HISTORICAL NOTES:
The 3rd West Virginia Cavalry Regiment was organized in western Virginia in December, 1861, with the first company of the regiment organized and recruited in Morgantown. It was the first cavalry regiment raised by West Virginia under the Union government in Wheeling. David H. Strother was the regiment's original commander. He began as lieutenant colonel and later was promoted to colonel. However, he never commanded the regiment in the field. Instead, he spent time on the staffs of generals Nathaniel Banks, John Pope, George McClellan, Benjamin F. Kelley, David Hunter, and Franz Sigel. He resigned from the army after Hunter was replaced by Philip Sheridan.
On April 2, 1864 at Ford's Station, under Lieutenant-Colonel John S. Witcher, the 3rd Cavalry charged and drove back a brigade of rebel cavalry, killing Confederate General Pegram. The regiment continued its duty, participating in the engagements at Appmattox Station and Court House, consequently present during Robert E. Lee's surrender on April 9.
The regiment participated in the Grand Review of the Armies and was mustered out on June 23, 1865.
The Regiment lost during service 6 Officers and 40 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 136 Enlisted men by disease. Total 182.
OFFICERS:
David H Strother, lieutenant-colonel; John L. McGee, major and Barna Powell, adjutant.
ASSIGNMENTS:
Attached to Railroad District, West Virginia, to March, 1862. Railroad District, Mountain Department, to May, 1862. Unattached, Mountain Department, to June, 1862. 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 1st Army Corps, Army of Virginia, to September, 1862 (Cos. “A” and “C”). District of West Virginia, Dept. of the Ohio and Dept. of West Virginia. Unassigned, to March, 1864 (Regiment). Milroy’s Command, Winchester, Va., 8th Army Corps, Middle Department, to February, 1863 (Cos. “D” and “E”). 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 8th Army Corps, to June, 1863 (Cos. “D” and “E”). 4th Separate Brigade, 8th Army Corps, to June, 1864 (Cos. “F,” “H” and “I”). 4th Separate Brigade, Dept. of West Virginia, to December, 1863 (Cos. “F,” “H” and “I”). Bloody Run, Pa., Dept. of the Susquehanna, and Scammon’s Division, Dept. of West Virginia, to July, 1863 (Cos. “D” and “E”). McReynolds’ Command, Martinsburg, W. Va., Dept. of West Virginia, to December, 1863 (Cos. “D” and “E”). 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, West Virginia (1 Co.). 2nd Brigade, 4th Division, West Virginia (3 Cos.). 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, West Virginia (2 Cos.), to March, 1864. 3rd Brigade, 2nd Cavalry Division, West Virginia, to May, 1864. 2nd Brigade, 2nd Cavalry Division, West Virginia, to November, 1864. 2nd Brigade, 2nd Cavalry Corps, Middle Military Division, to February, 1865. 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, Cavalry Corps, Army of the Potomac, to June, 1865. Companies “A” and “C” attached to Headquarters, 11th Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, September, 1862, to December, 1862. Headquarters, Grand Reserve Division, Army of the Potomac, to February, 1863. 3rd Brigade, Cavalry Division, 22nd Army Corps, to June, 1863. 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, Cavalry Corps, Army of the Potomac, to November, 1863. Ordered to Dept. of West Virginia November, 1863.
