First Regiment – Cavalry – Volunteers.

(Sixteenth Regiment.)

This Regiment was organized under the provisions of an Act of Congress, approved July 22, 1861, and by authority issued by the War Department, Washington, D. C., August 4, 1861, direct to private individuals resident of this State, and not in any way under the control or supervision of the State authorities. Under the authority thus given, recruiting was commenced, and its organization soon completed. It was then accepted by the War Department as an independent organization, having been designated Halsted’s Cavalry. The Head Quarters of the Regiment was established at Trenton, N. J., and from thence proceeded to Washington, D. C., on or about September 1, 1861, the strength of the command being – Officers, 44; Non-Commissioned Officers and Privates, 998. Total, 1,042. Upon arrival it went into Camp on Meridian Hill, D. C. On the 19th day of February, 1862, an order was issued from the War Department transferring the Regiment to the State authorities. It was then thoroughly re-organized and designated the First Regiment Cavalry, New Jersey Volunteers. On the 3d of April, 1862, Captain Cornelius G. Van Reipen’s Company, Third Regiment, New York Cavalry, being composed entirely of men from New Jersey, was under orders from the War Department transferred to and joined this Regiment, the enlisted men being distributed among the different companies. Under the provisions of General Orders No. 191, War Department, Adjutant General’s Office Washington, D. C., June 25, 1863, a large number of the enlisted men re-enlisted in the field for three years or during the war. Those who did not re-enlist and whose term of service having expired, reported by order at Trenton, N. J., and were mustered out September 16, 1864, by James W. Long, Captain Second Infantry, United States Army. At different times during the years 1863, 1864 and 1865 the strength of the Regiment was increased by the joining from Draft Rendezvous, Trenton. N. J., of large numbers of recruits and some substitutes. The Regiment continued its organization and remained in active service until the close of the war, and those coming under the provisions of General Orders No. 83, War Department, Adjutant General’s Office, Washington, D. C., May 8, 1865, were mustered out (excepting Company F,) May 31, 1865, at Cloud’s Mills, Va., by Howard M. Smith, Brevet Lieutenant Colonel and Assistant Commissary of Musters, First Cavalry Division, Department of Washington, those of Company F, were mustered out May 25, 1865, at Camp near Washington, D. C., by May H. Stacey, Captain Twelfth Infantry, United States Army, and Commissary of Musters. The remainder were mustered out at Vienna, Va., July 24, 1865, by P. L. Lee, First Lieutenant and Assistant Commissary of Musters, First Separate Brigade, Department of Washington, in compliance with General Orders No. 94, War Department, Adjutant General’s Office, Washington, D. C., dated May 15, 1865.

The Regiment was first attached to Palmer’s Brigade, Cavalry Division, Army of the Potomac; then to the First Brigade, Cavalry Division, Army of the Potomac; then to the Military District of Washington; then to Bayard’s Brigade, Department of the Rappahannock; then to Bayard’s Brigade, Third Army Corps, Army of Virginia; then to the Defences of Washington; then to the First Brigade, Cavalry Division, Army of the Potomac; then to Cavalry Division, Left Grand Division, Army of the Potomac; then to the Second Brigade, Third Division, Cavalry Corps, Army of the Potomac; then to the First Brigade, Second Division, Cavalry Corps, Army of the Potomac; then to the First Brigade, First Division, Cavalry Corps, Department of Washington; then to the First Separate Brigade, Department of Washington.

