Historical Sketch:
The Pennsylvania 22nd Cavalry Regiment, the 185th regiment of the line, was organized at Chambersburg, Pa., Feb., 22, 1864, for three years' service. It was formed by a consolidation of five companies organized from the reenlisted men of the 22nd cav. (six months' organization), with the five companies of the Ringgold battalion and the "Washington" and "Lafayette" cavalry (two companies). The Ringgold battalion was made up of the following companies, enlisted for three years' service: Ringgold company, Capt. John Keys, organized at Washington, Pa., Oct. 2, 1861; Keystone company, Capt. George T. Work, organized at Washington, Sept. 6, 1862; two independent companies, Capts. Harvey H. Young and M. W. Mitchener, organized at Washington, during Sept. and Oct., 1862; Patton Co., Captain A. J. Barr, organized at Washington, Oct. 14 1862. The Washington cavalry, Capt. A. J. Greenfield, was organized at Wheeling, Va., Aug. 19, 1861, and the Lafayette cavalry was organized at the same place Nov. 6, 1862, under Capt. Alex. V. Smith. These companies had served independently in West Virginia, going to the front as fast as each was organized. Those earliest in the field were active at Blue's gap, Bloomery gap, Strasburg, Columbia furnace, Two Churches, Rude's hill, North River mills and Dashu's mills. After the battle of Gettysburg, they joined in the pursuit of Lee and were engaged at Petersburg, Lexington and Moorefield, in the early part of 1864.
The six months' battalion was enlisted in June, 1863, under the president's proclamation of June 15, calling for militia for six months' service. Under Maj. Morrow it guarded the fords of the Susquehanna near Harrisburg and picketed the roads leading into the Cumberland Valley. After the battle of Gettysburg it joined in the pursuit of Lee's army and was employed with the cavalry in holding the Shenandoah Valley until its reorganization in Feb., 1864. Early in March it proceeded to Cumberland, where it was united with the Ringgold battalion. In April 700 of the men who were not yet mounted proceeded to Pleasant Valley, Md., where they received horses and equipments and engaged in drill and discipline. About the middle of June the regiment was ordered to Martinsburg, temporarily armed with muskets, and assigned to Mulligan's infantry brigade. It was engaged with Early's forces at Martinsburg, and Maryland heights early in July and on the 17th had a sharp engagement at Snicker's gap. Soon after it was finally mounted and equipped as cavalry and joined Gen. Torbert's force, engaged in Sheridan's campaign in the valley. It was active at Kernstown, where it displayed great steadiness and gallantry; fought at Opequan and Berryville; met with considerable loss at Charlestown; and at Halltown Maj. Myers was severely wounded. A detachment of the regiment had been left behind at Cumberland in April and under the command of Maj. Work had been in active service all summer, sharing in the campaign against Lynchburg, the battles of New Market and Kernstown, and aiding in the decisive defeat of McCausland's forces at Moorefield, subsequent to the burning of Chambersburg. After the union of the two detachments at Hagerstown, the regiment joined Gen. Averell's forces and was actively engaged at Martinsburg, Bunker Hill, Stephenson's depot, Darkesville and Bucklestown. On Sept. 18 it charged the enemy at Martinsburg and on the evening of the following day joined in the brilliant cavalry charge which routed the enemy at the Opequan, where the regiment captured a battery and 80 men. It was again active at the battles of Fisher's hill, Brown's gap and Weyer's cave, where the command made a determined charge which saved the entire division train. It lost severely in this action, Maj. Work and Adjt. Isenberg being among the severely wounded. It was fiercely engaged at Cedar creek, where it lost heavily, and then returned to Martinsburg, where it encamped until Dec. 20. On that date, it moved to New creek and during the winter was engaged in picket and scouting duty in the counties of Hardy, Hampshire and Pendleton, operating against roving bands of the enemy. Cos. E and F were mustered out on July 19, 1865. The remaining companies were consolidated with the 18th Pa. cavalry, on June 24, to form the 3d provisional cavalry, which was mustered out on Oct. 31, 1865, at Cumberland, Md.
Officers:
Colonel.
• Jacob Higgins;
Lieut.-Colonel,
• J. Greenfield;
Majors
• George T. Work,
• Elias S. Troxell,
• Henry A. Myers. Roster:
The Roster of this unit contains the names of 2643 men.
Company A - also known as Ringgold Cavalry- Many men enrolled in Washington County and some men were from Mifflin County, Beaver County, and Cumberland County
Company B - also known as Washington Cavalry- Many men enrolled in Washington County, Cumberland County and Mifflin County
Company C - also known as Keystone Cavalry- Many men enrolled in Washington County
Company D - also known as Bealsville Cavalry - Many men enrolled in Washington County
Company E - also known as Independent Cavalry - Many men enrolled at Manongahela City, Washington County
Company F - also known as the Patton Cavalry- Many men enrolled in Washington County
Company G - also known as Lafayette Cavalry - Many men enrolled in Washington County, Fayette County and Allegheny County
Company H - Many men enrolled in Franklin County, Dauphin County, and Blair County
Company I - Many men enrolled in Philadelphia County, Huntingdon County, and Franklin County
Company K - Many men enrolled in Franklin County and Blair County
Company L - Many men enrolled in Franklin County
Company M - Many men enrolled in Franklin County and Blair County
Source:
The Union Army by Federal Publishing Company, 1908 - Volume 1 Bibliography:
Barcousky, Len. Civil War Pittsburgh: Forge of the Union. Charleston, South Carolina: The History Press, 2013. ISBN 9781626190818.
Blair, William and William Pencak, editors. Making and Remaking Pennsylvania's Civil War. University Park, Pennsylvania: Penn State University Press, 2004.
Fox, Arthur B. Our Honored Dead: Alleghany County, Pennsylvania, in the American Civil War. Chicora, Pennsylvania: Mechling Bookbindery, 2008.
Fox, Arthur B. Pittsburgh During the American Civil War 1860–1865. Chicora, Pennsylvania: Mechling Bookbindery, 2002.
Greater Chambersburg Chamber of Commerce. Southern Revenge: Civil War History of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. Chambersburg, Pennsylvania: Greater Chambersburg Chamber of Commerce, 1989.
Miller, William J. The Training of an Army: Camp Curtin and the North's Civil War. Shippensburg, Pennsylvania: White Mane, 1990.
Sandou, Robert M. Deserter County: Civil War Opposition in the Pennsylvania Appalachians. Fordham University Press, 2009.
Skinner, George W., ed. Pennsylvania at Chickamauga and Chattanooga: Ceremonies at the Dedication of the Monuments Erected by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: Wm. Stanley Ray, State Printer, 1897.
Taylor, Frank H. Philadelphia in the Civil War. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: The City, 1913.
Wingert, Cooper H. Harrisburg and the Civil War: Defending the Keystone of the Union. Charleston, South Carolina: The History Press, 2013. ISBN 9781626190412.
Young, Ronald C. Lancaster County, Pennsylvania in the Civil War. Lancaster, Pennsylvania: published by the author, 2003.
Historical Sketch: