1861

1862

Battle of Harrisonburg

Cavalry fight with Ashby’s Confederate cavalry in which he was killed.

Cross Keys

The battalion was commanded by Captain Erastus Blakeslee.

Port Republic

Pope’s campaign in Northern Va.

Cedar Mountain

Arrived at the close of the battle

Kelly’s Ford

1863

1864

Rapidan Campaign

Craig’s Meeting House

Met and engaged Longstreet’s advance. Major Marcy and 200 men were cut off and fought their way back in a saber charge, losing 40 men. Fell back with the division to Todd’s Tavern.

Todd’s Tavern

The division made a stand, turning back the enemy.

Alsop’s farm, Spotsylvania

Led the advance into Spotsylvania Court House, briefly entering the town and capturing 35 prisoners, but was forced to withdraw when infantry support failed to show up.

The regiment was issued Spencer and Sharps carbines in place of its Smith’s carbine, General Wilson commenting that they had earned the right to carry them.

Sheridan’s raid to Richmond

“Stripped of all incumbrances, with one feed of oats in their nose-bags and two days’ hard tack and five days’ salt in their haversacks…” -Connecticut Military Department website

Beaver Dam Station

Yellow Tavern

Stuart was killed in the cavalry fight here.

Brook Church or Fortifications of Richmond, Strawberry Hill

The regiment was in the lead for much of the way in the advance into the fortifications around Richmond, After fighting all day, Sheridan withdrew with some difficulty across Meadow Bridge,

Mechump’s Creek and Hanover Court House

The brigade made a successful dismounted charge up a steep hillside. The regiment was left there all night, Brigadier General McIntosh commenting that he “needed a regiment there that he could trust.”

Ashland

The regiment supported Fitzhugh’s Battery in a series of fights against overwhelming odds when W.H.F. Lee’s Confederate cavalry division attacked the rear of the brigade. After the pack train stampeded through the regiment it launched a counter-charge that checked the enemy. Repeated rallies and counter-charges held off the attackers and saved the battery, although the regiment lost about 20% of its men. Captain Warner and Color-sergeant Whipple were killed and Lieutenant Colonel Blakeslee was wounded. Major Marcy took over command.

Totopotomoy and Gaines’ Mills

Haw’s Shop

Cold Harbor

Bethesda Church

Cold Harbor

Wilson’s raid on south side and Danville R. R.

“The regiment marched 300 miles in ten days, destroying 60 miles of railroad track, fighting four battles and many skirmishes, and stopping nowhere for more than four hours.” -Connecticut Military Department website

Black and White Station and Nottaway Court House

Heavy fighting after Confederate cavalry attacked the regiment while tearing up the tracks toward Danville.

Staunton Bridge or Roanoke Station

After the division failed to capture the Staunton Bridge 75 men of the regiment were ordered on a nightime raid to burn the bridge. The raid, virtually a suicide attack, was called off at the last minute.

Sappony Church or Stony Creek

After the division failed to break through Confederate lines the regiment covered the rear on the retreat to Ream’s Station, where Union infantry would supposedly be waiting.

Ream’s Station

The Union infantry had been forced to withdraw from Ream’s Station, and the cavalry were in danger of being surrounded and destroyed. Captain Edward Whitaker of Company E earned the Medal of Honor carrying dispatches for General Meade through an enemy division, losing half his escort of a single troop of cavalry.

With no hope of reinforcements, General Wilson burned his wagons and ammunition and spiked his artillery. When the retreat became a rout Color-sergeant Hawley stripped the flag from its staff and wrapped it around himself. The regiment covered the retreat of the division through the night, losing sixty men. Private Clark of Company A was twice wounded and taken prisoner and was then tortured by his Confederate captors, being shot 17 more times before being left for dead, but surviving to make his way back to the army.

Siege of Petersburg

The regiment rested from the raid and was refitted, remounted, and entirely armed with Spencer carbines.

Sheridan’s Shenandoah Valley Campaign

Assigned to the Army of the Shenandoah, Middle Military Division. Colonel Blakeslee rejoined the regiment at Washington as it was moving north.

Third Battle of Winchester (Opequan)

The 1st Connecticut Cavalry crossed the Opequon at dawn, charging uphill at a gallop in the middle of the brigade line to take the Confederate earthworks, capturing 100 prisoners. Holding the breastworks until relieved by infantry, the regiment was moved to the extreme flank. At the close of battle at the end of the day the regiment took part in a charge against the Confederate flank which led to the collapse of the Confederate position and a miles-long pursuit of the fugitives.

Front Royal Pike

Forced a crossing of the Shenandoah River, scattering the Confederate defenders.

Tom’s Brook, “Woodstock Races”

Cedar Run Church

Major Marcy and 30 men were captured while on picket duty in a surprise night attack by two Confederate cavalry divisions under Brigadier General Rosser. Rosser had hoped to capture Custer’s entire command, but the resistance put up by Marcy and his men alerted the camp and allowed them to drive off the attacking Confederates. Captain French took over command of the regiment.

Battle of Cedar Creek

Commanded by Captain Edwin French, took part in Custer’s charge on the right flank that broke the Confederate position at the end of the day and took a leading role in the pursuit that helped destroy the Confederate army.

Newtown, Cedar Creek

Commanded by Captain Rogers in a fight with Rosser’s cavalry. Captain Rogers was wounded and 30 men were casualties.

Raid to Lacy Springs

Commanded by Major Whitaker, the regiment marched 120 miles in four days, returning to camp with 50 men frost-bitten.

1865

Expedition from Winchester to Moorefield, W. Va.

The raid of 300 picked men, 50 from the 1st Connecticut, under Sheridan’s Chief of Scouts Major Henry Young, marched 140 miles in 48 hours and captured legendary Confederate raider Harry Gilmore in his bed.

Sheridan’s Raid 

Battle of Waynesboro

Commanded by Major Godwin, the regiment took part in a flank attack in an ice storm that broke the small Confederate army and captured over 1300 prisoners, 11 guns and 18 stands of colors.

Ashland

Lieutenant Clark was killed and 16 other men became casualties in a charge against Longstreet’s skirmishers.

Appomattox Campaign

Dinwiddie C. H.

Battle of Five Forks

Captain Parmalee was killed in a dismounted attack that captured two guns. General Custer praised the First Connecticut Cavalry for “being the first to leap the enemy’s breatsworks, seize his cannon, and turn them on the retreating foe.” The destruction of Pickett’s Confederate force started the collapse of the Petersburg defenses and the retreat to Appomattox.

Fall of Petersburg

Namozine Church

Engagement at Sweat House Creek

Sailor’s Creek

Captain Edwin M. Neville of Company C and Lieutenant Aaron Lanfare of Company B earned the Medal of Honor for capturing two stands of Confederate colors, Lanfare that of the 11th Florida Infantry Regiment

Appomattox Station

Appomattox Court House

Surrender of Lee and his army.

Lieutenant Colonel Whitaker, acting as General Custer’s Chief of Staff, met with General Longstreet to arrange the negotiations for the cease fire. Then the regiment was detailed to escort General Grant to receive Lee’s surrender.

Expedition to Danville