The Regiment took part in the following engagements: Pohick Church, Va., Dec. 29, ’61; Pohick Creek, Va., Jan. 15, ’62; Seddons’ Farm, Va., May 1, ’62; Gray’s Farm, Va., May 9, ’62; Rappahannock Station, Va., May, ’62; Strasburg, Va., June 1, ’62; Woodstock, Va., June 2, ’62; Harrisonburg, Va., June 6, ’62; Cross Keys, Va., June 8, ’62; Madison C. H., Va., July 27, ’62 Barnett’s Ford, (Rapidan,) Va., July 29, ’62; Barnett’s Ford, (Rapidan,) Va., Aug. 4, ’62; Barnett’s Ford, (Rapidan,) Va., Aug. 7, ’62; Cedar Mountain, Va., Aug. 9, ’62; Rappahannock Station, Va., Aug. 18, ’62; Brandy Station, Va., Aug. 20, ’62; Rappahannock Station, Va., Aug. 20 and 21, ’62; Warrenton, Va., Aug. 23, ’62; Waterloo Ford, (Rappahannock,) Va., Aug. 24, ’62; Snicker’s Gap, Va., Aug. 28, ’62; Bull Run, Va., Aug. 29 and 30, ’62; Chantilly, Va., Sept. 1, ’62; Warrenton, Va., Sept. 24, ’62; Aldie, Va., Oct. 31, ’62; Port Conoway, Va., Nov. 19, ’62; Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 11 to 13, ’62; Rappahannock Station, Va., April 7, ’63; Stoneman’s Raid, Va., April 30, ’63; Rappahannock Station and Kelly’s Ford, Va., May 19, ’63; Brandy Station, Va., June 9, ’63; Aldie, Va., June 17, ’63; Middleburg, Va., June 19, ’63; Upperville, Va., June 21, ’63; Near Aldie, Va., June 22, ’63; Westminster, Md., June 30, ’63; Gettysburg, Pa., July 2 and 3, ’63; Emmettsburg, Md., July 4 and 6, ’63; Tettersburg, Pa., July 7, ’63; Cavetown, Md., July 8, ’63; Harper’s Ferry, Va., July 14, ’63; Sheppardstown, Md., July 16, ’63; Berryville, Va., July 31, ’63; Salem, Va., Aug. 15, ’63; White Plains, Va., Aug. 16, ’63; Sulphur Springs and Brandy Station, Va., Oct. 12, ’63; Bristow Station, Va., Oct. 14, ’63; Near Warrenton, Va., Nov. 12, ’63; Near Warrenton, Va., Nov. 18, ’63; Mountain Run, Va., Nov. 27, ’63; Mine Run, Va., Nov. 27, ’63; Parker’s Store, Va., Nov. 29, ’63; Custer’s Raid, Va., Feb. 18, ’64; Ravenna River, Va., Feb. 21, ’64; Ely’s Ford, (Rapidan,) Va., May 3, ’64; Todd’s Tavern, Va., May 5 and 7, ’64; Sheridan’s Raid, Va., May 9, ’64; Beaver Dam Station, Va., May 10, ’64; Yellow Tavern and Ashland Station, Va., May 11, ’64; Fortifications of Richmond, Va., May 12, ’64; Church of the Messiah, Va., May 21, ’64; North Anna River, Va., May 24, ’64; Hawes’ Shop, Va., May 28, ’64; Emmons Church, Va., May 29, ’64; Cold Harbor, Va., June 1, ’64; Gaines’ Mills, Va., June 2, ’64; Chickahominy River, Va., June 2, ’64; Bottom’s Bridge, Va., June 4 and 5, ’64; Pamunky River, Va., June 8, ’64; Trevillian Station, Va., June 12 and 14, ’64; White House, Va., June 20 and 21, ’64; St. Mary’s Church, Va., June 24, ’64; Near Petersburg, Va., June 29 to July 12, ’64; Raid through the Shenandoah, Va., July ’64; Deep Bottom, Va., July 28, ’64; Malvern Hill, Va., July 28 to 30, ’64; Deep Bottom, Va., Aug. 14, ’64; Charles City Cross Roads, Va., Aug. 16 and 17, ’64; Reams Station, Va., Aug. 26, ’64; Malvern Hill, Va., Sept. 5, ’64; Charles City, Va., Sept. 11, ’64; Jerusalem Plank Road, Va., Sept. 17, ’64; Reams Station, Va., Sept. 29 and 30, ’64; Vaughn’s Road, Va., Oct. 1, ’64; Boydton Plank Road, Va., Oct. 6, ’64; Stony Creek, Va., Nov. 27, ’64; Bellefield Station, Va., Dec. 9 and 10, ’64; Dinwiddie C. H., Va., Feb. 6, ’65; Hatcher’s Run, Va., Feb. 6 and 7, ’65; Before Petersburg, Va., March 20, ’65; Dinwiddie C. H., Va., March 30, ’65; Five Forks and Chamberlain’s Creek, Va., March 31, ’65; Amelia Springs and Jettersville, Va., April 5, ’65; Sailors’ Creek, Va., April 6, ’65; Farmville, Va., April 6 and 7, ’65; Appomattox C. H., Va., (Lee’s Surrender) April 9, ’65.

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