Independent Illinois Volunteer Cavalry Companies
Encyclopedia
The state of Illinois
raised a number of short-lived Independent Cavalry
Companies which served in the Union Army
during the American Civil War
. Most of these units were quickly amalgamated with larger formations.
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
raised a number of short-lived Independent Cavalry
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...
Companies which 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...
. Most of these units were quickly amalgamated with larger formations.
Units
- Barker's Dragoons was organized at Chicago, Illinois on April 19, 1861. It served at Cairo, IllinoisCairo, IllinoisCairo is the southernmost city in the U.S. state of Illinois. It is the county seat of Alexander County. Cairo is located at the confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio rivers. The rivers converge at Fort Defiance State Park, an American Civil War fort that was commanded by General Ulysses S. Grant...
and later West VirginiaWest VirginiaWest Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
, serving as George B. McClellanGeorge B. McClellanGeorge Brinton McClellan was a major general during the American Civil War. He organized the famous Army of the Potomac and served briefly as the general-in-chief of the Union Army. Early in the war, McClellan played an important role in raising a well-trained and organized army for the Union...
's escort. It participated in the Battle of Rich MountainBattle of Rich MountainThe Battle of Rich Mountain took place on July 11, 1861, in Randolph County, Virginia as part of the Operations in Western Virginia Campaign during the American Civil War.-Background:...
and was mustered out in September 1861.
- Carmichael's Independent Cavalry Companywas organized at Camp ButlerCamp Butler National CemeteryCamp Butler National Cemetery is a United States National Cemetery located a few miles northeast of Springfield and a few miles southwest of Riverton, a small town nearby to Springfield, in Sangamon County, Illinois. It was named for Illinois State Treasurer at the time of its establishment,...
, IllinoisIllinoisIllinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
as Cavalry Company B of the 29th Illinois Infantry29th Illinois Volunteer Infantry RegimentThe 29th Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment thatserved in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The 29th Illinois Infantry was organized at Camp Butler, Illinois and mustered into Federal service on August 15, 1861.The regiment was mustered out on November...
, mustering into service on August 19, 1861. It participated in the operations against Fort HenryBattle of Fort HenryThe Battle of Fort Henry was fought on February 6, 1862, in western Tennessee, during the American Civil War. It was the first important victory for the Union and Brig. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant in the Western Theater....
and Fort DonelsonFort DonelsonFort Donelson was a fortress built by the Confederacy during the American Civil War to control the Cumberland River leading to the heart of Tennessee, and the heart of the Confederacy.-History:...
, and then the Battle of ShilohBattle of ShilohThe Battle of Shiloh, also known as the Battle of Pittsburg Landing, was a major battle in the Western Theater of the American Civil War, fought April 6–7, 1862, in southwestern Tennessee. A Union army under Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant had moved via the Tennessee River deep into Tennessee and...
. In July 1862 it was assigned as Company B of Stewart's Independent Cavalry BattalionStewart's Independent Cavalry BattalionThe Stewart's Independent Cavalry Battalion was a cavalry battalion that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:...
.
- Dollins' Independent Cavalry Company was organized in conjunction with the 31st Illinois Infantry31st Illinois Volunteer Infantry RegimentThe 31st Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, nicknamed the "Dirty-First," was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:...
, mustering in on September 18, 1861 at Cairo, IllinoisCairo, IllinoisCairo is the southernmost city in the U.S. state of Illinois. It is the county seat of Alexander County. Cairo is located at the confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio rivers. The rivers converge at Fort Defiance State Park, an American Civil War fort that was commanded by General Ulysses S. Grant...
. It participated in the operations against Fort HenryBattle of Fort HenryThe Battle of Fort Henry was fought on February 6, 1862, in western Tennessee, during the American Civil War. It was the first important victory for the Union and Brig. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant in the Western Theater....
and Fort DonelsonFort DonelsonFort Donelson was a fortress built by the Confederacy during the American Civil War to control the Cumberland River leading to the heart of Tennessee, and the heart of the Confederacy.-History:...
, and then the Battle of ShilohBattle of ShilohThe Battle of Shiloh, also known as the Battle of Pittsburg Landing, was a major battle in the Western Theater of the American Civil War, fought April 6–7, 1862, in southwestern Tennessee. A Union army under Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant had moved via the Tennessee River deep into Tennessee and...
. In July 1862 it was assigned as Company C of Stewart's Independent Cavalry BattalionStewart's Independent Cavalry BattalionThe Stewart's Independent Cavalry Battalion was a cavalry battalion that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:...
