The First West Virginia Cavalry is honored by a monument at Gettysburg.
About the Main Monument
When was it dedicated? Installed Aug. 31-Sept. 1, 1898. Dedicated Sept. 28, 1898.
What is it made out of? Sculpture: granite; Base: granite.
What size is it? Sculpture: approx. 8 ft. 4 in. x 3 ft. 5 in. x 1 ft. 6 in.; Base: approx. W. 5 ft. x D. 3 ft.
Who made it? John M. Gessler & Sons, fabricator.
What does it depict? Monument is a two-part, stepped granite shaft with a rough cut gable cap and set on a 5×3 foot rough cut stone base. The lower part of the shaft is rough cut with incised finished surface and excised crossed swords. The upper part of the shaft is rough cut with finished and polished stone with incised inscriptions. Overall height is 8.4 feet. Monument includes commemorative era stone wall.
What does it honor? It was erected by the State of West Virginia and indicates the approximate position held by the 1st West Virginia Cavalry after arriving on the field on the morning of July 3, 1863, before advancing to the left to participate in the action against Robertson’s Texans later that afternoon.
How is it inscribed? ERECTED BY THE STATE OF/WEST VIRGINIA/TO COMMEMORATE THE/VALOR AND FIDELITY/OF THE/FIRST WEST VIRGINIA CAVALRY
When was this photograph taken? June 16, 2012.
Where is it located? Located Gettysburg National Military Park, Taneytown Road, north of Hummelbaugh Farm, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania 17325. Located on the east side of Taneytown Road north of the Hummelbaugh farm.
Is this monument located along the NPS Auto Tour route? No.
Has this monument been moved or changed? This monument has not been changed or moved.
Monument Details, Alternative Views, and Contextual Views
At Gettysburg
The 1st West Virginia Cavalry served as a member of Farnsworth’s Brigade in Kilpatrick’s Division of the Cavalry Corps, Army of the Potomac.
Commander: Col. Nathaniel P. Richmond (1833-1919). Lawyer and farmer in Indiana; graduate of Brown University. Post-war member of Indiana state legislature.
Number Engaged: 436
Casualties: 4 killed, 4 wounded, 4 missing
Officers Killed at Gettysburg:
- Captain William N. Harris, Company E, killed on July 3, buried in National Cemetery at A-6
- Lieutenant Sidnier W. Knowles, Adjutant, killed on July 3
Soldiers Buried in the West Virginia Plot of the Gettysburg National Cemetery:
- Pvt. William Baily, Company E, B-4
After Action Report: After Action Report of Maj. Charles E. Capehart (will open a pop up window).
General Information
Raised: Mason and Wayne counties in West Virginia; Wirt and Wood counties in Ohio
Regimental History ~ Dyer’s Compendium of the War of the Rebellion:
Organized at Wheeling, Clarksburg and Morgantown July 10 to November 25, 1861. Attached to Cheat Mountain District, W. Va., to January, 1862. Landers’ Division, Army of the Potomac, to March, 1862. Shields’ 2nd Division, Banks’ 5th Corps, and Dept. of the Shenandoah to May, 1862 (8 Cos.). Milroy’s Cheat Mountain District, W. Va., to June, 1862 (4 Cos.). Shields’ Division, Dept. of the Rappahannock, to June, 1862 (8 Cos.). Buford’s Cavalry Brigade, 2nd Army Corps, Army of Virginia, to September, 1862 (8 Cos.). Milroy’s Independent Brigade, 1st Army Corps, Army of Virginia, to September, 1862 (4 Cos.). Unassigned, Defenses of Washington, D. C., to February, 1863. Price’s Cavalry Brigade, Defenses of Washington, D. C., and 22nd Army Corps, to April, 1863. 3rd Brigade, Stahel’s Cavalry Division, 22nd Army Corps, to June, 1863. 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, Cavalry Corps, Army of the Potomac, to December, 1863. Unassigned, Dept. of West Virginia, to March, 1864. 2nd Brigade, 2nd Cavalry Division, W. Va., to May, 1864. 3rd Brigade, 2nd Cavalry Division, W. Va., to June, 1864. 2nd Brigade, 2nd Cavalry Division, W. Va., to November, 1864. 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, Cavalry Corps, Middle Military Division, to February, 1865. 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, Cavalry Corps, Army of the Potomac, to July, 1865. (Co. “A” attached to Averill’s 4th Separate Brigade, 8th Army Corps, Middle Department, March to June, 1863. Averill’s 4th Separate Brigade, W. Va., to December, 1863. 2nd Brigade, 4th Division, W. Va., to April, 1864. Kelly’s Command, Reserve Division, W. Va., to April, 1865. 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, W. Va., to July, 1865.)
