≡ Menu

1st Pennsylvania Cavalry

Editor’s Note: Do you have information on this unit’s role at the Siege of Petersburg?  Please contact us using the Contact button in the menu at the top of the screen.  We are happy to exchange information with other researchers.

Muster In: Companies “A,” “B,” “C,” “D,” “E,” “F” and “G” organized at Camp Curtin, Pa., and mustered into State service July and August, 1861. Moved to Camp Jones, near Washington, D.C., August. Companies “H,” “I” and “K” organized at Camp Wilkins, Pittsburgh, August, 1861. Joined Regiment at Washington. Company “L” organized as an Independent Company July 30, 1861. On duty at Baltimore until January, 1862; then Joined Regiment. Company “M” organized as an Independent Company August 5, 1861.1
Muster Out: Consolidated with 6th and 17th Pennsylvania Cavalry to form 2nd Provisional Cavalry June 17, 1865.2

Commander(s):
Colonel John P. Taylor
Commander Image

Major Richard J. Falls
Commander Image

Major Hampton S. Thomas
Commander Image

Commander 4
Commander Image

First Offensive Order of Battle: First Brigade | Second Division | Cavalry Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army3,4

  • Commander:
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Second Offensive Order of Battle: First Brigade | Second Division | Cavalry Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army5,6

  • Commander: Colonel John P. Taylor (June 30, 1864)7
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Third Offensive Order of Battle: First Brigade | Second Division | Cavalry Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army8,9

  • Commander: Colonel John P. Taylor (July 31, 1864)10
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Fourth Offensive Order of Battle: First Brigade | Second Division | Cavalry Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army11,12

  • Commander: Colonel John P. Taylor (August 31, 1864)13
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Fifth Offensive Order of Battle: First Brigade | Second Division | Cavalry Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army14,15

  • Commander:
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:
  • Note: Old members mustered out and the remaining members were consolidated into a Battalion of five companies on September 9, 1864.16

Sixth Offensive Order of Battle: First Brigade | Second Division | Cavalry Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army17,18

  • Commander: Major Richard J. Falls (October 31, 1864)19
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:
  • Note: According to Dyer’s Compendium, the unit was a battalion of five companies at this point in the war20.  However, the Official Records indicate the 1st Pennsylvania Cavalry consisted of four (4) companies on October 31, 1864.21,22

Seventh Offensive Order of Battle: First Brigade | Second Division | Cavalry Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army23,24

  • Commander: Major Richard J. Falls (December 31, 1864)25
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:
  • Note: The 1st Pennsylvania Cavalry consisted of five (5) companies at this time.26,27,28
  • Note: This regiment participated in Warren’s Stony Creek, or “Apple Jack” Raid to Belfield and Hicksford, Virginia from December 7-12, 1864.29

Eighth Offensive Order of Battle: First Brigade | Second Division | Cavalry Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army30,31,32

  • Commander: Major Hampton S. Thomas (January 31 & February 28, 1865)33,34
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:
  • Note: The 1st Pennsylvania Cavalry consisted of five (5) companies at this time.35,36,37,38
  • Note: This unit is listed in the casualty returns for the Battle of Hatcher’s Run, February 5-7, 1865, implying it was present during the Eighth Offensive and the battle.39

Ninth Offensive Order of Battle: First Brigade | Second Division | Cavalry Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army40,41

  • Commander: Major Hampton S. Thomas (March 31, 1865)42
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:
  • Note: The 1st Pennsylvania Cavalry was a battalion of five (5) companies at this time.43,44,45

Dyer’s/Sifakis’ Compendium Info:
Siege of Petersburg Battles46:

