy, helped to cover General Nathan Bank's retreat from Winchester, who had been attacked there on the 24th by Stonewall Jackson.
Companies D., F., H., K. and L., under Major Deems, arrived at Harper's Ferry on May 25th to assist in repushing furhter advances by the Confederates at this time. On the 28th this portion of the 1st Maryland, along with part of Cole's Cavalry, the 111th Pennsylvania Infantry and a section of artillery moved to Charlestown, where they encountered Jackson's vanguard. During the skirmish that followed the 1st Maryland suffered serious losses.
As Jackson moved back up the Valley in May and June of 1862, the 1st Maryland Cavalry accompanied Bank's army in it's pursuit of Jackson. Then in June moved with Banks into eastern Virginia to join the command of General Pope.
The 1st Maryland participated in Pope's campaign, fighting at Cedar Mountain, Centerville and Second Manassas. Company H. & I. had remained in the Valley as part of the Harper's Ferry garrison and contriputed to the arsenal's defense in September, 1862, when Jackson moved against Harper's Ferry. These two companies were among the Federal cavalry column that broke out of Harper's Ferry on September 15th.
The 1st Maryland was transfered to General Stoneman's Cavalry Division and participated in his famous raid deep into Virginia in April and May of 1863. The regiment was fully engaged at the Battle of Brandy Station on June 9th, and all the major cavalry engagements from that point until the completion of the Battle of Gettysburg. At Gettysburg the 1st Maryland served to the south east of Culp's Hill on the extreme right of Meade's line, and was engaged in the cavalry battle on July 3rd.
The 1st Maryland continued with the Army of the Potomac through Grant's Wilderness campaign, was temporarily assigned to the Army of the James, but returned to the Army of the Potomac when General Sheridan returned to the Army of the Potomac after securing the Shenandoah.
During the final stages of the siege of Petersburg the 1st Maryland operated on the extreme left flank of the Army of the Potomac and participated in the pursuit of the Army of Northern Virginia after it's breakout in April. The regiment was present at Appomattox on April 9, 1865.
Regiment lost during service 3 Officers and 65 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 3 Officers and 130 Enlisted men by disease. Total 201.
Assignments
SERVICE.--Skirmishes at Edward's Ferry September 3-4, 1861 (Co. "K"). Action at Greenbrier, W. Va., October 3, 1861 (Co. "G"). Ball's Bluff, Va., October 21, 1861 (Detachment). Stone's Cross Roads, Ball's Bluff, Bath and Alpine Station, January 4, 1862 (Cos. "G," "H" and "I"). Hancock January 5-6 (Co. "K"). Bloomery Gap January 7 and February 14 (Co. "I"). Regiment at Baltimore, Md., until March, 1862. Operations in Shenandoah Valley March to June. Advance on Winchester March 7-15. Pursuit of Jackson up the Valley. Retreat to Williamsport, Md., May 24-26. Middletown May 24 (Cos. "A," "B," "C," "G" and "I"). (Cos. "D," "F," "H," "K" and "L" arrive at Harper's Ferry, W. Va., May 25? Winchester May 25 (Cos. "A," "B," "C," "G" and "I"). Charlestown May 28. Defense of Harper's Ferry May 28-30 (Cos. "D," "F," "H," "K" and "L"). Near Harper's Ferry June 9. Expedition to Madison Court House, Culpeper and Orange Court Houses July 12-17. Near Culpeper July 12. Rapidan Station July 13. Madison Court House August 8. Battle of Cedar Creek August 9. Pope's Campaign in Northern Virginia August 16-September 2. Fords of the Rappahannock August 21-23. Fauquier, White Sulphur Springs, August 23-24. Gainesville August 28. Groveton August 29. Bull Run August 30. Chantilly September 1. Evacuation of Winchester September 2 (Cos. "H," "I"). Frederick, Md., September 6. Boonsboro, Md., September 7. Near Boonsboro September 10. Maryland Heights and Harper's Ferry September 12-13 (Cos. "H," "I"). Cut way through enemy's lines September 14 (Cos. "H" and "I"). Culpeper September 14. Sharpsburg September 15. Capture of Longstreet's trains (Cos. "H," "I"). Rapidan Station September 16. Duty in the Defenses of the Upper Potomac covering Washington, D.C., until December. Manassas, Va., October 23-24. Affair opposite Williamsport October 29 (Detachment). Reconnaissance from Bolivar Heights to Rippen, W. Va.. November 9 (2 Cos.). Reconnaissance to Winchester December 2-6 (Detachment). Battle of Fredericksburg December 12-15. Dumfries December 27. Duty in the defenses of the Upper Potomac until April, 1863; near Cumberland, Md., Grove Church, near Morrisville, January 26. Chancellorsville Campaign April 27-May 6. Stoneman's Raid April 27-May 8. South Anna Bridge, near Ashland, May 3. Brandy Station, or Fleetwood, and Beverly Ford, June 9. Aldie June 17. Frederick, Md., June 21 (Detachment). Upperville June 23. Middleburg June 25. Westminster June 30. Battle of Gettysburg, Pa., July 1-3. Emmettsburg July 4-6. Middletown July 5. Leitersburg July 7. Cavetown July 8. Hagerstown and Old Antietam Forge, near Leitersburg, July 10. Shepherdstown July 14 and 16. Beverly Ford September 6. Advance from the Rappahannock to the Rapidan September 13-17. Culpeper Court House September 13. Rapidan Station September 13 and 15-16. Raccoon Ford September 15. White's Ford September 21. Bristoe Campaign October 9-22. Germania Ford and James City October 10. Near Warrenton October 11. White Sulphur Springs October 12-13. Bristoe Station October 14. Near Centreville and Brentsville October 14. Advance to line of the Rappahannock November 7-8. Mine Run Campaign November 26-December 2. Grove Church, near Morrisville, November 26. Parker's Store November 29. Duty In Middle Department until June, 1864. Princeton May 6. Jeffersonville May 8. Wier Bottom Church, on Bermuda Hundred Front, Va., June 16-17. Richmond and Petersburg R. R. June 19. Deep Bottom July 21. New Market Heights July 27-28. Strawberry Plains, north of the James, August 14-18. Flusser's Mills August 14. Deep Run August 16-18. Siege of Petersburg August 25-September 27. Battle of Chaffin's Farm September 28-30. New Market Heights October 7. Darbytown Road October 13. Fair Oaks October 27-28. Smithfield December 7. Duty before Richmond to March, 1865. Scout to Long and Bottom's Bridge January 30, 1865. Expedition to Fearnsville and Smithfield February 11-15. Appomattox Campaign March 28-April 9. Dinwiddie Court House March 30-31. Five Forks April 1. Sutherland Station April 2. Burgess Mills April 3. Deep Creek April 4. Amelia Court House April 5. Sailor's Creek and Harper's Farm April 6. Farmville April 6-7. Appomattox Court House April 9. Surrender of Lee and his army. March to Danville April 23-29. Duty in the Department of Virginia until August. Mustered out August 8, 1865.