SERVICE.–Action at Carnifex Ferry, W. Va., September 10, 1861 (Detachment). Romney, W. Va., October 26 (Co. “A”). Guyandotte, W. Va., November 10 (Detachment). Wirt Court House November 19. Capture of Suttonville, Braxton Court House, November 29. In support of Garfield’s operations in Eastern Kentucky against Humphrey Marshall December 23, 1861, to January 30, 1862 (Detachment). Skirmishes in Clay, Braxton and Webster Counties December 29-31. Jennies Creek, Ky., January 7, 1862 (Detachment). Regiment engaged in scouting, picket and outpost duty and guarding Baltimore & Ohio Railroad in West Virginia until March, 1862. Expedition to Blue’s Gap January 6-7. Hanging Rock Pass, Romney, January 7. Bloomery Gap February 13. Bloomen February 15. Advance on Winchester, Va., March 5-12 (Cos. “C,” “E” and “L”). Phillippi March 20 (4 Cos.). Battle of Winchester March 23. Monterey April 12 (Cos. “C,” “E” and “L”). Buffalo Gap May 3 (Cos. “C,” “E” and “L”). McDowell May 7 (Cos. “C,” “E” and “L”). Scouts to Roane and Clay Counties May 8-21. Giles Court House May 10 (Detachment). Strasburg June 1. Cross Keys June 8. Port Republic June 9. White Plains June 10. Expedition to Madison Court House, Culpeper Court House and Orange Court House July 12-17. Near Culpeper July 12. Cedar Mountain August 9 (Cos. “C,” “E” and “L”). Orange Court House August 13. Pope’s Campaign in Northern Virginia August 16-September 2. Rapidan August 18. Freeman’s Ford, Hazel River, August 22 (Cos. “C,” “E” and “L”). Kelly’s Ford August 22. Sulphur Springs August 23. Waterloo Bridge August 23-25. Buckland Bridge, near Gainesville, August 28 (Cos. “C,” “E” and “L”). Groveton August 29 (Cos. “C,” “E” and “L”). Bull Run August 30 (Cos. “C,” “E” and “L”). Lewis Ford August 30. Chantilly September 1. (2 Cos. at Antietam, Md., September 16-17.) Ashby’s Gap September 22. Expedition to Thoroughfare Gap October 17-18. Gainesville October 18. Near Warrenton November 4. Reconnaissance to Snicker’s Ferry and Berryville November 28-30. Snicker’s Ferry November 30. Moorefield, W. Va., December 3 (1 Co.). Near Moorefield, W. Va., January 5, 1863. Cockletown, Pocahontas County, W. Va., January 22. Scout from Centreville to Falmouth February 27-28. Beverly April 24 (Co. “A”). Warrenton Junction May 3 (Detachment). Winchester June 13-15 (Cos. “C” and “K”). Hanover, Pa., June 30. Gettysburg, Pa., July 1-3. Hunterstown July 2. Monterey Gap July 4. Smithburg July 5. Hagerstown July 6. Boonsboro July 8. Hagerstown July 11-13. Falling Water July 14. Expedition from Fayetteville, W. Va., to Wytheville July 13-15 (2 Cos.). Shanghai July 16 (Co. “A”). Wytheville July 18-19 (Co. “A”). Near Hedgesville and Martinsburg July 18-19 (Co. “A”). Near Gaines’ Cross Roads July 23. McConnellsburg, Pa., July 30. Averill’s Raid through Hardy, Pendleton, Highland, Bath, Greenfield and Pocahontas Counties, W. Va., August 25-31 (Co. “A”). Rocky Gap, near White Sulphur Springs, August 26-27 (Co.. “A”). Expedition to Port Conway September 1-3. Culpeper Court House September 13. Raccoon Ford September 14-16. Robertson’s Station September 16. Raccoon Ford September 17-18. White’s Ford September 22-23. Bristoe Campaign October 9-22. James City and Bethesda Church October 