  • Sheridan’s Trevillian Raid June 7-24.
  • Trevillian Station June 11-12.
  • Newark or Mallory’s Cross Roads June 12.
  • White House or St. Peter’s Church June 21.
  • Black Creek or Tunstall’s Station June 21.
  • St. Mary’s Church June 24.
  • Hope Church June 24.
  • Bellefield July.
  • Warwick Swamp July 12.
  • Demonstration north of the James July 27-29.
  • Malvern Hill and Gaines Hill July 28.
  • Lee’s Mills July 30.
  • Demonstration north of James River August 13-20.
  • Gravel Hill August 14.
  • Malvern Hill August 16.
  • Strawberry Plains August 16-18.
  • Dinwiddie Road, near Ream’s Station, August 23.
  • Ream’s Station August 25.
  • Old members mustered out September 9.
  • Consolidated to a Battalion of five Companies September 9.
  • Belcher’s Mills September 17.
  • Poplar Springs Church September 29-October 2.
  • Arthur’s Swamp September 30-October 1.
  • Charles City Cross Roads October 1.
  • Hatcher’s Run October 27-28.
  • Reconnaissance toward Stony Creek November 7.
  • Stony Creek Station December 1.
  • Hicksford Raid December 7-12.
  • Bellefield December 9-10.
  • Dabney’s Mills, Hatcher’s Run, February 5-7, 1865.
  • Appomattox Campaign March 28-April 9.
  • Dinwiddie Court House March 30-31.
  • Five Forks April 1.
  • Amelia Springs April 5.
  • Sailor’s Creek April 6.
  • Farmville April 7.
  • 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. 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. 232
    4. 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. 551
    5. 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. 232
    6. 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. 551
    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. 551
    8. 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 262
    9. 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 736
    10. 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 736
    11. 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 618: “Organization of the Army of the Potomac…August 31, 1864”
    12. 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 121, 127, 131 “Return of Casualties in the Union Forces (August 1864)”
    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 618: “Organization of the Army of the Potomac…August 31, 1864”
    14. 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. 1297.
    15. 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 142: “Return of Casualties in the Union Forces (September-October 1864)”
    16. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3)
    17. 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 463: “Organization of the Union Forces” (October 31, 1864)”
    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 159: “Return of Casualties in the Union Forces…Boydton Plank Road, Va., October 27-28, 1864”
    19. 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 463: “Organization of the Union Forces” (October 31, 1864)”
    20. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3)
    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 463: “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 159: “Return of Casualties in the Union Forces…Boydton Plank 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 1122: “Organization of the Union Forces” (December 31, 1864)
    24. Calkins, Chris. “The Apple Jack Raid: For This Barbarism There Was No Real Excuse.” Blue & Gray Magazine Summer 2005: 18-25 (OOB on page 60).
    25. 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 1122: “Organization of the Union Forces” (December 31, 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 1122: “Organization of the Union Forces” (December 31, 1864)
    27. Calkins, Chris. “The Apple Jack Raid: For This Barbarism There Was No Real Excuse.” Blue & Gray Magazine Summer 2005: 18-25 (OOB on page 60).
    28. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3)
    29. Calkins, Chris. “The Apple Jack Raid: For This Barbarism There Was No Real Excuse.” Blue & Gray Magazine Summer 2005: 18-25 (OOB on page 60).
    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 333: “Organization of the Union Forces” (January 31, 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 746: “Organization of the Union Forces” (February 28, 1865)
    32. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 1 (Serial Number 96), page 68: “Return of Casualties in the Union forces at Hatcher’s Run (otherwise known as Dabney’s Mill, Armstrong’s Mill, Rowanty Creek, and Vaughan Road)… (February 5-7, 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 333: “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 746: “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 2 (Serial Number 96), page 333: “Organization of the Union Forces” (January 31, 1865)
    36. 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 746: “Organization of the Union Forces” (February 28, 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 96), page 68: “Return of Casualties in the Union forces at Hatcher’s Run (otherwise known as Dabney’s Mill, Armstrong’s Mill, Rowanty Creek, and Vaughan Road)… (February 5-7, 1865)”
    38. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3)
    39. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 1 (Serial Number 96), page 68: “Return of Casualties in the Union forces at Hatcher’s Run (otherwise known as Dabney’s Mill, Armstrong’s Mill, Rowanty Creek, and Vaughan Road)… (February 5-7, 1865)”
    40. 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 576: “Organization of the Union Forces” (March 31, 1865)
    41. 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 592: “Return of casualties in the Union Forces commanded by Lieut. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, March 29-April 9, 1865”
    42. 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 576: “Organization of the Union Forces” (March 31, 1865)
    43. 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 576: “Organization of the Union Forces” (March 31, 1865)
    44. 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 592: “Return of casualties in the Union Forces commanded by Lieut. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, March 29-April 9, 1865”
    45. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3)
    46. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3)
    { 0 comments… add one }

    Leave a Reply

    Next post:

    Previous post: