Capsule histories of the 1st, 2nd regiments of Maine Cavalry & 1st DC Cavalry

On the 10th of July, the companies under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Douty joined the regiment at Warrenton, VA. On the 9th of August, the whole regiment, under the command of Colonel Allen, attached to Bayard's Brigade, took part in the battle of Cedar Mountain, VA. They retreated with General Pope's forces to Fairfax Court House, VA, where they arrived on September 3rd, and reported to General Reno, having had an engagement with the enemy at Brandy Station on the morning of August 20th.

The regiment arrived at Washington, DC, on the 4th of September, and was attached to Burnside's Corps, participating, on the 12th, in the engagement at Frederick, MD, where the regiment (with the exception of Companies G. M and H) remained encamped, Colonel Allen receiving the appointment on Military Governor.

Company G, acting as General Reno's body guard, participated in the battle of South Mountain, MD, on the 14th; and Companies M and H, under General F. J. Porter, in that of Antietam on the 17th.

The total number of horses lost in action and worn out in service during the year amounting to nearly 700.

The regiment was relieved from duty at Frederick, MD, on November 2nd, and December 11th was assigned to General Bayard's Cavalry Brigade at Falmouth, VA, afterwards commanded by General Gregg, under whose command the regiment remained until February 20th 1863, when it was assigned to the 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, Colonel J. Kilpatrick commanding.

From April 13th to June 8th, the regiment was engaged in several reconnaissance's and engagements, and on the 17th participated in the action at Aldie, VA, Colonel Douty being killed while gallantly charging at the head of his men, also Capt. Summatt while rallying his men under a murderous fire of grape and canister.

On the 19th, the regiment was engaged at Middleburg, VA, Upperville, VA, on the 21st, and arrived at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2nd, where it was engaged in a severe cavalry fight on the right of the Federal lines on the 3rd.

At Sheppardstown on the 16th; the regiment went to the support of the pickets of the 10th NY, who were attacked by the enemy in large force, led by General Stuart, and was engaged in a severe and hotly contested fight lasting till after dark.

From August 24th to December 23rd, the regiment was engaged in several battles, skirmishes and reconnaissance's.

From the latter date to Jan 1st, 1864, it was encamped near Bealton Station, VA, when they proceeded with the 2nd Division Cavalry Corps to Front Royal returning on the 4th to Warrenton and there remained engaged in picket and other duties until February 27th, on which day 300 men reported to General Kilpatrick for duty in the expedition to Richmond, during which the detachment participated in several engagements with the enemy; returned by transports to Alexandria, VA, arriving there on the 12th of March, having lost during the raid, in killed, wounded and missing, 93 men and over 200 horses.

On the 7th and 8th of May, the regiment had a severe engagement with the enemy at Todd's Tavern, and on the 9th the regiment moved with the Cavalry Corps on General Sheridan's first raid, until within three miles of Richmond, and went into camp near Pole Cat River, when the raid ended.

On the 2nd of June, the regiment was engaged with the enemy on the Cold Harbor Road, when Chaplain Bartlett was instantly killed by a solid shot.

On the 11th, the regiment participated in the action at Trevillian's Station, on the 24th, at St. Mary's Church, losing in killed, wounded and missing, 10 officers and 58 enlisted men.

On the 28th of July, had a sharp engagement with the enemy near Malvern Hill.

On the 16th of August, participated in the engagement on the Charles County Road; at Dinwiddie Court House on the 23rd, and at Reams' Station on the 24th losing during the month of August, in killed, wounded and missing, 49 men and 75 horses.

During this month (August) seven companies of the 1st DC Cavalry were transferred and assigned to the several companies of this regiment by Special Order No. 17, War Dept. series of 1864.

In October, the regiment was engaged in the actions at Gravelly Creek and Boydton Plank Road, returning to camp near the Jerusalem Plank Road on the 29th, the casualties during the month being 11 killed, 55 wounded and 13 missing.

The original members of the regiment whose term of service expired November 4th, 1864, were mustered out of the U. S. Service at Augusta, ME, November 25th, 1864.

During the month of December, the regiment was engaged in scouting and picketing.

During the year 1864, the casualties in this regiment were as follows: enlisted men killed in action or died from wounds, 69; wounded, 202; missing in action, 126. Commissioned officers killed in action or died from wounds, 7; wounded, 13; missing in action, 4

On the 5th of February, 1865, the regiment started for Hatcher's Run and returned on the 8th, remaining in camp until the 26th, on which day and the two following, it served as a support to the 9th corps in front of Petersburg.

On the 31st, being at Cat Tail Run, it participated in one of the most obstinately contested engagements of the campaign, losing one killed and four wounded commissioned officers, and 70 wounded and six enlisted men, missing.

It also participated in the closing battles of the war, and was mustered out of the U. S. service at Petersburg, VA, August 1st, 1865, arriving at Augusta, ME, on the 9th, where the men were paid and finally discharged.

Medal of Honor Recipient's

SMITH, CHARLES H.
Rank and organization: Col, 1st Maine Cav.
Action: At St. Mary's Church, Va, 24 Jun 1864.
Entered service at: [Eastport], Maine.
Born: Hollis, Maine.
Date of issue: 11 April 1895.
Citation: Remained in the fight to the close, although severely wounded.

THAXTER, SIDNEY W.
Rank and organization: Major, 1st Maine Cav.
Action: At Hatchers Run, Va, 27 Oct 1864.
Entered service at: Bangor, Maine.
Born: Bangor, Maine.
Date of issue: 10 September 1897.
Citation: Voluntarily remained and participated in the battle with conspicuous gallantry, although his term of service had expired and he had been ordered home to be mustered out.
MAJ Thaxter is buried in Evergreen cemetary in Portland, Maine.

On the 19th of March, the regiment joined Gen. Steele’s command, concentrated at Pensacola, preparatory to the movement which resulted in the capture of Mobile and the opening of the State of Alabama to the advance of Federal Troops.

During the whole campaign, the regiment rendered efficient service, had several encounters with the enemy, destroyed a large amount of railroad and other property, besides opening communication with Gen. Canby, besieging Spanish Fort, and capturing a large number of the enemy.

After the fall of Mobile, a detachment of the regiment was assigned to the 16th Army Corps, being the only Cavalry with that body of 30,000 men. The detachment did efficient duty during the long march of nearly 200 miles to the city of Montgomery, AL. In August the detachment was ordered to return to Florida, and rejoined the regiment at Barrancas.

The regiment was then broken up into small detachments were stationed at various points throughout Western Florida for security.

By the 1st of December, the entire regiment was concentrated at Barrancas, and mustered out of the U. S. service on the 6th by Lt E. M. Schryver, Assistant Commissary of Musters. Twenty-five commissioned officers and about 116 enlisted men were mustered out and discharged in Florida, to become residents of the South, making oath of their intention to remain there, and receiving from the government, mileage in lieu of transportation.

The remainder of the regiment, comprising 14 officers and 500 enlisted men, embarked on the 8th for Augusta, ME, where they were paid and finally discharged on December 21st, 1865.

Death losses during service: Two Officers and 8 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded; 334 Enlisted men died of disease. Total 344.

Medal of Honor Recipient's