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1st District of Columbia Cavalry

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Muster In: Organized (4 Cos., “A,” “B,” “C” and “E”) at Washington, D.C., June to December, 1863, for special service in District of Columbia and to be subject only to orders of War Department.1
Muster Out: Mustered out October 26, 1865.2

Commander(s):
Lieutenant Colonel Everton J. Conger
Commander Image

Major J. Stannard Baker
J. Stannard Baker 1st DC Cavalry3

Captain Thomas C. Speers
Commander Image

Commander 4
Commander Image

First Offensive Order of Battle: Second Brigade | Cavalry Division | Army of the James | Union Army4,5

  • Commander:
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Second Offensive Order of Battle: Second Brigade | Cavalry Division | Army of the James | Union Army6,7

  • Commander:
    • Lieutenant Colonel Everton J. Conger (June 28-29(?), 1864)8
    • Major J. Stannard Baker (June 30, 1864)9
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Third Offensive Order of Battle: Second Brigade |Cavalry Division | Army of the James | Union Army10,11

  • Commander: Major J. Stannard Baker (July 31, 1864)12
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Fourth Offensive Order of Battle: Second Brigade | Cavalry Division | Army of the James | Union Army13,14

  • Commander: Major J. Stannard Baker (August 31, 1864)15
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:
  • Note: Cos. “D,” “F,” “G,” “H,” “I,” “K” and “L” transferred to 1st Maine Cavalry August 27, 1864. Other Cos. consolidated to a Battalion of 2 Cos.16

Fifth Offensive Order of Battle: Second Brigade | Cavalry Division | Army of the James | Union Army17,18,19,20

  • Commander:
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Sixth Offensive Order of Battle: Second Brigade | Cavalry Division | Army of the James | Union Army21,22

  • Commander: Captain Thomas C. Speers (October 31, 1864)23
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:
  • Note: The 1st District of Columbia Cavalry was a battalion of four (4) companies at this time.24,25

Seventh Offensive Order of Battle: Second Brigade | Cavalry Division | Army of the James | Union Army26

  • Commander: Major J. Stannard Baker (December 31, 1864)27
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:
  • Note: The 1st District of Columbia Cavalry was a battalion of four (4) companies at this time.28

Eighth Offensive Order of Battle: Second Brigade | Cavalry Division | Army of the James | Union Army29,30

  • Commander: Major J. Stannard Baker (January 31 & Febuary 28, 1865)31,32
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:
  • Note: The 1st District of Columbia Cavalry was a battalion of four (4) companies at this time.33,34

Ninth Offensive Order of Battle: Second Brigade | Cavalry Division | Army of the James | Union Army35,36

  • Commander: Major J. Stannard Baker (March 31, 1865)37
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:
  • Note: The 1st District of Columbia Cavalry was a battalion at this time.38,39

Dyer’s/Sifakis’ Compendium Info:
Siege of Petersburg Battles40:

  • Petersburg June 9.
  • Assaults on Petersburg June 15-19.
  • Siege operations against Petersburg and Richmond June 16, 1864, to April 2, 1865.
  • Wilson’s Raid on Southside & Danville R. R. June 22-30, 1864.
  • Staunton River Bridge, or Roanoke Station, June 25.
  • Sappony Church, or Stony Creek, June 28-29.
  • Ream’s Station June 29-July 3.
  • Demonstration on North Side of James River, with engagements at Deep Bottom, Darbytown and New Market Roads July 27-28.
  • Sycamore Church August 9.
  • Ream’s Station August 21-23.
  • Dinwiddie Road, near Ream’s Station, August 23.
  • Ream’s Station August 24-25.
  • (Cos. “D,” “F,” “G,” “H,” “I,” “K” and “L” transferred to 1st Maine Cavalry August 27, 1864. Other Cos. consolidated to a Battalion of 2 Cos.)
  • Prince George Court House September 1.
  • Sycamore Church and Blackwater River September 3.
  • Sycamore Church September 15.
  • Cox’s Mill September 15.
  • Coggin’s Point September 16.
  • Darbytown Road October 7 and 13.
  • Fair Oaks October 27-28.
  • Russell’s Mills November 23.
  • Bellefield Raid December 7-12.
  • Expedition to Fernsville and Smithfield February 11-15, 1865.
  • Appomattox Campaign March 28-April 9, 1865.
  • Dinwiddie Court House March 30-31.
  • Five Forks April 1.
  • Gravelly Ford on Hatcher’s Run April 2.
  • Near Amelia Court House April 4-5.
  • Dinwiddie Road and Sailor’s Creek April 6.
  • Farmville and Prince Edward Court House April 7.
  • Appomattox Station April 8.
  • Appomattox Court House April 9.
  • Surrender of Lee and his army.

Bibliography:

    Siege of Petersburg Documents Which Mention This Unit:

    Sources:

    1. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3)
    2. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3)
    3. J. Stannard Baker image.  MOLLUS-Mass Civil War Photograph Collection, Vol. 113, Page 5820.  United States Army Heritage and Education Center, Carlisle, PA.
    4. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 1 (Serial Number 80), p. 238
    5. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 2 (Serial Number 81), p. 556
    6. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 1 (Serial Number 80), p. 238
    7. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 2 (Serial Number 81), p. 556
    8. “From the Front.” The Daily Express (Petersburg, VA). June 30, 1864, p. 2 col. 2-3
    9. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 2 (Serial Number 81), p. 556
    10. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 1 (Serial Number 80), page 268
    11. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 3 (Serial Number 82), page 741
    12. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 3 (Serial Number 82), page 741
    13. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 2 (Serial Number 88), page 622: “Organization of the Army of the Potomac…August 31, 1864”
    14. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 1 (Serial Number 87), pages 128, 131 “Return of Casualties in the Union Forces (August 1864)”
    15. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 2 (Serial Number 88), page 622: “Organization of the Army of the Potomac…August 31, 1864”
    16. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3)
    17. Sommers, Richard J. “Grant’s Fifth Offensive at Petersburg: A Study in Strategy, Tactics, and Generalship.  The Battle of Poplar Spring Church, the First Battle of the Darbytown Road, the Second Battle of the Squirrel Level Road, the Second Battle of the Darbytown Road (Ulysses S. Grant, Virginia).” Doctoral Thesis. Rice University, 1970. Print. p. 1302.
    18. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 1 (Serial Number 87), page 137: “Return of Casualties in the Union Forces (September-October 1864)”
    19. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 1 (Serial Number 87), page 145: “Return of Casualties in the Union Forces (September-October 1864)”
    20. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 1 (Serial Number 87), page 147: “Return of Casualties in the Union Forces (September-October 1864)”
    21. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 3 (Serial Number 89), page 468: “Organization of the Union Forces” (October 31, 1864)”
    22. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 1 (Serial Number 87), page 152: “Return of Casualties in the Union Forces…Fair Oaks and Darbytown Road, Va., October 27-28, 1864”
    23. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 3 (Serial Number 89), page 468: “Organization of the Union Forces” (October 31, 1864)”
    24. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 3 (Serial Number 89), page 468: “Organization of the Union Forces” (October 31, 1864)”
    25. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 1 (Serial Number 87), page 152: “Return of Casualties in the Union Forces…Fair Oaks and Darbytown Road, Va., October 27-28, 1864”
    26. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 3 (Serial Number 89), page 1127: “Organization of the Union Forces” (December 31, 1864)
    27. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 3 (Serial Number 89), page 1127: “Organization of the Union Forces” (December 31, 1864)
    28. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 3 (Serial Number 89), page 1127: “Organization of the Union Forces” (December 31, 1864)
    29. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 2 (Serial Number 96), page 338: “Organization of the Union Forces” (January 31, 1865)
    30. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 2 (Serial Number 96), page 751: “Organization of the Union Forces” (February 28, 1865)
    31. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 2 (Serial Number 96), page 338: “Organization of the Union Forces” (January 31, 1865)
    32. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 2 (Serial Number 96), page 751: “Organization of the Union Forces” (February 28, 1865)
    33. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 2 (Serial Number 96), page 338: “Organization of the Union Forces” (January 31, 1865)
    34. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 2 (Serial Number 96), page 751: “Organization of the Union Forces” (February 28, 1865)
    35. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 1 (Serial Number 95), page 580: “Organization of the Union Forces” (March 31, 1865)
    36. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 1 (Serial Number 95), page 597: “Return of casualties in the Union Forces commanded by Lieut. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, March 29-April 9, 1865”
    37. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 1 (Serial Number 95), page 580: “Organization of the Union Forces” (March 31, 1865)
    38. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 1 (Serial Number 95), page 580: “Organization of the Union Forces” (March 31, 1865)
    39. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 1 (Serial Number 95), page 597: “Return of casualties in the Union Forces commanded by Lieut. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, March 29-April 9, 1865”
    40. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3)
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