1st Regiment, Rhode Island Cavalry

Rhode Island

Rhode Island, Military Records

Rhode Island in the Civil War

1st Regiment, Rhode Island Cavalry

Brief History

The 1st Regiment, Rhode Island Cavalry was organized at Pawtucket as 1st New England Cavalry.Afterwards it was designated as 1st Rhode Island Cavalry, It was mustered in on December 14, 1861 to March 3, 1862. It was mustered out at Baltimore, Maryland, August 3, 1865.

Companies in this Regiment with the Counties of Origin

Men often enlisted in a company recruited in the counties where they lived though not always. After many battles, companies might be combined because so many men were killed or wounded. However if you are unsure which company your ancestor was in, try the company recruited in his county first.

The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors database lists 2,124 men on its roster for this unit. Roster.

Regimental History and Roster

• Sabres and spurs : the First Regiment Rhode Island Cavalry in the Civil War. By Frederic Denison . Central Falls, R.I.: First Rhode Island Cavalry Veteran Association, 1876. Online at: Internet Archive

Other Sources

• Beginning United States Civil War Research gives steps for finding information about a Civil War soldier. It covers the major records that should be used. Additional records are described in ‘Mississippi in the Civil War’ and ‘United States Civil War, 1861 to 1865’ (see below).
  

• National Park Service, The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, is searchable by soldier's name and state. It contains basic facts about soldiers on both sides of the Civil War, a list of regiments, descriptions of significant battles, sources of the information, and suggestions for where to find additional information.
  

• Rhode Island in the Civil War describes many Confederate and Union sources, specifically for Mississippi, and how to find them.. These include compiled service records, pension records, rosters, cemetery records, Internet databases, published books, etc.
  

• United States Civil War, 1861 to 1865 describes and explains United States and Confederate States records, rather than state records, and how to find them. These include veterans’ censuses, compiled service records, pension records, rosters, cemetery records, Internet databases, published books, etc.
  

• The Wikipedia Article on 1st Regiment, Rhode Island Cavalry (accessed 22 March 2013)

• The Civl War Archive Shows Regimental Histories 1st Regiment, Rhode Island Cavalry (accessed 22 March 2013
  

• Denison, Rev. Frederic. Sabres and Spurs: The First Regiment Rhode Island Cavalry Book online (accessed 22 March 2013) and (Bethesda, Maryland : University Publications of America, c1991), FS Library fiche 6118850 and (Salt Lake City, Utah : Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1985), FS Library film 1425589 Item 6 and A chaplain's experience in the Union army. (Washington, District of Columbia : Filmed by the Library of Congress Photoduplication Service, 1975), and (Bethesda, Maryland : University Publications of America, c1991),FS Library film 1550318 Item 43and FS Library fiche 6118849 and Shot and shell : the third Rhode Island heavy artillery regiment in the rebellion, 1861- 1865 ; camps, forts, batteries, marches, skirmishes, sieges, battles, and victories ; also the roll of honor and roll of the regiment. (Providence [Rhode Island] : Third R.I. Art. Vet. Assn., 1879), FS Catalog book 974.5 M2d and (Bethesda, Maryland : University Publications of America, c1991), FS Library fiche 6083313 and The battle of Cedar Mountain : a personal view, August 9, 1862. FS Library fiche 6083343 and The battle of Groveton, August 18, 1862. FS Library fiche 6118848

• 1st New Hampshire Cavalry Regiment RostersThis regiment organized at Concord N.H., afterward designated 1st Rhode Island Cavalry as Companies I, K, L, M.(accessed 22 March 2013)
  

• Battle Flag of 1st Rhode Island Cavalry Returned Tells about the regimental flag being lost and then returned in 2008 (accessed 22 March 2013)

• American Civil War Pictures & Photos - 1st Rhode Island Cavalry - Photo of Colonel Alfred Duffie, Photo of Colonel R.B. Lawton (accessed 22 March 2013)

• Bliss, George N. (George Newman). The First Rhode Island Cavalry at Middleburg, Va., June 17 and 18, 1863. (Bethesda, Maryland : University Publications of America, c1991), FS Library fiche 6118844 and Cavalry service with General Sheridan, and life in Libby Prison. FS Library fiche 6083341 and Reminiscences of service in the First Rhode Island Cavalry. FS Library fiche 6118847 and How I lost my sabre in war and found it in peace. FS Library fiche 6118845 and Prison life of Lieut. James M. Fales. FS Library fiche 6118846

• Cooke, Jacob B. The battle of Kelly's Ford, March 17, 1863. (Bethesda, Maryland : University Publications of America, c1991), FS Library fiche 6083342

• Fales, James M. Prison life of Lieut. James M. Fales. (Bethesda, Maryland : University Publications of America, c1991), FS Library fiche 6118846

• Gardiner, William. Operations of the Cavalry Corps, Middle Military Divison, Armies of of the U.S., from February 27 to March 8, 1865, participated in by the First Rhode Island Cavalry. (Bethesda, Maryland : University Publications of America, c1991), FS Library fiche 6118851 and Incidents of cavalry experiences during General Pope's campaign. FS Library fiche 6083344

• Green, Charles O. An incident in the battle of Middleburg, Va., June 17, 1863. (Bethesda, Maryland : University Publications of America, c1991), FS Library fiche 6083345

• Meyer, William E. The sailor on horseback. (Bethesda, Maryland : University Publications of America, c1991), FS Library fiche 6083346

• Stevens, Leverett C. A forlorn hope. (Bethesda, Maryland : University Publications of America, c1991), FS Library fiche 6083347