3rd Rhode Island Cavalry
Encyclopedia
The 3rd Rhode Island Volunteer Cavalry was a cavalry
regiment
that served in the Union Army
during the American Civil War
. The regiment briefly served dismounted as infantry in the defenses of New Orleans, June-September, 1864.
and mustered in September 12, 1863 for a three year enlistment. On January 14, 1864, the 2nd Rhode Island Cavalry
(by this time it was battalion strength) was transferred to 3rd Rhode Island Cavalry.
The regiment was attached to Defenses of New Orleans, Department of the Gulf, to March 1864. 5th Brigade, Cavalry Division, Department of the Gulf, to June 1864. Defenses of New Orleans, Louisiana, to October 1864. District of LaFourche, Department of the Gulf, to November 1865.
The 3rd Rhode Island Cavalry mustered out of service November 29, 1865.
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...
. The regiment briefly served dismounted as infantry in the defenses of New Orleans, June-September, 1864.
Service
The 3rd Rhode Island Cavalry was organized in Providence, Rhode IslandProvidence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
and mustered in September 12, 1863 for a three year enlistment. On January 14, 1864, the 2nd Rhode Island Cavalry
2nd Rhode Island Cavalry
The 2nd Rhode Island Volunteer Cavalry was a cavalry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The 2nd Rhode Island Cavalry was organized in Providence, Rhode Island and mustered in November 21, 1862 for a three year enlistment...
(by this time it was battalion strength) was transferred to 3rd Rhode Island Cavalry.
The regiment was attached to Defenses of New Orleans, Department of the Gulf, to March 1864. 5th Brigade, Cavalry Division, Department of the Gulf, to June 1864. Defenses of New Orleans, Louisiana, to October 1864. District of LaFourche, Department of the Gulf, to November 1865.
The 3rd Rhode Island Cavalry mustered out of service November 29, 1865.
Detailed service
1st Battalion moved to New Orleans, La., December 31, 1863 to January 14, 1864. Red River Campaign March 10-May 22, 1864. Advance to Alexandria March 14-26. Monett's Ferry and Cloutiersville March 29-30. Natchitoches March 31. Campti April 4. Sabine Cross Roads April 8. Pleasant Hill April 9. Natchitoches April 19. (Companies E, F, and L moved to join the regiment at Alexandria April 20-22.) Action at Tunica Bend April 21. About Cloutiersville April 22-24. Monett's Ferry or Cane River Crossing April 23. Gov. Moore's Plantation May 1-2. Alexandria May 11-12. Retreat from Alexandria to Morganza May 13-20. Natchitoches May 14. Mansura May 16. Near Moreauville May 17. Yellow Bayou May 18. Near Morganza May 24. Reached Fort Banks, opposite New Orleans, June 2. Companies G and H reported at New Orleans May 8 and joined the regiment at Greenville June 10. Regiment dismounted June 22, and served duty as infantry in the defenses of New Orleans until September. Remounted September 20. Assigned to duty in the District of LaFourche at Donaldsonville, Napoleonville, Thibodeaux, Camp Parapet, Plaquemine, Houma, Hermitage Plantation, and other points in Louisiana, scouting and patrol duty and operating against guerrillas, until November 1865. Action at Napoleonville November 1, 1864, and at Doyall's Plantation November 29. 1864 (detachment). Expedition from Brashear City to Whiskey Bayou January 16-18, 1865 (Companies B, I, and K). Expedition from Napoleonville to Grand River January 18-19 (detachment). Scout from Donaldsonville January 19-20 (detachment). Skirmish, Thompson's Plantation, January 23. Scouts from Bayou Goula to Grand River January 29-February 7. Skirmish, Richland Plantation, January 30. Expedition from Thibodeaux to Lake Verret and Bayou Planton January 30-31 (Company H). Near Lake Verret January 30. Skirmish, Kittredge's Sugar House, near Napoleon, February 10. Expedition from Donaldsonville to Grand Bayou and Bayou Goula February 14-18. Skirmish, Martin's Lane, February 15 (Companies D, F, and K). Expedition from Plaquemine to the Park February 17-22 (detachment). Expedition from the Hermitage to the French Settlement April 2-5 (detachment). Expedition to Lake Verret, Grand Bayou, etc., April 2-10. Expedition from Terre Bonne to Pelion's Plantation and Grand Caillou April 19-25 (Company M). operations about Brashear City April 30-May 12. Bayou Goula May 9. Expedition from Bayou Boeuf to Bayou de Large May 25-27. Affair, Bayou de Large, May 27.Casualties
The regiment lost a total of 147 men during service; 8 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded, 4 officers and 135 enlisted men died of disease.See also
- List of Rhode Island Civil War units
- Rhode Island in the American Civil WarRhode Island in the American Civil WarThe state of Rhode Island during the American Civil War, as with all of New England, remained loyal to the Union. Rhode Island furnished 25,236 fighting men to the Union Army, of which 1,685 died. On the home front, Rhode Island, along with the other northern states, used its industrial capacity to...