2nd Colorado Cavalry
Encyclopedia
The 2nd Regiment Colorado Volunteer Cavalry was a cavalry
regiment
that served in the Union Army
during the American Civil War
.
by consolidation of the 2nd Colorado Infantry
and 3rd Colorado Infantry
to date from October 1863 under the command of Colonel
James Hobart Ford
.
The regiment was attached to District of Southeast Missouri, Department of Missouri, to December 1863. District of St. Louis, Missouri, Department of Missouri, to January 1864. District of Central Missouri, Department of the Missouri, to December 1864. District of the Upper Arkansas to September 1865.
The 2nd Colorado Cavalry mustered out of service at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas on September 23, 1865.
, Pleasant Hill and Harrisonville. Skirmish at Dayton, Mo., April 27. Skirmishes in Johnson County April 28–30. Skirmish at Sin Hills April 29 and May 21. Affair at Blue River May 21 (detachment). Pleasant Hill May 28. Scout on the Osage June 8–19 (Companies I and L). Scout from Pleasant Hill June 14–16 (Companies D, I, K, and M). Expedition from Kansas City into Missouri June 18–20 (Companies I, K, and M). Operations in western Missouri July 6–30. Near the Little Blue, Jackson County, July 6 (Company C). Camden Point July 13. Near Fredericksburg July 14. Fayette Road, near Helmsville, July 16. Fredericksburg July 17. Scout on South Platte River, Colo., July 17–28 (detachment). Ragtown July 20. Camden Point July 22. Union Mills July 22. Pleasant Hill July 25. Near Independence August 1 (detachment). Scout on Independence Road to Gunter's Mills August 1–3 (Companies F, G, I, K, and L). Scout from Independence to Lafayette County August 2–8 (detachment). Scout from Independence to Lafayette and Jackson Counties August 13–18 (Companies C, D, F, I, K, and M). Operations in Lafayette, Howard and Saline Counties Aug. 13-22. Engagement, Canadian River, Indian Territory, August 21 (detachment). Scouts in Jackson and Cass Counties August 25–29 (Company D). Skirmish near Pleasant Hill August 26 (Company D). Operations against Price's Invasion August 29-December 2. Scouts on Little Blue, Jackson County, September 2–10 (Company A). Walnut Creek September 25. Skirmish near Pleasant Hill September 26. Regiment concentrated at Pleasant Hill October 1, and cover Independence and front of the Army of the Border
. Near Lexington October 17 (Companies C, E, G, K, and L). Lexington October 19. Battle of Little Blue October 21. Pursuit of Price October 21–28. Independence and State Line October 22. Big Blue and Westport October 23. Marias Des Cygnes, Mine Creek, Little Osage River, October 25. Newtonia October 28. Moved to District of the Upper Arkansas December 22, and engaged in operations against Indians about Fort Riley, Fort Zarah, Fort Ellsworth and Fort Larned until September 1865. Skirmish at Godfrey's Ranch, Colorado Territory, January 14, 1865 (detachment). Operations on Overland Stage Route from Denver to Julesburg, Colorado Territory, January 14–25 (detachment). Skirmish at Fort Zarah February 1 (Company C). Scout from Fort Larned to Crooked Creek March 9 (detachment). Near Fort Zarah April 23 (detachment). Pawnee Rock May 20 (detachment). Cow Creek Station, Plum Butte and Pawnee Rock June 12 (detachments).
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
regiment
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
that served in the Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
Service
The 2nd Colorado Cavalry was organized at St. Louis, MissouriSt. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
by consolidation of the 2nd Colorado Infantry
2nd Colorado Infantry Regiment
The 2nd Colorado Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment during the American Civil War from the state of Colorado. On October 13, 1863 the 2nd Colorado Infantry was consolidated with the 3rd Colorado Infantry Regiment in order to create the 2nd Colorado Cavalry Regiment.-Prior to official...
and 3rd Colorado Infantry
3rd Colorado Infantry Regiment
The 3rd Colorado Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment during the American Civil War from the state of Colorado. In October 1863, the 3rd Colorado Infantry was consolidated with the 2nd Colorado Infantry Regiment and the subsequent formation was re-designated as the 2nd Colorado Cavalry...
to date from October 1863 under the command of Colonel
Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, colonel is a senior field grade military officer rank just above the rank of lieutenant colonel and just below the rank of brigadier general...
James Hobart Ford
James Hobart Ford
James Hobart Ford was a Union general during the American Civil War, notable for his contributions in the Trans-Mississippi Theater of the war.-Early life:...
.
The regiment was attached to District of Southeast Missouri, Department of Missouri, to December 1863. District of St. Louis, Missouri, Department of Missouri, to January 1864. District of Central Missouri, Department of the Missouri, to December 1864. District of the Upper Arkansas to September 1865.
The 2nd Colorado Cavalry mustered out of service at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas on September 23, 1865.
