** ** 1st Maine Cavalry
Posted to the Project on 17 Dec 07
The monument to the 1st Maine Cavalry is located along the heavily traveled (and at times extremely dangerous) Hanover Road near the park entrance to the East Cavalry battlefield.
The monument consists of a large bas relief of a cavalryman mounting his steed.
The 1st Maine Cavalry came from the counties of Aroostook, Cumberland, Franklin, Kennebec, Penobscot, Somerset, and York. It was formed at Augusta in the fall of 1861. Their commander at Gettysburg was Lt. Col. Charles H. Smith (1827-1902), a teacher and law student in Eastport, Maine at the beginning of the War.
Smith was wounded at the battle of Saint Mary’s Church on June 24, 1864 and was later awarded a Medal of Honor for that fight. He remained in the Army after the War.
(Company L served at First Corps Headquarters while Company I served at Cavalry Corps headquarters.)
1st Maine Cavalry
Cavalry Corps, 2nd Division, 3rd Brigade
Lt. Col. Charles H. Smith (1827-1902)
Engaged: 438; 1 killed, 4 wounded
Monument: Hanover Road
Monument Specifications: Monument consists of a rough-hewn monolith and base with a full-length relief of a uniformed Cavalryman mounting his horse. Monument indicates the approximate position held briefly by the 1st Maine Cavalry on July 3, 1863 as it held the left of the line.
Dedication Date: October 3, 1889.
Main Inscription: THIS MONUMENT COMMEMORATES THE SERVICES OF THE/FIRST MAINE CAVALRY ON THIS BATTLE FIELD JULY 3, 1863./COL. C. H. SMITH COMMANDING/3RD BRIGADE, 2ND DIVISION, CAVALRY CORPS.
Other Monuments & Markers: None.
Regimental History ~ Dyer’s Compendium of the War of the Rebellion
Organized at Augusta and mustered in November 5, 1861. Companies “A,” “D,” “E” and “F” moved to Washington, D.C., March 14-19, 1862; Companies “B,” “I,” “H” and “M” March 19-24, and Companies “C,” “G,” “K” and “L” to Washington March 19-28, 1862. Attached to Miles’ Railroad Brigade, Army of Potomac, to May, 1862 (Cos. “A,” “B,” “E,” “H” and “M”). Hatch’s Cavalry Brigade, Banks’ 5th Army Corps, and Dept. of the Shenandoah, to July, 1862 (Cos. “A,” “B,” “E,” “H” and “M”). Abercrombie’s Brigade, Williams’ Division, Banks’ 5th Army Corps, and Dept. of the Shenandoah, March to May, 1862 (Cos. “C,” “D,” “F,” “G,” “I,” “K” and “L”). Bayard’s Cavalry Brigade, Dept. of the Rappahannock, to July, 1862 (Cos. “C,” “D,” “F,” “G,” “I,” “K” and “L”). Bayard’s Cavalry Brigade, Army of Virginia, to September, 1862. Bayard’s Cavalry Brigade, Cavalry Division, Army of the Potomac, to January, 1863. 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, Cavalry Corps, Army of the Potomac, to June, 1863. 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, Cavalry Corps, June, 1863. 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, Cavalry Corps, to October, 1863. 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, Cavalry Corps, to October, 1864. 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, Cavalry Corps, to August, 1865.
SERVICE.–Companies “A,” “B,” “E,” “H” and “M” ordered to Harper’s Ferry, W. Va., March, 1862, and guard duty along Baltimore & Ohio Railroad replace May 19. Moved to Strasburg and operations in the Shenandoah Valley May 15-June 17. Action at Woodstock May 21, Strasburg May 22 (Cos. “H” and “M”), Middletown May 24, Winchester May 25. Retreat to Williamsport May 25-26. Winchester June 3. Milford June 24. Reconnaissance to Front Royal June 29-30. Luray June 30. Rejoin Regiment at Warrenton July 10. Companies “C,” “D,” “F,” “G,” “I,” “K” and “L” moved to Warrenton March, 1862. Reconnaissance to the Rappahannock April 16 (Co. “C”). Reconnaissance to Liberty Church April 16 (Detachment). Reconnaissance to Culpeper Court House May 4-5. Brandy Station May 5. Join McDowell at Manassas Junction May 25. Milford July 2. Winchester July 3. Sperryville July 5. Regiment scouting on the Rappahannock during July. Reconnaissance to James City July 22-24. Slaughter House August 7. Robinson River August 8. Battle of Cedar Mountain August 9. Pope’s Campaign in Northern Virginia August 16-September 2. Stevensburg, Raccoon Ford and Brandy Station August 20. Beverly Ford August 20. Fords of the Rappahannock August 21-23. Rappahannock Station August 24-25. Sulphur Springs August 27. Thoroughfare Gap August 28. Groveton August 29. Bull Run August 30. Mountsville, Centerville, Chantilly and