10. Near Culpeper, Brandy Station and Griffinsburg October 11. Gainesville October 14. Groveton October 17-18. Gainesville, New Baltimore, Buckland’s Mill and Haymarket October 19. Catlett’s Station November 7. Mine Run Campaign November 26-December 2. Raccoon Ford November 26-27. Averill’s Raid from Lewisburg to Virginia & Tennessee Railroad November 1-17 (Co. “A”). Droop Mountain November 6 (Co. “A”). Averill’s Raid from New Creek to Salem December 8-25 (Co. “A”). Regiment on duty at various points in West Virginia until May, 1864. Averill’s Raid on Virginia & Tennessee Railroad May 5-19. Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, between Bloomfield and Piedmont, May 5. Abb’s Valley, Jeffersonville, May 8. Grassy Lick, Cove Mountain, near Wytheville, May 10. Doublin Station May 12. Rude’s Hill and New Market May 14. Lewisburg May 20 (Detachment). Hunter’s Raid on Lynchburg May 26-July 1. Staunton June 8. White Sulphur Springs June 10. Lexington June 11. Scout around Lynchburg June 13-15. Near Buchanan June 13. New London June 16. Diamond Hill June 17. Lynchburg June 17-18. Snicker’s Ford June 18. Liberty June 19. Buford’s Gap June 20. Catawba Mountains and about Salem June 21. Snicker’s Ferry, Va., July 17-18. Carter’s Farm, near Stephenson’s Depot, July 20. Newtown July 22. Kernstown, Winchester, July 24. Falling Waters July 24. Martinsburg July 25. Hagerstown July 29. Hancock July 31. Williamsport and Hagerstown August 5. Near Moorefield August 7. Williamsport August 26. Martinsburg August 31. Bunker Hill September 3-4. Stephenson’s Depot September 5. Darkesville September 10. Bunker Hill September 13. Berryville and near Brentsville September 14. Centreville September 14. Charlestown September 17. Winchester September 19. Fisher’s Hill September 22. Mt. Jackson September 23-24. Forest Hill or Timberville September 24. Brown’s Gap September 26. Weyer’s Cave September 26-27. Battle of Cedar Creek October 19. Dry Run October 23 (Detachment). Milford October 25 (Detachment). Nineveh November 12. Rude’s Hill, near Mt. Jackson, November 22. Expedition to Gordonsville December 19-28. Gordonsville December 23. Sheridan’s Raid from Winchester February 25-March 25, 1865. Mt. Crawford February 28. Waynesboro March 2. Charlottesville March 3. Augusta Court House March 10. Haydensville March 12. Beaver Dam Station March 15. White House March 26. Appomattox Campaign March 28-April 9, Dinwiddie Court House March 29-31. Five Forks April 1. Namozine Church and Scott’s Corners April 2. Jettersville April 4. Amelia Court House April 5. Sailor’s Creek April 6. Stony Point April 7. 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 July 8, 1865. Regiment lost during service 10 Officers and 71 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 126 Enlisted men by disease. Total 207.
West Virginia at Gettysburg
7th Infantry :: 1st Cavalry :: 3rd Cavalry :: Battery C
One Comment
West Virginia was formed illegally by traitors, and made up of stolen counties. Reincarnation is theological nonsense, but, were it true, Rich Rodriguez would have commanded the Yankee troops in West Virginia. By the way, there is NO record of anyone from my home county [Mercer] serving with the yankees.