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2nd Maine
Regiment Cavalry
in the Civil War
| Regimental History |
| Second Cavalry. — Col, Ephraim W. Woodman; Lieut.-Cols., John F.
Godfrey, Andrew B. Spurling; Majs., Charles A. Miller, Eben Hutchinson, Andrew B.
Spurling, Nathan Cutler. This regiment was organized at Augusta at the close of the year
1863, and the men were mustered in between Nov. 30 and Jan. 2, 1864, to serve for three
years. It numbered 989 men, all of good physique and well armed and disciplined. It was
assigned to the Department of the Gulf and arrived in five detachments at New Orleans,
during April, 1864. Companies A and D, and a part of G, the first to arrive, were at once
ordered to Alexandria, La., and assigned to the 3d cavalry brigade, to participate in the
Red River expedition. They took part in the engagements at Cherryville cross-roads,
Marksville, Avoyelles prairie and Yellow bayou, and rejoined the main body of the regiment
at Thibodeaux on June 1. In August the regiment went to Pensacola, Fla., arriving on the
11th, and encamped near Barrancas. During the balance of this year it was engaged in
fatigue duty, and participated in raids to Marianna, Fla., and Pollard, Ala. In each of
these raids severe damage was inflicted on the enemy, many prisoners and large quantities
of stores being captured. In the raid to Pollard four distinct battles were fought, but
Lieut. -Col. Spurling, on whom the command of the expedition had devolved, succeeded in
conducting his command, encumbered with a train of 50 wagons, 60 miles through the enemy's
country, attacked constantly on front, rear and flanks by a superior force. The regiment
suffered much during the summer of 1864, from sickness, induced by a sudden change to the
excessive heat of southern Louisiana. At one time only 450 were able to report for duty,
and during the year the regiment lost by deaths one officer and 278 enlisted men. On Feb.
23, 1865, Lieut.-Col. Spurling with 300 men routed the enemy at Milton, Fla. The regiment
joined Gen. Steele's command at Pensacola on March 19, and participated in the campaign
which resulted in the capture of Mobile, and opened up the State of Alabama to the Union
forces. The regiment rendered highly efficient service, captured many prisoners, destroyed
much railroad and other property, frequently engaged the enemy, and opened communication
with Gen. Canby, who was besieging Spanish Fort. After the fall of Mobile, a detachment of
the regiment accompanied the 16th corps on a 200-mile march to Montgomery, Ala. In Aug.,
1865, detachments of the regiment were stationed at various points in western Florida to
preserve the peace. On Dec. 1, it was concentrated at Barrancas, and was mustered out on
the 6th, though 25 officers and 116 men remained in Florida, and 14 officers and 500
enlisted men returned to Augusta, where they were finally paid and discharged. |
Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing
Company, 1908 - Volume 1
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