The Fifth United States Cavalry is honored by a monument 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? This monument reads,
ARMY OF THE POTOMAC
CAVALRY CORPS
RESERVE BRIGADE FIRST DIVISION
FIFTH U. S. CAVALRY
Captain Julius W. Mason 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 Wounded 4 Men Missing 1 Man
When was this photograph taken? March 23, 2008.
Where is it located? Located Gettysburg National Military Park, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania 17325. Located west of Ridge Road on old Merritt Avenue. South Cavalry Field, unimproved “avenue” west of Ridge Road.
Is this monument located along the NPS Auto Tour route? No.
Has this monument been moved or changed? This monument has not been moved or materially altered.
At Gettysburg
The 5th 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. Julius W. Mason (1835-1882). Native of Pennsylvania. Engineer and militia officer.
Number Engaged: 454
Casualties: 4 wounded, 1 missing
After Action Report: After Action Report of Capt. Julius W. Mason (will open a pop up window).
General Information
Raised: The 5th United States Cavalry was organized in 1855 at Louisville as part of the 2nd Cavalry. It became designated the 5th Cavalry in August 1861. The men came from New York City, Washington D.C., Baltimore, Suffolk County (Massachusetts), and Hamilton County (Ohio).
Regimental History ~ Dyer’s Compendium of the War of the Rebellion:
Organized by direction of the President from 2nd Cavalry August 3, 1861. Attached to Cooke’s Cavalry Reserve, Army Potomac, to March, 1862. 1st Brigade, Cooke’s Cavalry Reserve, Army Potomac, to July, 1862. 1st Brigade, Cavalry Division, Army Potomac, to September, 1862. 1st Brigade, Pleasanton’s Cavalry Division, Army Potomac, to November, 1862. Averill’s Cavalry Brigade, 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, to March, 1865. 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, Cavalry Corps, Army Potomac, to June, 1865.
SERVICE.–Lewinsville, Va., September 11, 1861 (Co. “H”). Reconnaissance to Lewinsville September 25. Duty in Defenses of Washington, D.C., until March, 1862. Reconnaissance to Cedar Run March 14-16. Siege of Yorktown, Va., April 5-May 4. Battle of Williamsburg May 5. Hanover Court House May 27. Operations about Hanover Court House May 27-29. Ashland May 28. Operations against Stuart June 13-15. Old Church, Hanover Court House, and Haw’s Shop, June 13. Haw’s Shop June 15. Seven days before Richmond June 25-July 1. Operations at White House June 26-July 2. Sycamore Church and White Oak Swamp Bridge July 3. White Oak Swamp Bridge July 4. Malvern Hill July 5. Reconnaissance from Westover July 16. Maryland Campaign September 6-22. Sugar Loaf Mountain near Frederick September 10-11. Antietam September 16-17. Shepherdstown Ford September 19-20. Charlestown October 6 and 16. Kearneysville and Shepherdstown October 16-17 (Detachment). Bloomfield and Upperville November 2-3. Manassas Gap and Markham Station November 4. Manassas Gap, Barbee’s Cross Roads, Chester Gap and Markham November 5-6. Waterloo Bridge November 7. Little Washington November 8. Reconnaissance from Sharpsburg to Smithfield, W. Va., November 24-25. Battle of Fredericksburg December 11-15. Expedition from Potomac Creek to Richards and Ellis Fords, Rappahannock River, December 29-30. Reconnaissance to Catlett’s and Rappahannock Stations January 8-10, 1863 (Detachment). Near Grove Church January 9 (Detachment). Kelly’s Ford March 17. Chancellorsville Campaign April 27-May 8. Stoneman’s Raid April 29-May 8. Brandy Station April 29. Raccoon Ford April 30 (Detachment). 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 8. Benevola or Beaver Creek July 9. At and near Funkstown July 10-13. Falling Waters July 14. Manassas Gap, Va.. 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. Charlottesville February 29. Stannardsville near Taylortown 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 James River May 9-24. Davenport Bridge, North Anna River, May 10. 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. 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. (Expedition from Point Lookout to Pope’s Creek June 11-21, Detachment.) Siege of Petersburg until August. Deep Bottom July 27-28. Malvern Hill July 28. Sheridan’s Shenandoah Valley Campaign August 7-November 28. Near Newtown August 11. Near Strasburg August 14. Near Kearneysville August 25. 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. Port Republic September 26-27. Rockfish Gap September 28. Mt. Crawford October 2. Tom’s Brook, Woodstock Races, October 8-9. Expedition into Surrey County October 16-18. Battle of Cedar Creek October 19. Near Kernstown November 11. Expedition into Loudoun and Fauquier Counties November 28-December 3. Expedition from Winchester to near Gordonsville December 19-28. Liberty Mills December 22. Near Gordonsville December 23. Sheridan’s Raid from Winchester February 27-March 25, 1865. Occupation of Staunton March 2. Action at Waynesboro March 2. Duguidsville March 8, Appomattox Campaign March 28-April 9. Dinwiddie Court House March 30-31. Five Forks April 1. Scott’s Cross Roads April 2. Tabernacle Church or Beaver Pond Creek April 4. Amelia Springs April 4-5. Sailor’s Creek April 6. 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. Regiment lost during service 7 Officers and 60 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 2 Officers and 90 Enlisted men by disease. Total 159.
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
