1st West Virginia Volunteer Cavalry Regiment
| 1st West Virginia Volunteer Cavalry Regiment | |
|---|---|
|
Flag of West Virginia | |
| Active | July 10, 1861 to July 8, 1865 |
| Country | United States |
| Allegiance | Union |
| Branch | Cavalry |
| Engagements |
First Battle of Kernstown Battle of Second Bull Run Battle of Chantilly Battle of Antietam Battle of Gettysburg Battle of Cedar Creek Battle of Port Republic Battle of Five Forks |
The 1st West Virginia Volunteer Cavalry Regiment was a cavalry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.
Service
The 1st West Virginia Cavalry was organized at Wheeling, Clarksburg, and Morgantown in western Virginia between July 10 and November 25, 1861.
An analysis of the regiment by the George Tyler Moore Center in Shepherdstown, West Virginia shows that it was composed of 32% native West Virginians, while 23% were from Pennsylvania, 16% Ohio, 6% Virginia, 10% were German immigrants and 13% were from other U.S. states.[1]
The regiment was mustered out on July 8, 1865.
Fourteen men of the regiment performed action that later earned them the Medal of Honor, the most of any Civil War regiment:[2][3]
| Name | Rank | Company | Place of action | Date of action |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adams, James F.James F. Adams | Private | D | Nineveh, Virginia | November 12, 1864 |
| Anderson, ThomasThomas Anderson | Corporal | I | Appomattox Station, Virginia | April 8, 1865 |
| Blackmar, Wilmon W.Wilmon W. Blackmar | Lieutenant | H | Five Forks, Virginia | April 1, 1865 |
| Boon, Hugh P.Hugh P. Boon | Captain | B | Sayler's Creek, Virginia | April 6, 1865 |
| Boury, RichardRichard Boury | Sergeant | C | Charlottesville, Virginia | March 5, 1865 |
| Capehart, Charles E.Charles E. Capehart | Major | — | Monterey Pass, Pennsylvania | July 4, 1863 |
| Capehart, HenryHenry Capehart | Colonel | — | Greenbrier River, West Virginia | May 22, 1864 |
| Cunningham, Francis M.Francis M. Cunningham | First Sergeant | H | Sayler's Creek, Virginia | April 6, 1865 |
| Houlton, WilliamWilliam Houlton | Commissary Sergeant | — | Sayler's Creek, Virginia | April 6, 1865 |
| Rowand, Jr., Archibald H.Archibald H. Rowand, Jr. | Private | K | Winter of 1864–65 | |
| Schorn, CharlesCharles Schorn | Chief Bugler | M | Appomattox Station, Virginia | April 8, 1865 |
| Shahan, EmisireEmisire Shahan | Corporal | A | Sayler's Creek, Virginia | April 6, 1865 |
| Shoemaker, LeviLevi Shoemaker | Sergeant | A | Nineveh, Virginia | November 12, 1864 |
| Woods, Daniel A.Daniel A. Woods | Private | K | Sayler's Creek, Virginia | April 6, 1865 |
Casualties
The 1st West Virginia Cavalry suffered 10 officers and 71 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded in battle and 126 enlisted men dead from disease, for a total of 207 fatalities.
Commanders
- Col. Henry Anisansel, 1861
- Maj. Benjamin F. Chamberlain, 1861-1862
- Col. Nathaniel P. Richmond, 1862-1863
- Col. Henry Capehart, 1863-1864
- Lt. Col Charles E. Capehart, 1864
- Maj. Harvey Farabee, 1864-1865
References
- ↑ George Tyler Moore Center
- ↑ "Medal of Honor Recipients - Civil War (A–L)". Medal of Honor Citations. United States Army Center of Military History. December 3, 2010. Archived from the original on 21 May 2011. Retrieved May 21, 2011.
- ↑ "Medal of Honor Recipients - Civil War (M–Z)". Medal of Honor Citations. United States Army Center of Military History. December 3, 2010. Archived from the original on 21 May 2011. Retrieved May 21, 2011.
See also
- West Virginia Units in the Civil War
- West Virginia in the Civil War
1st West Virginia Volunteer Cavalry Regiment Reenacting Group http://www.1stwvcav.org