.
- Ford's Independent Cavalry Company was organized in conjunction with the 53rd Illinois Infantry53rd Illinois Volunteer Infantry RegimentThe 53rd Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The 53rd Illinois Infantry was organized at Ottawa, Illinois and mustered into Federal service in January, 1862....
, mustering in on January 1, 1862 at Ottawa, IllinoisOttawa, IllinoisOttawa is a city located at the confluence of the Illinois River and Fox River in LaSalle County, Illinois, USA. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 18,786...
. It participated in the Battle of CorinthSecond Battle of CorinthThe Second Battle of Corinth was fought October 3–4, 1862, in Corinth, Mississippi. For the second time in the Iuka-Corinth Campaign, Union Maj. Gen. William S...
and was assigned to the 15th Regiment Illinois Volunteer Cavalry15th Regiment Illinois Volunteer CavalryThe 15th Regiment of the Illinois Volunteer Cavalry was a volunteer cavalry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-History of Service:...
as Company "L" on December 25, 1862.
- Gilbert's Independent Cavalry Company was organized in conjunction with the 52nd Illinois Infantry52nd Illinois Volunteer Infantry RegimentThe 52nd Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The 52nd Illinois Infantry was organized at Geneva, Illinois and mustered into Federal service on November 19, 1861....
, mustering in on October 25, 1861 at Geneva, IllinoisGeneva, IllinoisGeneva is the county seat of Kane County, Illinois. It is located on the western fringe of the Chicago suburbs. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 26,652. Geneva is part of a tri-city area, along with St. Charles and Batavia...
. It participated in the Battles of CorinthSecond Battle of CorinthThe Second Battle of Corinth was fought October 3–4, 1862, in Corinth, Mississippi. For the second time in the Iuka-Corinth Campaign, Union Maj. Gen. William S...
and ShilohBattle of ShilohThe Battle of Shiloh, also known as the Battle of Pittsburg Landing, was a major battle in the Western Theater of the American Civil War, fought April 6–7, 1862, in southwestern Tennessee. A Union army under Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant had moved via the Tennessee River deep into Tennessee and...
and was ultimately assigned to the 15th Regiment Illinois Volunteer Cavalry15th Regiment Illinois Volunteer CavalryThe 15th Regiment of the Illinois Volunteer Cavalry was a volunteer cavalry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-History of Service:...
as Company G on December 25, 1862.
- Hutchins' Independent Cavalry Company was organized in conjunction with the 27th Illinois Infantry27th Illinois Volunteer Infantry RegimentThe 27th Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The 27th Illinois Infantry was organized at Camp Butler, Illinois and mustered into Federal service on August 10, 1861....
, mustering in on October 25. In July 1862 it was assigned as Company E of Stewart's Independent Cavalry BattalionStewart's Independent Cavalry BattalionThe Stewart's Independent Cavalry Battalion was a cavalry battalion that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:...
.
- Jenks' Independent Cavalry Company was organized at Aurora, IllinoisAurora, IllinoisAurora is the second most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois, and the 112th largest city in the United States. A suburb of Chicago, located west of the Loop, its population in 2010 was 197,899. Originally founded within Kane County, Aurora's city limits have expanded greatly over the past...
as Cavalry Company A of the 36th Illinois Infantry36th Illinois Volunteer Infantry RegimentThe 36th Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The 36th Illinois Infantry was organized at Camp Hammond at Montgomery, Illinois, just south of Aurora, and mustered into Federal service on September 23, 1861...
, mustering into service on September 23, 1861. It participated in the Battles of Pea RidgeBattle of Pea RidgeThe Battle of Pea Ridge was a land battle of the American Civil War, fought on March 6–8, 1862, at Pea Ridge in northwest Arkansas, near Garfield. In the battle, Union forces led by Brig. Gen. Samuel R. Curtis defeated Confederate troops under Maj. Gen. Earl Van Dorn. The outcome of the...
, IukaBattle of IukaThe Battle of Iuka was fought on September 19, 1862, in Iuka, Mississippi, during the American Civil War. In the opening battle of the Iuka-Corinth Campaign, Union Maj. Gen. William S. Rosecrans stopped the advance of the army of Confederate Maj. Gen. Sterling Price.Maj. Gen. Ulysses S...
, and CorinthSecond Battle of CorinthThe Second Battle of Corinth was fought October 3–4, 1862, in Corinth, Mississippi. For the second time in the Iuka-Corinth Campaign, Union Maj. Gen. William S...
. The company was assigned to the 15th Regiment Illinois Volunteer Cavalry15th Regiment Illinois Volunteer CavalryThe 15th Regiment of the Illinois Volunteer Cavalry was a volunteer cavalry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-History of Service:...
as Company I on December 25, 1862.
- Dodson's Kane County Independent Cavalry Company was organized on September 1, 1861. The company was assigned to the 15th Regiment Illinois Volunteer Cavalry15th Regiment Illinois Volunteer CavalryThe 15th Regiment of the Illinois Volunteer Cavalry was a volunteer cavalry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-History of Service:...
as Company H on December 25, 1862.
- Marx's Independent Cavalry Company was organized on December 9, 1861 and was assigned to Thielman's Independent Cavalry BattalionThielman's Independent Cavalry BattalionThielman's Independent Cavalry Battalion was a cavalry battalion that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:...
as Company B.
- The McClellan Dragoons were organized at Chicago, Illinois in October 1861. They were assigned to the 12th Regiment Illinois Volunteer Cavalry12th Illinois CavalryThe 12th Illinois Cavalry Regiment was a volunteer cavalry regiment which served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.- History :The 12th Cavalry was organized at Camp Butler in February 1862...
as Companies H and I in February 1862 but operated independently until February 1863. They served in the Peninsular Campaign and the battles of AntietamBattle of AntietamThe Battle of Antietam , fought on September 17, 1862, near Sharpsburg, Maryland, and Antietam Creek, as part of the Maryland Campaign, was the first major battle in the American Civil War to take place on Northern soil. It was the bloodiest single-day battle in American history, with about 23,000...
, FredericksburgBattle of FredericksburgThe Battle of Fredericksburg was fought December 11–15, 1862, in and around Fredericksburg, Virginia, between General Robert E. Lee's Confederate Army of Northern Virginia and the Union Army of the Potomac, commanded by Maj. Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside...
, and GettysburgBattle of GettysburgThe Battle of Gettysburg , was fought July 1–3, 1863, in and around the town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The battle with the largest number of casualties in the American Civil War, it is often described as the war's turning point. Union Maj. Gen. George Gordon Meade's Army of the Potomac...
until joining the main body of the regiment at Chicago in November 1863.
- McClernand's Body Guard was organized January 21, 1863 and was subsequently assigned as four companies of the 16th Regiment Illinois Volunteer Cavalry16th Regiment Illinois Volunteer CavalryThe 16th Regiment Illinois Volunteer Cavalry was a cavalry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The 16th Illinois Cavalry was organized at Camp Butler, Illinois between January and April 1863 from numerous independent companies of Illinois cavalry.The...
in April 1863.
- Naughton's Irish Dragoons was organized on September 21, 1861 in conjunction with the 23rd Illinois Infantry23rd Illinois Volunteer Infantry RegimentThe 23rd Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, known as the "First Irish" or "Irish 'Brigade'", was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:...
. The company was assigned to "Curtis Horse," the 5th Regiment Iowa Volunteer Cavalry5th Regiment Iowa Volunteer CavalryThe 5th Regiment Iowa Volunteer Cavalry was a cavalry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The 5th Iowa Cavalry was originally raised as the Curtis Horse in Omaha, Nebraska, on September 5, 1861, and later absorbed cavalry companies from Iowa, Missouri and...
, as Company L in November 1861.
- O'Harnett's Independent Cavalry Company was organized at Camp ButlerCamp Butler National CemeteryCamp Butler National Cemetery is a United States National Cemetery located a few miles northeast of Springfield and a few miles southwest of Riverton, a small town nearby to Springfield, in Sangamon County, Illinois. It was named for Illinois State Treasurer at the time of its establishment,...
, IllinoisIllinoisIllinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
in conjunction with the 30th Illinois Infantry30th Illinois Volunteer Infantry RegimentThe 30th Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment thatserved in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The 30th Illinois Infantry was organized at Camp Butler, Illinois and mustered into...
, mustering into service on September 1, 1861. It participated in the operations against Fort HenryBattle of Fort HenryThe Battle of Fort Henry was fought on February 6, 1862, in western Tennessee, during the American Civil War. It was the first important victory for the Union and Brig. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant in the Western Theater....
and Fort DonelsonFort DonelsonFort Donelson was a fortress built by the Confederacy during the American Civil War to control the Cumberland River leading to the heart of Tennessee, and the heart of the Confederacy.-History:...
, and then the Battle of ShilohBattle of ShilohThe Battle of Shiloh, also known as the Battle of Pittsburg Landing, was a major battle in the Western Theater of the American Civil War, fought April 6–7, 1862, in southwestern Tennessee. A Union army under Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant had moved via the Tennessee River deep into Tennessee and...
. In July 1862 it was assigned to Stewart's Independent Cavalry BattalionStewart's Independent Cavalry BattalionThe Stewart's Independent Cavalry Battalion was a cavalry battalion that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:...
.
- Schambeck's Independent Cavalry Company was organized at Chicago, Illinois on July 8, 1861. The company was assigned to Thielman's Independent Cavalry BattalionThielman's Independent Cavalry BattalionThielman's Independent Cavalry Battalion was a cavalry battalion that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:...
as Company C but never operated with the rest of the battalion. It participated in the Battle of Carnifex FerryBattle of Carnifex FerryThe Battle of Carnifex Ferry took place on September 10, 1861, in Nicholas County, Virginia , as part of the Operations in Western Virginia Campaign during the American Civil War. The battle resulted in a Union victory that contributed to the eventual Confederate withdrawal from western Virginia...
and the Battle of AntietamBattle of AntietamThe Battle of Antietam , fought on September 17, 1862, near Sharpsburg, Maryland, and Antietam Creek, as part of the Maryland Campaign, was the first major battle in the American Civil War to take place on Northern soil. It was the bloodiest single-day battle in American history, with about 23,000...
, and spent the rest of its time in service in West VirginiaWest VirginiaWest Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
. The company mustered out on July 16, 1864.
- Sherer's Independent Cavalry Company was organized at Aurora, IllinoisAurora, IllinoisAurora is the second most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois, and the 112th largest city in the United States. A suburb of Chicago, located west of the Loop, its population in 2010 was 197,899. Originally founded within Kane County, Aurora's city limits have expanded greatly over the past...
as Company B, 36th Illinois Infantry36th Illinois Volunteer Infantry RegimentThe 36th Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The 36th Illinois Infantry was organized at Camp Hammond at Montgomery, Illinois, just south of Aurora, and mustered into Federal service on September 23, 1861...
, but detached from the regiment and served primarily as headquarters guard. It was assigned to the 15th Illinois Cavalry15th Regiment Illinois Volunteer CavalryThe 15th Regiment of the Illinois Volunteer Cavalry was a volunteer cavalry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-History of Service:...
on December 25, 1862 as Company K and mustered out with that regiment.
- Stewart's Independent Cavalry Company was organized at Cape Girardeau, MissouriCape Girardeau, MissouriCape Girardeau is a city located in Cape Girardeau and Scott counties in Southeast Missouri in the United States. It is located approximately southeast of St. Louis and north of Memphis. As of the 2010 census, the city's population was 37,941. A college town, it is the home of Southeast Missouri...
on August 10, 1861 on the orders of John C. FremontJohn C. FrémontJohn Charles Frémont , was an American military officer, explorer, and the first candidate of the anti-slavery Republican Party for the office of President of the United States. During the 1840s, that era's penny press accorded Frémont the sobriquet The Pathfinder...
. It participated in the operations against Fort HenryBattle of Fort HenryThe Battle of Fort Henry was fought on February 6, 1862, in western Tennessee, during the American Civil War. It was the first important victory for the Union and Brig. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant in the Western Theater....
and Fort DonelsonFort DonelsonFort Donelson was a fortress built by the Confederacy during the American Civil War to control the Cumberland River leading to the heart of Tennessee, and the heart of the Confederacy.-History:...
, and then the Battle of ShilohBattle of ShilohThe Battle of Shiloh, also known as the Battle of Pittsburg Landing, was a major battle in the Western Theater of the American Civil War, fought April 6–7, 1862, in southwestern Tennessee. A Union army under Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant had moved via the Tennessee River deep into Tennessee and...
. In July 1862 it was assigned to Stewart's Independent Cavalry BattalionStewart's Independent Cavalry BattalionThe Stewart's Independent Cavalry Battalion was a cavalry battalion that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:...
.
- Thielman's Independent Cavalry Company was organized at Chicago, Illinois on July 2, 1861, and was assigned to Thielman's Independent Cavalry BattalionThielman's Independent Cavalry BattalionThielman's Independent Cavalry Battalion was a cavalry battalion that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:...
as Company A on December 9, 1861.