The Second United States Cavalry is honored by a monument and two position stones at Gettysburg.
About the Main Monument
When was it dedicated? Erected between 1907 and 1908.
What is it made out of? Foundation: Concrete. Monument: Polished red Jonesboro Granite. Plaque: Bronze.
What size is it? 24 by 50 inches and 7 feet high.
Who made it? Van Armitage Granite Company
What does it depict? One of 45 monuments erected to units of the United States regular army on the battlefield. A red polished Jonesboro granite monolith that is set upon a concrete foundation with a descriptive 3’6′x3’7′ bronze tablet with the coat of arms of the United States in bronze.
How is it inscribed? Monument reads,
ARMY OF THE POTOMAC
CAVALRY CORPS
RESERVE BRIGADE FIRST DIVISION
SECOND U. S. CAVALRY
Captain Theo. R. Rodenbough Commanding
Detachment at Headquarters Army of the Potomac
July 3. Moved with the Brigade at 12 M. under Brig. General W. Merritt from Emmitsburg and attacked the Confederate right and rear and was engaged for four hours until the action was brought to a close by a heavy rain.
Casualties Killed 3 Men Wounded 1 Officer and 6 Men Missing 1 Officer and 6 Men
When was this photograph taken? December 8, 2011.
Where is it located? Located Gettysburg National Military Park, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania 17325. Located on the South Cavalry battlefield off the Emmitsburg Road.
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 materially altered.
Secondary Monuments and Markers
Monument Title: Stone Position Marker – Right Flank
Photographed: May 1, 2010.
Location: East of Ridge Road on the bed of old Merritt Avenue. Located on South Cavalry Field East of Ridge Road. This monument is marked on the map above by a RED pushpin.
Description: Denotes position of detachments of the 1st and 2nd U.S. Cavalry on the South Cavalry Battlefield. Erected in 1909. Bronze inscription tablet, 3′x2′, rectangular in shape with rounded corners. Polished granite pedistal. Overall height 5′ high. Marker is of the War Department Era and marks left flank of 1st & 2nd United States Regular Cavalry during Battle of Gettysburg, July 1-3, 1863. Marker is of the War Department Era and marks right flank of 1st & 2nd United States Regular Cavalry during Battle of Gettysburg, July 1-3, 1863. Erected after other United States Regular markers & is of a completely different style than earlier ones.
Monument Title: Stone Position Marker – Left flank.
Photographed: May 1, 2010.
Location: South Cavalry Battlefield west of the Emmitsburg Road. This monument is marked on the map above by a BLUE pushpin.
Description: Denotes position of detachments of the 1st and 2nd U.S. Cavalry on the South Cavalry Battlefield. Erected in 1909. Marker is a bronze inscription tablet, 3′x2′, rectangular in shape with rounded corners. Polished granite pedestal. Overall height 5′ H. Marker is of the War Department Era and marks left flank of 1st & 2nd United States Regular Cavalry during Battle of Gettysburg, July 1-3, 1863. Erected after other United States Regular markers & is of a completely different style than earlier ones.
At Gettysburg
The 2nd United States Cavalry served as a member of Merritt’s Reserve Brigade in Buford’s Division of the Cavalry Corps, Army of the Potomac.
Commander: Capt. Theophilus F. Rodenbough (1838-1912). Native of Easton, Pennsylvania. Wounded twice in 1864; awarded Medal of Honor for gallantry for Trevelion Station.
Number Engaged: 510
Casualties: 3 killed, 7 wounded, 7 missing
Officers Killed at Gettysburg:
- 2nd Lieutenant George D. Selden, Company G, mortally wounded on July 3
General Information
Raised: The 2d United States Cavalry was enlisted at Washington D.C. and New York City. Befitting a national unit, the men came from many different places. Originally formed in 1836 as a Dragoon unit, in August 1861 it became the 2d Cavalry. It was stationed at Fort Crittenden in the Utah Territory.
Regimental History ~ Dyer’s Compendium of the War of the Rebellion:
All Companies in Washington. D.C., by December, 1861, except “C,” “G” and “L” Company “C” left Fort Leavenworth, Kan., June 11, 1861. At Springfield, Mo., August 6. Battle of Wilson’s Creek, Mo., August 10. Moved to St. Louis, Mo., August 11-30, thence to Paducah, Ky. Attached to District of Paducah, Ky., to February, 1862. 2nd Division, District of West Tennessee, and Army Tennessee, to July, 1862. 2nd Division, District of Corinth. Miss., to November, 1862. District of Corinth, Miss., 13th Army Corps, Dept. Tennessee, to December, 1862. 2nd Division, District of Corinth, 17th Army Corps, to January, 1863. 2nd Division, District Corinth, 16th Army Corps, January, 1863. District of Memphis, Tenn., escort to Gen. Grant, Commanding Army Tennessee, to May, 1863.
SERVICE (Co. “C”).–Operations against Fort Henry, Tenn., February 2-6, 1862. Investment and capture of Fort Donelson, Tenn., February 12-16. Expedition to Nashville, Tenn., February 19-25. Moved to Pittsburg Landing, Tenn., March 1-16. Battle of Shiloh, Tenn., April 6-7. Advance on and siege of Corinth, Miss., April 29-May 30. Duty at and about Corinth, Miss., until January, 1863. Battle of Corinth October 3-4, 1862. Grant’s Central Mississippi Campaign November, 1862, to January, 1863. Reached Memphis, Tenn., January 15, 1863, and duty there as escort to Gen. Grant’s Headquarters until May. Joined Regiment at Falmouth, Va., May, 1863.
Company “G.”–Temporarily assigned to duty with McRae’s Battery Artillery in New Mexico. Duty in New Mexico October, 1861, to September, 1862. Battle of Valverde February 21, 1862. Evacuation of Albuquerque and Santa Fe March 2-4. March to Fort Leavenworth, Kan., September and October, 1862, arriving there October 27. Arrive at Washington, D.C., November 23, and Joined Regiment at Falmouth, Va., January 13, 1863.
Company “I.”–At Taos, N.M., April to October, 1861. Moved to Fort Garland October 1-9, and duty there until September, 1862. Moved to Fort Leavenworth, Kan., arriving there October 27. Arrive at Washington, D.C., November 23, and Join Regiment at Falmouth, Va., January 13, 1863.
Regiment attached to Thomas’ Command, Patterson’s Army, June, 1861. 1st Brigade, Banks’ Division, Shenandoah, to August, 1861. Cavalry Reserve, Army Potomac, to March, 1862. Provost Guard, Army Potomac, to February, 1863. Reserve Brigade, 1st Division, Cavalry Corps, Army Potomac, to August, 1864. 3rd (Reserve) Brigade, 1st Division, Cavalry Corps, Army Shenandoah, Middle Military Division, March, 1865. Cavalry Brigade, Army Shenandoah, to July, 1865.
SERVICE.–Occupation of Arlington Heights, Va., May 24, 1861 (Detachment). Fairfax Court House June 1 (Co. “B”). Advance on Manassas, Va., July 16-21 (4 Cos.). Blackburn’s Ford July 18. Battle of Bull Run July 21. Duty in the Defenses of Washington, D.C., until March, 1862. Peninsula Campaign April to August; Siege of Yorktown, Va.. April 5-May 4. Ellison’s Mill near Mechanicsville May 23 (Detachment). New Bridge May 24 (Detachment). Seven days before Richmond June 25-July 1. Reconnaissance to Charlestown, W. Va., October 16-17. Charlestown October 16. Expedition from Potomac Creek to Richards and Ellis Fords, Rappahannock River, December 29-30. Chancellorsville Campaign April 27-May 8. Stoneman’s Raid April 29-May 8. Brandy Station and Beverly Ford June 9. Expedition from Point Lookout, Md., to Pope’s Creek June 11-21 (Detachment). Middleburg June 19. Upperville June 21. Battle of Gettysburg, Pa., July 1-3. Williamsport, Md., July 6. Boonesboro July town July 10-13. Falling Waters July 14. Manassas Gap July 21-22. Wapping Heights July 23. Kelly’s Ford July 31-August 1. Brandy Station August 1-4. Advance from the Rappahannock to the Rapidan September 13-17. Bristoe Campaign October 9-22. Manassas Junction October 17. Bristoe Station October 18. Advance to line of the Rappahannock November 7-8. Mine Run Campaign November 26-December 2. Demonstration on the Rapidan February 6-7, 1864. Barnett’s Ford February 6-7. Custer’s Raid in Albemarle County February 28-March 1. Near Charlottesville February 29. Stannardsville March 1. Rapidan Campaign May 4-June 12. Wilderness May 5-7. Todd’s Tavern May 7-8. Sheridan’s Raid to the James River May 9-24. Ground Squirrel Church and Yellow Tavern May 11. Mechanicsville May 12. Line of the Pamunkey May 26-28. Hanovertown Ferry and Hanovertown May 27. Haw’s Shop May 28. Totopotomoy May 28-31. Old Church and Mattadequin Creek May 30. Bethesda Church, Cold Harbor, May 31-June 1. Sheridan’s Trevillian Raid June 7-24. Trevillian Station June 11-12. Mallory’s Cross Roads June 12. Black Creek or Tunstall Station and White House or St. Peter’s Church June 21. Jones’ Bridge June 23. Siege of Petersburg until August. Deep Bottom July 27-28. Malvern Hill July 28. Sheridan’s Shenandoah Valley Campaign August 7-November 28. Tell Gate near White Post and near Newtown August 11. Near Strasburg August 14. Halltown and near Kearneysville August 25. Leetown and Smithville August 28. Smithfield Crossing, Opequan, August 28. Locke’s Ford, Opequan Creek, September 13. Sevier’s Ford, Opequan Creek, September 15. Battle of Opequan, Winchester, September 19. Fisher’s Hill September 21. Milford September 22. Front Royal September 23. Luray Valley September 24. Front Royal September 25. Port Republic September 26-27. Rockfish Gap September 28. Mt. Crawford October 2. Tom’s Brook, Woodstock Races, October 8-9. Battle of Cedar Creek October 19. Near Kernstown November 11. Expedition into Loudoun and Faquier Counties, November 28-December 3. Expedition from Winchester to near Gordonsville December 19-28. Liberty Mills December 22. Near Gordonsville December 23. Duty in the Shenandoah Valley until July, 1865. Regiment lost during service 5 Officers and 73 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 3 Officers and 92 Enlisted men by disease. Total 173.
United States Regular Army at Gettysburg
Infantry Units :: 2nd Infantry :: 3rd Infantry :: 4th Infantry :: 6th Infantry :: 7th Infantry :: 8th Infantry :: 10th Infantry :: 11th Infantry :: 12th Infantry :: 14th Infantry :: 17th Infantry :: Artillery Units :: 1st Artillery E&G :: 1st Artillery H :: 1st Artillery I :: 1st Artillery K :: 2nd Artillery A :: 2nd Artillery D :: 2nd Artillery G :: 2nd Artillery B&L :: 2nd Artillery M :: 3rd Artillery C :: 3rd Artillery F&K :: 4th Artillery A :: 4th Artillery B :: 4th Artillery C :: 4th Artillery E :: 4th Artillery F :: 4th Artillery G :: 4th Artillery K :: 5th Artillery C :: 5th Artillery D :: 5th Artillery F :: 5th Artillery I :: 5th Artillery K :: Cavalry Units :: 1st Cavalry :: 2nd Cavalry :: 5th Cavalry :: 6th Cavalry :: Other Units :: Engineer Battalion :: Signal Corps
