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1st Maine Cavalry
1st Maine was organized at Augusta, ME, November 5th, 1861,
for three years. Companies A, D, E, and F, under command of Colonel Allen,
departed on March 14th, 1862, and arrived in Washington on the 19th. On the
20th, Companies B, I, H, and M, under Major Douty, left Augusta, arriving in
Washington on the 24th. Companies C, G, K, and L under Major Stowell arrived on
the 28th. Companies A, B, E, H and M, were sent under Lieutenant-Colonel Douty,
to General Banks' Corps at Strasburg, VA, joining on May 11th, and were assigned
to General Hatch's Cavalry Brigade. The remaining seven companies were assigned
to General Abercombie's Brigade, and shortly afterwards to General Ord's
Division at Fredericksburg, VA.
On the 23rd, Lieutenant-Colonel Doughty with his command and two companies of
the 1st Vermont Cavalry, made a charge on the enemy at Middletown, VA, losing
176 horses with as many horse equipments; and then assisted in covering General
Banks' retreat to Williamsport by way of Winchester.
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.
TOBIE, EDWARD P.
Rank and organization: SgtMaj, 1st Maine Cav.
Action: At Appomattox Campaign, Va, 29 March to 9 Apr 1865.
Entered service at: Lewiston, Maine.
Born: Lewiston, Maine
Issued: 1 Apr 1898.
Citation: Though severely wounded at Sailors Creek, 6 April, and at Farmville, 7
April, refused to go to the hospital, but remained with his regiment, performed
the full duties of adjutant upon the wounding of that officer, and was present
for duty at Appomattox.
2LT Tobie is buried in Swain Point cemetary in Providence, Rhode Island.
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