Germantown August 31. Chantilly September 1. Frederick, Md., September 7 and 12. South Mountain September 14. Antietam September 16-17. At Frederick, Md., replace November 2. Manassas Junction October 24. Middleburg October 30. Aldie October 31. Salem, New Baltimore and near Warrenton November 4. Rappahannock Station November 7-9. Battle of Fredericksburg December 12-15. Dumfries December 28. “Mud March” January 20-24, 1863, Rappahannock Bridge April 14. Stoneman’s Raid April 29-May 8. Kelly’s Ford April 29. Louisa Court House May 1-2. South Anna Bridge near Ashland May 3. Bealton May 10. Operations on Northern Neck May 20-26 (Detachment). Brandy Station and Beverly Ford June 9. Aldie June 17. Middleburg June 18-19. Upperville June 21. Hanover, Pa., June 30. Battle of Gettysburg, Pa., July 1-3. Steven’s Furnace July 5. Hagerstown July 11. Funkstown, Md., July 12. Shephardstown and near Harper’s Ferry July 14. Halltown and Charlestown July 15. Shephardstown July 16. Little Washington August 5. Beverly Ford August 15. Brandy Station September 6. Advance from the Rappahannock to the Rapidan September 13-17. Culpeper Court House September 13. Hazel River September 13. Raccoon Ford September 14. Culpeper September 20. White’s Ford September 21-22. Bristoe Campaign October 9-22. Gaines’ Cross Roads October 12. Warrenton Or White Sulphur Springs October 12-13. Auburn and Bristoe October 14. St. Stephen’s Church October 14. Blackburn’s Ford October 15. Culpeper October 20. Near Bealton October 22. Rappahannock Crossing October 22. Rappahannock Station October 23. Advance to line of the Rappahannock November 7-8. Mine Run Campaign November 26-December 2. Morton’s Ford November 26. New Hope Church November 27. Parker’s Store November 29. Expedition to Luray December 21-23. Reconnaissance to Front Royal January 1-4, 1864. Near Salem January 3 (Detachment). Kilpatrick’s Raid to Richmond February 28-March 4. Beaver Dam Station February 29. Fortifications of Richmond March 1. Brook’s Turnpike March 1. Old Church March 2. Near Tunstall Station March 2. Rapidan Campaign May 3-June 15. Battles of Todd’s Tavern May 5-6; Wilderness May 6-7; Todd’s Tavern May 7-8. Sheridan’s Raid May 9-24. North Anna River May 9-10. Ground Squirrel Church and Yellow Tavern May 11. Diamond Hill May 11. Brook Church or Fortifications of Richmond May 12. Meadow Bridge May 12. Jones’ Bridge May 17. Haxall’s Landing May 18. Milford May 20. Haw’s Shop May 28. Old Church May 29-30. Cold Harbor May 31-June 1. About Cold Harbor June 1-7. Sumner’s Upper Bridge and McGee’s Mills June 2. Sheridan’s Trevillian Raid June 7-24. Elliott’s Mills June 8. Trevillian Station June 11-12. Black Creek, Tunstall Station, June 21. White House, St. Peter’s Church, June 21. St. Mary’s Church June 24. Second Swamp June 28. Siege operations against Petersburg and Richmond June, 1864, to April, 1865. Warwick Swamp and Lee’s Mill July 12. Deep Bottom July 27-28. New Market July 28. Malvern Hill July 29. Lee’s Mills July 30. Near Sycamore Church August 9. Gravel Hill August 14, Strawberry Plains August 14-18. Deep Run August 16. Nelson’s Farm August 18. Ream’s Station August 23-25. Dinwiddie Road near Ream’s Station August 23. Yellow Tavern September 2. Stony Creek Station September 15. Belcher’s Mills September 17. Lee’s Mills September 18. Vaughan Road September 26. Wyatt’s Farm September 29. Poplar Springs Church September 29-October 1. Vaughan and Duncan Road October 1. Boydton Plank Road or Hatcher’s Run October 27-28. Old members mustered out November 4, 1864. Stony Creek Station December 1. Bellefield Raid December 7-11. Bellefield December 9-10. Dabney’s Mills, Hatcher’s Run, February 5-7, 1865. Appomattox Campaign March 28-April 9. Dinwiddie Court House March 30-31. Five Forks April 1. Namozine Church and Jettersville April 3. Fame’s Cross Roads and Amelia Springs April 5. Sailor’s Creek and Deatonville Road April 6. Briery Creek and Farmville April 7. Appomattox Station April 8. Appomattox Court House April 9. Surrender of Lee and his army. Duty at Petersburg and in the Dept. of Virginia replace August. Mustered out August 1, 1865. This Regiment lost greatest number killed in action of any Cavalry Regiment in the entire army: 15 Officers and 159 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded; 3 Officers and 341 Enlisted men died of disease, a total of 518.