Detailed service
The regiment organized at Benton Barracks, Mo., until January 1864. Companies F, G, H, and K were on duty in Colorado Territory at Fort Lyon and other points until November 26, 1863. March to Fort Riley, Kansas, November 26-December 25, then to Kansas City, Mo., January 6, 1864. Regiment moved from St. Louis, Mo., to Dresden January 16, 1864, then to Kansas City February 15–20. Assigned to duty in 4th Sub-District of Central Missouri, consisting of Cass, Johnston, Bates and Vernon Counties, Mo., and engaged in protecting borders of Kansas and operations against guerrillas, with almost constant fighting by detachments, until October 1864. Operating from Kansas City, Independence, Westport, Hickman's MillsHickman Mills, Kansas City
Hickman Mills is a neighborhood of Kansas City, Missouri and the Kansas City Metropolitan Area. There is good access to the Interstate highway system, with I-435 and I-470 running through the area, including the Grandview Triangle. It also includes Longview Lake and Longview Community College...
, Pleasant Hill and Harrisonville. Skirmish at Dayton, Mo., April 27. Skirmishes in Johnson County April 28–30. Skirmish at Sin Hills April 29 and May 21. Affair at Blue River May 21 (detachment). Pleasant Hill May 28. Scout on the Osage June 8–19 (Companies I and L). Scout from Pleasant Hill June 14–16 (Companies D, I, K, and M). Expedition from Kansas City into Missouri June 18–20 (Companies I, K, and M). Operations in western Missouri July 6–30. Near the Little Blue, Jackson County, July 6 (Company C). Camden Point July 13. Near Fredericksburg July 14. Fayette Road, near Helmsville, July 16. Fredericksburg July 17. Scout on South Platte River, Colo., July 17–28 (detachment). Ragtown July 20. Camden Point July 22. Union Mills July 22. Pleasant Hill July 25. Near Independence August 1 (detachment). Scout on Independence Road to Gunter's Mills August 1–3 (Companies F, G, I, K, and L). Scout from Independence to Lafayette County August 2–8 (detachment). Scout from Independence to Lafayette and Jackson Counties August 13–18 (Companies C, D, F, I, K, and M). Operations in Lafayette, Howard and Saline Counties Aug. 13-22. Engagement, Canadian River, Indian Territory, August 21 (detachment). Scouts in Jackson and Cass Counties August 25–29 (Company D). Skirmish near Pleasant Hill August 26 (Company D). Operations against Price's Invasion August 29-December 2. Scouts on Little Blue, Jackson County, September 2–10 (Company A). Walnut Creek September 25. Skirmish near Pleasant Hill September 26. Regiment concentrated at Pleasant Hill October 1, and cover Independence and front of the Army of the Border
Army of the Border
The Army of the Border was a Union army during the American Civil War. It was created from units in the Department of Kansas to oppose Sterling Price's Raid in 1864. Samuel R. Curtis was in command of the army throughout its duration.Major General James G...
. Near Lexington October 17 (Companies C, E, G, K, and L). Lexington October 19. Battle of Little Blue October 21. Pursuit of Price October 21–28. Independence and State Line October 22. Big Blue and Westport October 23. Marias Des Cygnes, Mine Creek, Little Osage River, October 25. Newtonia October 28. Moved to District of the Upper Arkansas December 22, and engaged in operations against Indians about Fort Riley, Fort Zarah, Fort Ellsworth and Fort Larned until September 1865. Skirmish at Godfrey's Ranch, Colorado Territory, January 14, 1865 (detachment). Operations on Overland Stage Route from Denver to Julesburg, Colorado Territory, January 14–25 (detachment). Skirmish at Fort Zarah February 1 (Company C). Scout from Fort Larned to Crooked Creek March 9 (detachment). Near Fort Zarah April 23 (detachment). Pawnee Rock May 20 (detachment). Cow Creek Station, Plum Butte and Pawnee Rock June 12 (detachments).
Commanders
- Colonel James Hobart Ford
- MajorMajor (United States)In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, major is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel...
J. H. Pritchard - commanded at the battles of Westport and Mine Creek - Major J. Nelson Smith - commanded at the battle of Westport; killed in action
Notable members
- Private John "Liver-Eating" JohnsonLiver-Eating JohnsonJohn "Liver-Eating" Johnson was a mountain man of the American Old West.- Biography :Johnson is said to have been born near Little York, New Jersey, with the last name Garrison. Some accounts say that he joined the United States Navy in 1846...
, Company H - notable mountain man - Major J. Nelson Smith - killed in action at the battle of Westport; Smith County, KansasSmith County, KansasSmith County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. The county's population was 3,853 for the 2010 census. Its county seat is Smith Center. It is named in memory of Maj. J. Nelson Smith, who was part of the 2nd Colorado Cavalry, killed in action at the Battle of Westport on October 21,...
was named in his honor
See also
- List of Colorado Civil War units
- Colorado in the Civil WarColorado in the Civil WarThe Colorado Territory was formally created in 1861 shortly before the bombardment of Fort Sumter sparked the American Civil War. Although sentiments were somewhat divided in the early days of the war, Colorado was only marginally a pro-Union territory...