SERVICE:
Duty in Railroad District, Mountain Department, to May, 1862. Monterey April 12. Skirmish at Grass Lick, W. Va., April 23. Franklin May 5. Raid to Shaver River May 30 (Detachment). Strasburg and Staunton Road June 1-2. Harrisonburg June 6. Cross Keys June 8. Near Mt. Jackson June 13. Pope’s Virginia Campaign August 16-September 2. Groveton August 29. Bull Run August 30. Aldie October 9. Near Bristoe Station October 24. Chester Gap November 16. Dumfries December 12. Wardensville December 22 and 25. Petersburg, W. Va., January 3, 1863 (Detachment). Williamsport, Md.. February 9. Truce Fork, Mud River, W. Va., February 20. Winchester March 19. Reconnaissance toward Wardensville and Strasburg April 20. Fisher’s Hill, Strasburg Road, April 22. Lambert’s Run April 22. Near Simpson’s Creek April 30. Grove Church May 4. Janelew May 5 (Co. “E”). Strasburg May 6. Operations about Front Royal, Road Ford and Buck’s Ford, May 12-16. Piedmont Station May 16. Brandy Station and Beverly Ford June 9. Winchester June 13-15 (Cos. “D” and “E”). Upperville June 21. Battle of Gettysburg, Pa., July 1-3. Boonesborough, Md., July 8. Benevola or Beaver Creek July 9. Funkstown July 10-13. Falling Waters July 14. Shanghai, W. Va., July 16. Near Hedgesville and Martinsburg July 18-19 (Co. “C”). Hagerstown July 29. Hancock July 31. Kelly’s Ford July 31-August 1. Brandy Station August 1. Averell’s Raid through Hardy, Pendleton, Highland, Greenbrier, Bath and Pocahontas Counties, W. Va., August 5-25 (Cos. “E,” “H” and “I”). Affair near Franklin August 19. Jackson River August 25. Williamsport, Md., August 26. Expedition to Leesburg August 30-September 2. Advance to the Rapidan September 13-17 (Cos. “A” and “C”). Culpeper Court House September 13 (Cos. “A” and “C”). Fisher’s Hill September 21. Bristoe Campaign October 9-22 (Cos. “A” and “C”). Morton’s Ford October 10 (Cos. “A” and “C”). Stevensburg and near Kelly’s Ford October 11 (Cos. “A” and “C”). Brandy Station October 11 (Cos. “A” and “C”). Brandy Station and Fleetwood October 12 (Cos. “A” and “C”). Auburn and Bristoe October 14 (Cos. “A” and “C”). Oak Hill October 15 (Cos. “A” and “C”). Averell’s Raid against Lewisburg and the Virginia & Tennessee Railroad November 1-17 (Cos. “E,” “H” and “I”). Cackletown November 4 (Cos. “E,” “H” and “I”). Droop Mountain November 6 (Cos. “E,” “H” and “I”). Advance to line of the Rappahannock November 7-8 (Cos. “A” and “C”). Near Little Boston November 24 (Detachment). Mine Run Campaign November 26-December 2 (Cos. “A” and “C”). Averell’s Raid from New Creek to Salem and Virginia & Tennessee Railroad December 8-25 (Cos. “E,” “F” and “H”). Scammon’s Demonstration from Kanawha Valley December 8-25 (Detachment). Near Wayne Court House, W. Va., January 27, 1864 (Co. “G”). Near Hurricane Bridge February 20. Averell’s Raid on Virginia & Tennessee Railroad May 5-19. Grassy Lick, Cove Mountain, near Wytheville, May 10. Wytheville May 10. Hunter’s Raid to Lynchburg May 26-July 1. Hamlin May 29. Lexington June 11. Near Buchanan June 13. Otter Creek, near Liberty, June 16. Diamond Hill June 17. Lynchburg June 17-18. Liberty June 19. Buford’s Gap June 20. Catawba Mountains and about Salem June 21. Snicker’s Ferry July 17-18. Bunker Hill July 19. Stephenson’s Depot July 21. Winchester July 21-22. Newtown July 22. Kernstown, Winchester, July 24. Martinsburg July 26. McConnellsburg, Pa., July 30. Sheridan’s Shenandoah Valley Campaign August 7-November 28. Near Moorefield August 7. Franklin August 19. Martinsburg August 25. Williamsport August 26. Big Springs August 29. Martinsburg August 31. Bunker Hill September 2-3. Martinsburg September 4. Stephenson’s Depot September 5. Darkesville September 10. Bunker Hill September 13. Near Berryville September 14. Battle of Winchester September 19. Fisher’s Hill September 22. Mt. Jackson September 23-24. Forest Hill or Timberville September 24. Browns Gap and Mt. Sidney September 26. Weyer’s Cave September 26-27. Charlestown September 27. Mt. Jackson September 28. Nineveh November 12. Rude’s Hill November 20. Near Mt. Jackson November 22. Raid to Gordonsville December 19-28. Liberty Mills December 22. Jack’s Shop, near Gordonsville, December 23. Sheridan’s Expedition from Winchester February 25-March 25, 1865. Mt. Crawford March 1. Occupation of Staunton March 2. Waynesboro March 2. Charlottesville March 3. Augusta Court House March 10. Haydensville March 12. Beaver Dam Station March 15. Appomattox Campaign March 28-April 9. Dinwiddie Court House March 29-31. Five Forks April 1. Namozine Church April 3. Sailor’s Creek April 6. Appomattox Station April 8. Appomattox Court House April 9. Surrender of Lee and his army. Expedition to Danville April 23-29. March to Washington, D. C, May. Grand Review May 23. Mustered out June 23, 1865.
ROSTERS:
The roster of this unit contains the names of 2181 men.
HISTORICAL NOTES: