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14th Virginia Cavalry Regiment History

Excerpts from "14th Virginia Cavalry" by Robert J Driver, Jr.

The 14th Cavalry Regiment consisted of  2209 members over the 4 years, Company's A-N, with only 34 members actually surrendering at Appomattox!  Most did not surrender with Lee, but went home to surrender later.

The origins of the 14th Virginia Cavalry began with the formation of four independent companies of cavalry in various parts of the Old Dominion (before West Virginia seceded from Virginia).  They were:

Churchville Cavalry - from Churchville, Augusta County, Captain Frank Sterrett commanding

Second Rockbridge Dragoons - Mustered into service April 1861, Captain John R. McNutt commanding

Charlotte Cavalry - Charlotte Court House - Mustered into service April 1861, Captain John G. Smith commanding

The Valley Cavalry - Mustered into service at Churchville May 15, 1862, Captain William A. Lackey commanding

On September 5, 1862 by Special Order Number 208, Adjutant & Inspector General's Office the 14th Virginia Cavalry Regiment was organized.

Brigade Commander - General Albert Jenkins

Regimental Commander - Colonel Charles E. Thorburn

Lt Colonel - R. Augustus Bailey

Adjutant - Lt Breckinridge C Bouldin

Quartermaster - Captain Richard T. Crouch

Commissary of Subsistence - Captian Theodore B. Fitzhugh

 The Regiment was very active throughout the the war.  There were many skirmishes, but two engagements stand out from the rest, and they were the Battle of Gettysburg, July 1-3 1863, and what was to be known as "The Final Cavalry Charge at Appomattox", April 9, 1865, prior to Lee's surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia.

Captain Edwin E. Bouldin of Co. B is quoted giving a most fitting epitaph to the 14th Virginia Cavalry:

"It gives me the greatest pleasure to testify to the gallantry of the men and officers of our old company [and regiment] in many hard-fought battles. Even when hope was gone, and all looked dark, they were willing to do their duty as soldiers, and led one of the most desperate charges ever made, with such spirit as to overcome every obstacle."

14th Virginia Cavalry Engagements

1862

November 25, 26 1862, - Lewis Mill, Greenbrier Co.  Federal Cavalry routed Companies C, H, I, M, N.

 1863

April 30 – Joined Army of North Virginia

June 2, 3 – Skirmished with Federal pickets between Woodstock and Winchester

June 11 – Engagement at Middletown

June 13 – Engagement at Winchester

June 14 - Engagement at White Post, Bunker Hill , and Martinsburg

June 16 – Took Chambersburg with little difficulty

June 28 – Skirmished with Union Cavalry before entering Mechanicsburg

July1 – Ordered to Gettysburg

July 2 – Ordered to extreme right of Confederate line.  Col. Jensen wounded by canon shell.  Colonel Cochran took over command

July 3 – Ordered to Rummel’s barn, dismounted and issued 10 rounds per man!

July 6 – Covering Confederate retreat reached Hagerstown

July 7 – Engaged near Sharpsburg , routing the Union Cavalry there Col. Feamster wrote “This was a Cavalry fight with some 6 to 8 thousand on a side.”

July 10 – Engaged two miles outside of Boonsboro

July 17 – Engaged near Shepherdstown

Nov 6 – Battle of Droop Mountain, engaged Union forces of General Averall,

 

At the end of 1863 found the 14th attached to Echoles’ Brigade with only 16 officers and 172 men present for duty and 280 absent on leave or tending horses in rear.

 

1864

April 20 – After winter quarters an inspection report shows the 14th Regiment at 36 officers, 576 men present and 855 present and absent.

May 9 – Battle of Cloyd’s Mountain, 14th not engaged but lost Gen Jenkins who died of wounds

May 18 – Brigadier General John McCausland promoted to brigade commander

June 2 – Engaged Gen Crook’s Union forces outside of Covington , after heavy skirmishing were forced back.

June 10 – Running engagement with Gen Averill’s Cavalry

June 11-13 – Constant picket duty and skirmishing, no rest for the 14th

June 18 – Engagement near Lynchburg

June 20 – Flanked Union position near Hanging Rock and captured 12 pieces of artillery numerous wagons and 35 prisoners

July 4 – Captured North Mountain Depot

July 7 – Engagement at Hagerstown

July 9 – Battle of Monocacy

July 13 – Skirmish at Rockville

July 14 – Skirmish at Edward’s Ferry

July 18 – Skirmish with union cavalry at Ashby’s Gap

July 19 – Skirmish at Berry ’s Ferry

July 20 – Battle at Winchester

July 24 – Gen Early attached a larger Federal army at Kernstown, routed it, the 14th chased the Federal troops to the Potomac , capturing many prisoners, wagons and horses

July 30 – Captured the town of Chambersburg , demanded ransom of $100,000 in gold or $500,000 in Federal greenbacks. Town refused and the town was torched.

August 4 – Attacked Union forces at New Creek, but withdrew

August 7 – 3 miles north of Moorfield, while brigade is camped they were surprised by Averell’s Cavalry, the brigade lost many Troopers

August 13 – Skirmishing while protecting the right flank of Early’s army

August 15 – Engaged near Fisher’s Hill, pushing back Federal troops as they burned barns, hay stacks and mills

August 19, 20 – 2 days of skirmishing around Stephenson’s Depot

August 25 – Skirmishes at Kearneyville

August 26 – Skirmishes at Leetown

August 28 – Skirmishes at Smithtown

August 29 – Skirmishes at Opequon

August 30 – Skirmishes at Brucetown

September 1 – Skirmishes at Opequon, again

September 5 – Skirmish at Stephen’s Depot

September 10 – 2 skirmishes, Big Spring and Darkesville

September 12 – Skirmish at Darkesville again

September 19 – North of Winchester, faces Sheridan ’s army, 2 brigades of cavalry Averell’s and Merritt’s, eventually pushed back

September 21 – Engaged at Front Royal

September 22 – Engaged at Milford

September 24 – Engaged at Luray

September 26 – Engaged at Port Republic

September 29 – Engaged at Waynesboro

October 9 – Engaged at Tom’s Brook

October 10 – Engaged at Woodstock

October 11 – Cedar Creek

October 25, 26 – Repulsed Union cavalry at Milford

 

An Inspection report showed the 14th with 16 officers and 259 present for duty, 5 men present sick, 12 men absent on detail,10 officers and 74 men absent as prisoners of war, 2 officers and 26 men dismounted and 22 men sick in hospital.  The report also shows 302 horses serviceable, and 14 sick ones.  The 14th was twice as large as the 16th, 17th, or 22nd regiments of the brigade!

 

Oct 28 – Part of the 14th was sent to Rappahannock County to escort a wagon train to Earl’s army.

Nov 10 – Returned to rejoin the brigade at Front Royal

Nov 12 – Engaged at Cedarville, twice repulsed Union forces, then charged in a counterattack driving the Union forces back 2 miles, but were then attacked and overrun.

Nov 22 – Skirmish near Fort Royal

Nov 24 – Went into Winter quarters near Little Washington but had to move a lot due to low forage for the horses and themselves

Dec 14 – Marched 8 miles in deep mud and snow to Madison Courthouse

 

The 14ths muster roll shows 71 Officers, 730 men present for duty

 

Dec 20 –  Marched 14 miles through knee deep snow to new camp at between Wolftown and Stanardsville.

Dec 21 – Marched to Liberty Mills

Dec 22 – On picket duty at Barnett’s Ford where they were engaged by Union cavalry under General ATA Torbert.  Pushed back to Gordonsville were they were able to stop the advance with infantry support.

 

1865

 

Jan 3 – Camp moved to near Earlysville. Absenteeism becoming more serious – 6 out of 10 do not report back in

Jan 15 – Marched brigade back across the Blue Ridge and furloughed men for 60 days

 

During the winter the 14th was transferred to General Richard Beale’s brigade

 

14th rendezvoused with new brigade near Stony Creek Station

 

March 17 – Picket duty 4 miles from Stony Creek

March 23 – Found time for horse races!

March 28 – Ordered to Dinwiddie Court House

March 31 – Were engaged by Union forces and helped repel the Union advance

 

Captain Bouldin, recently exchanged, rejoined the regiment, Col Cochran turned over the command to him stating he was sick and unfit for duty.

 

April 1 – Engaged by heavy Union forces, infantry and cavalry at Five Forks

April 3 – Stopped at Namozine Church to cook and feed horses, but Union forces kept pushing them on, skirmishes lasted for several days

April 6 – Engagements at Amelia Springs, Jetersville, Deatonville, High Bridge

April 7 – Farmville

April 8 – Passed through village of Appomattox Courthouse

April 9 – Captain Bouldin ordered to take two cannons on a rise supported by infantry.

 

They charged the cannon with the color guard in front.  They took the cannons with pistols, just as the colors were planted on the cannon they were attacked by a regiment of Union cavalry.  Since pistols were empty they drew sabers and charged the Union cavalry and engaged them in hand to hand combat driving them back, capturing many prisoners including a Major Moore!

 

They were once again harassed by infantry and charged them again driving them back past their camps were the Union infantry were just preparing their breakfasts… 

 

James Wilson, the color bearer was fatally wounded during the taking of the cannons, where he said “It is hard to die now just as the war is over” The regimental colors were furled and leaning against the tree later to be picked up by the 4th Pennsylvania Cavalry after the battle.

 

After turning over the prisoners and cannon they found out that - 

 

A little before 4pm,  April 9, Lee surrendered the Army of North Virginia to Grant

 

 

Regiments Strength and Attrition 

 

  Strength KIA WIA POW DOD DOD AS POW Des. Transf. Disch Died Other

Surrendered

Appomattox

F&S 38 2 9 4 0 0 0 4 0 0 0
Co. A 223 13 15 14 6 (1) 35 55 5 0 2
Co. B 178 10 44 10 4 (1) 4 7 38 0 9
Co. C 193 4 20 43 18 (8) 17 13 10 0 1
Co. D 165 11 13 20 9 (5) 23 23 9 0 1
Co. E 128 2 4 28 5 (1) 17 2 3 0 3
Co. F1 63 0 0 0 4 0 7 52 0 0 0
Co. F2 143 4 13 18 4 (2) 10 3 0 0 7
Co. G 167 2 20 39 4 (2) 22 10 3 0 0
Co. H 260 11 38 55 31 (11) 18 13 17 2 7
Co. I 184 10 21 35 19 (7) 12 12 20 1 1
Co. K 202 7 18 26 8 (4) 11 19 16 1 3
Co. L 95 0 0 30 11 (8) 4 80 0 0 0
Co. M 75 0 0 5 2 (2) 0 70 0 0 0
Co. N 80 0 0 2 1 (1) 0 78 1 0 0
Co. Unk. 15 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0
Totals 2209 78 215 330 126 (53) 180 442 123 4 34

 

The Regiment was organized on September 5, 1862 as follows:

Company A - "White's Mounted Riflemen" commanded by Captain Mooreman B. White and were primarily from Greenbrier County.

Company B - "Charlotte Cavalry", commanded by Captain Edwin E. Bouldin, from Charlotte

Company C - "Valley Cavalry or Rangers", commanded by Captain William A. Lackey, from Augusta and Highland counties.

Company D - "Jenkins Guards", not officially mustered into service till Oct 1, 1862. Captain Robert B. Moorman, from Greenbrier County.

Company E - Captain Absalom Knott's company, from Calhoun County.

Company F (1st) - Captain James B Morgan's Company, from Boone County. Transferred to the 36 Battalion Virginia Cavalry May-June 1863.

Company F (2nd) - Captain William T Smith's Company from Montgomery and Roanoke Counties.  Formed May 11,1863 to replace the original Company F.

Company G - "Border Rangers",  Captain Waller R Preston, from Montgomery and Roanoke Counties.

Company H - "Second Rockbridge Dragoons", Captain John A. Gibson, from Rockbridge County.

Company I - "Churchville Cavalry", Captain James A. Cochran, from Augusta County.

Company K - "Greenbrier Swifts or Greenbrier Cavalry #2", Captain Benjamin F. Eakle, from Greenbrier County.

Company L - Captain John T. Bland, from Braxton and Nicholas Counties.  Transferred to the 17th Virginia Cavalry as Company I on January 28,1863.

Company M - "Braxton Dragoons", Captain Clinton B. Duffield.  Transferred to the 36 Battalon Cavalry as Company B on February 5, 1863.

Company N - "Night Hawk Rangers", Captain James S.A. Crawford, from Roane, Jackson, Wirt, and Wood Counties. Reassigned as Company F 17th Virginia Cavalry on January 28, 1863.

Post War:

The survivors of the 14th made their way back home to pick up the pieces of their lives.  Some, from the western countries (Western Virginia), found their reception intolerable and migrated to the west or to other counties where former Confederates felt more secure.

Informal reunions were held over the years.  The first reunion of the entire regiment was held in Staunton on August 28 1895.  Reunions were held every year, and at the1898 reunion 60 of the ex-cavalrymen attended, in 1899 only 40 members attended.  Death and old age was taking a toll on these gallant men.

The last survivor of the regiment, James M. Cannaday of Floyd County, lived to see the Second World War completed, dying on November 29 1947. 

 

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Last modified: April 24, 2007