Virginia 5th Cavalry Regiment
HISTORICAL NOTES:
The origin of the new 5th Virginia Cavalry began as an idea of Captain Henry Clay Pate, of the 'Petersburg Rangers'. In the Spring of 1862 Pate formulated a plan to enlist men from every part of Virginia and hold his regiment as an independent command. The plan was well received and eventually approved by the Secretary of War. Thus, 'Pate's 2nd Battalion' of the Virginia Cavalry was organized on May 25, 1862. In a short period of time Lt. Colonel Pate had created a military unit consisting of seven companies, numbering 900 men.
Soon thereafter, Federal forces under General McClellan, began advancing on Richmond. Due to this great threat to the Confederate capital, General JEB Stuart saw a need for more cavalry units under his command. On June 23, 1862, Stuart informed Pate that his battalion no longer existed as it was to be added to the restructured 5th Virginia Cavalry under the command of Colonel Thomas L. Rosser. and the following field officers : Lieutenant Colonel Henry Clay Pate; Major Beverly B. Douglass.
The formal orders were issued by the Secretary of War on June 25, 1862 assigning four additional companies to 'Pate's Battalion' to form the 5th regiment.
The Virginia 5th Cavalry was organized in June, 1862, using six companies of scouts under Lieutenant Colonel H. Clay Pate known as the 2nd Battalion Virginia Cavalry as its nucleus. These men who had been serving since May and the additional four companies added in June were from Petersburg and Fairfax, Gloucester (Co. F, the Mathews Light Dragoons), King and Queen, Mathews, Randolph, and James City counties.
The 5th Cavalry was assigned to W.H.F. Lee's, F. Lee's, Lomax's, and Payne's Brigade, Army of Northern Virginia. The unit participated in the Seven Days' Battles, the Second Bull Run and Maryland campaigns, and the conflicts at Fredericksburg, Brandy Station, Upperville, Gettysburg, Bristoe, and Mine Run. Later it was involved at The Wilderness and Cold Harbor, and in Early's Shenandoah Valley operations.
On November 8, 1864, it was consolidated with the 15th Virginia Cavalry and redesignated the 5th Consolidated Regiment Virginia Cavalry. This command took part in the defense of Petersburg and saw action around Appomattox.
Only 150 men were engaged at Gettysburg and 2 surrendered at Appomattox as most cut through the Federal lines and disbanded.
On line site dedicated to this regiment.
FIELD OFFICERS:
Colonels Reuben B. Boston, H. Clay Pate, and Thomas L. Rosser; Lieutenant Colonel James H. Allen; and Majors Beverly B. Douglas, John Eells, Cyrus Harding, Jr., and John W. Puller.
BATTLES:
First Battle of Manassas
Peninsula Campaign
Seven Days' Battles
Second Battle of Manassas
Battle of Sharpsburg
Battle of Fredericksburg
Battle of Chancellorsville
Battle of Brandy Station
Battle of Gettysburg
Bristoe Campaign
Overland Campaign
Siege of Petersburg
Valley Campaigns of 1864
Appomattox Campaign
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ROSTERS:
The rosters of this unit contains the names of 2577 men.
Company A, the 'Gloucester Light Dragoons' was an old militia unit that was enlisted into state service, May 7, 1861 at Gloucester Court house, under the command of Captain John W. Puller.
Company B, Captain Frederick R. Windsor's troop, was organized in Richmond on May 15, 1862, as an independent company. It was comprised of men who had reenlisted from other units including some from South Carolina, Georgia, and Louisiana.
Company C, the 'Danville Cavalry', commanded by Captain William K. Mebane, was enlisted at Danville, Virginia on March 25, 1862. The Danville troop had been serving in 'Pate's Battalion'.
Company D, the 'Petersburg Rangers', (aka, Letcher Mounted Guards), was another veteran company. Captain Henry Clay Pate had initially raised this unit.
Company E, the 'King & Queen Cavalry, under Captain Marius. Todd, was another veteran troop, having enlisted at King & Queen Court House on June 7, 1861. They had served in Puller's squadron at Gloucester Point, Camp Ware at Ware's Church, in robin's Neck, Ware Neck, and at Mathews Court House during 1861-62. They were assigned to the regiment on June 25, 1862.
Company G, The Randolph Cavalry, under Captain McNairy Hobson, enlisted at Richmond on April 11, 1862. Although some of the officers and men were from Randolph county others came from through the state of Virginia. This troop also served in 'Pate's Battalion'.
Company H, the 'James City Cavalry', under Captain James H. Allen, had severed as Company I, 3rd Virginia Cavalry since enlisting at Williamsburg on April 1, 1861. This troop was re-organized on May 1, 1862 and transferred to the 5th Virginia Cavalry on June 25, 1862.
Company I, formerly Captain William H. Crank's Company B/F, of the 3rd Virginia Artillery ?? was re-organized under Captain Reuben B. Boston, at Richmond on May 9, 1862. This unit had also been a part of the former 'Pate's Battalion'.
Company K, commanded by Captain Charles Pannill, was organized at Petersburg on April 7, 1862. This troop had been serving in 'Pate's Battalion'.
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
REFERENCES:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/5th_Virginia_Cavalry
Soon thereafter, Federal forces under General McClellan, began advancing on Richmond. Due to this great threat to the Confederate capital, General JEB Stuart saw a need for more cavalry units under his command. On June 23, 1862, Stuart informed Pate that his battalion no longer existed as it was to be added to the restructured 5th Virginia Cavalry under the command of Colonel Thomas L. Rosser. and the following field officers : Lieutenant Colonel Henry Clay Pate; Major Beverly B. Douglass.
The formal orders were issued by the Secretary of War on June 25, 1862 assigning four additional companies to 'Pate's Battalion' to form the 5th regiment.
The Virginia 5th Cavalry was organized in June, 1862, using six companies of scouts under Lieutenant Colonel H. Clay Pate known as the 2nd Battalion Virginia Cavalry as its nucleus. These men who had been serving since May and the additional four companies added in June were from Petersburg and Fairfax, Gloucester (Co. F, the Mathews Light Dragoons), King and Queen, Mathews, Randolph, and James City counties.
The 5th Cavalry was assigned to W.H.F. Lee's, F. Lee's, Lomax's, and Payne's Brigade, Army of Northern Virginia. The unit participated in the Seven Days' Battles, the Second Bull Run and Maryland campaigns, and the conflicts at Fredericksburg, Brandy Station, Upperville, Gettysburg, Bristoe, and Mine Run. Later it was involved at The Wilderness and Cold Harbor, and in Early's Shenandoah Valley operations.
On November 8, 1864, it was consolidated with the 15th Virginia Cavalry and redesignated the 5th Consolidated Regiment Virginia Cavalry. This command took part in the defense of Petersburg and saw action around Appomattox.
Only 150 men were engaged at Gettysburg and 2 surrendered at Appomattox as most cut through the Federal lines and disbanded.
On line site dedicated to this regiment.
Peninsula Campaign
Seven Days' Battles
Second Battle of Manassas
Battle of Sharpsburg
Battle of Fredericksburg
Battle of Chancellorsville
Battle of Brandy Station
Battle of Gettysburg
Bristoe Campaign
Overland Campaign
Siege of Petersburg
Valley Campaigns of 1864
Appomattox Campaign
Company A, the 'Gloucester Light Dragoons' was an old militia unit that was enlisted into state service, May 7, 1861 at Gloucester Court house, under the command of Captain John W. Puller.
Company B, Captain Frederick R. Windsor's troop, was organized in Richmond on May 15, 1862, as an independent company. It was comprised of men who had reenlisted from other units including some from South Carolina, Georgia, and Louisiana.
Company C, the 'Danville Cavalry', commanded by Captain William K. Mebane, was enlisted at Danville, Virginia on March 25, 1862. The Danville troop had been serving in 'Pate's Battalion'.
Company D, the 'Petersburg Rangers', (aka, Letcher Mounted Guards), was another veteran company. Captain Henry Clay Pate had initially raised this unit.
Company E, the 'King & Queen Cavalry, under Captain Marius. Todd, was another veteran troop, having enlisted at King & Queen Court House on June 7, 1861. They had served in Puller's squadron at Gloucester Point, Camp Ware at Ware's Church, in robin's Neck, Ware Neck, and at Mathews Court House during 1861-62. They were assigned to the regiment on June 25, 1862.
Company G, The Randolph Cavalry, under Captain McNairy Hobson, enlisted at Richmond on April 11, 1862. Although some of the officers and men were from Randolph county others came from through the state of Virginia. This troop also served in 'Pate's Battalion'.
Company H, the 'James City Cavalry', under Captain James H. Allen, had severed as Company I, 3rd Virginia Cavalry since enlisting at Williamsburg on April 1, 1861. This troop was re-organized on May 1, 1862 and transferred to the 5th Virginia Cavalry on June 25, 1862.
Company I, formerly Captain William H. Crank's Company B/F, of the 3rd Virginia Artillery ?? was re-organized under Captain Reuben B. Boston, at Richmond on May 9, 1862. This unit had also been a part of the former 'Pate's Battalion'.
Company K, commanded by Captain Charles Pannill, was organized at Petersburg on April 7, 1862. This troop had been serving in 'Pate's Battalion'.