OHIO SECOND CAVALRY (Three Years)

Second Cavalry. Cols., Charles Doubleday, August V. Kautz, Bayard Nettleton, Dudley Seward; Lieut.-Cols., Robert W. Ratliff, George A. Purington, David E. Welch; Majs., Henry F. Willson, George G. Miner, Henry L. Burnett, Albert Barnitz, Hyman N. Easton, Rynd E. Lawder. The 2nd cavalry was recruited and organized under the supervision of Hon. B. F. Wade and Hon. John Hutchins, in the summer and fall of 1861, to serve for three years, and rendezvoused at Camp Wade. Early in Jan., 1862, under orders from the war department, the regiment proceeded by rail via Cincinnati, St. Louis and St. Joseph to Platte City, Mo. In February a scouting party of 120 men of the regiment was attacked in the streets of Independence by an equal force under the command of the subsequently noted Quantrill, but as the results of the regiment's "first fight," Quantrill was routed in 15 minutes, losing 5 killed, 4 wounded and 5 captured, the Ohioans losing 1 killed and 3 wounded. In Aug., 1862, there was a detail of 2 officers and 13 men from each company for the purpose of forming a light battery of artillery. And in Jan., 1863, there was an order issued by the war department, making the detail a permanent Ohio battery, to be known as the 25th battery Ohio light artillery. Early in September the mounted portion of the regiment with the battery above-mentioned, moved with the army of Gen. Blunt into Missouri and Arkansas, sharing in the active campaign, which ended in the victory of Prairie Grove. In this autumn campaign the regiment fought at Carthage, and Newtonia, Mo., camped at Pea Ridge, and fought at Cow hill, Wolf creek, White river and Prairie Grove. In Sept., 1863 the regiment participated in the defeat of the Confederates at Blountsville and Bristol, Tenn. During the siege of Knoxville it operated on the enemy's flank and after the siege was raised joined in the pursuit. In December it fought Longstreet's cavalry at Morristown; two days later it formed the advance of a brigade which attacked and fought eighteen regiments for 2 hours at Russellville, losing 40 men killed and wounded; it was at the front 5 hours in the battle of Bean's station, and for fire days was almost constantly under fire. The time was spent in maneuvering and fighting until Jan. 1, 1864, when out of 470 men, 420 reenlisted and were furloughed. At Brandy Station Va., it engaged Rosser's cavalry with slight loss, and from this time on in the Wilderness campaign it was employed almost constantly in covering the right flank of the infantry, either on picket duty or skirmishing. The regiment occupied the center and sustained the heaviest of the shock at Hanover Court House, driving the enemy from the front, taking possession of and holding the town. In Ashland it was surrounded by the enemy under Fitzhugh Lee and an action ensued which lasted until sunset, when the Union forces withdrew, the regiment covering the retreat. It had an active share in the fighting at Nottaway Court House, Stony creek and Reams' station, losing 105 killed, wounded and missing, and returned to the lines at Light House point on July 1. It was engaged in August at Winchester and Charlestown, then marched to the vicinity of Berryville and assisted in driving the enemy from that town. At the battle of the Opequan, after 4 hours' hard fighting, the regiment was the last to leave the pursuit on the Valley pike. With its division, it moved out the Front Royal pike, drove Wickham's cavalry through Front Royal and marched and skirmished in Luray valley until it joined the army at New Market. At Waynesboro the regiment fought, dismounted, till all had withdrawn and then charged through a line of Confederate infantry in column of fours and continued as rear-guard until noon the next day. Rosser's cavalry attacked the command at Bridgewater, but was repulsed, the regiment sharing in the action. It shared in the battle of Cedar creek, being in the saddle from daybreak until 9 o'clock p. m. The regiment marched with the cavalry to reconnoiter Early's force at New Market, where it became hotly engaged, and it repulsed that portion of the enemy which attacked the 1st brigade at Lacey's springs. It was mustered out on Sept. 11, 1865, at St. Louis, Mo.

Source: The Union Army, vol. 2

Ohio 2nd Volunteer Cavalry (Union)

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