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65th
Pennsylvania Regiment, 5th PA Cavalry
Online Books
65th
Pennsylvania Regiment, 5th PA Cavalry Soldier Roster - History of Pennsylvania
Volunteers, 1861-5, Volume 2 by Samuel P Bates, 1869
View Entire Book
| Regimental History |
| Sixty-Fifth Regiment / Fifth Cavalry. — Cols., Max
Friedman, David Campbell, William E. Doster, R. M. West; Lieut.-Cols.,
Stephen E. Smith, William Lewis, Christopher Kleinz; Majs., E. M.
Boteler, William E. Henser, Jacob P. Wilson, Joseph C. Hess, Christopher
Kleinz, W. G. McCandless, Timothy Hennessey, D. Hagermeister, Justinian
Alman, H. W. Paul. The 65th regiment, or the 5th cavalry, known
originally as the Cameron Dragoons, was among the first of the three
years' regiments. Ten of its companies were recruited in Philadelphia,
and two in Pittsburg. As fast as recruited the companies went into camp
near Girard avenue, Philadelphia, and on Aug. 22 the Philadelphia
companies left for Washington, being joined there a few days later by L
and M from Pittsburg. During the month of September the regiment served
by detachments on scouting duty, and in October was posted at Camp
Griffin, near Lewinsville. Heretofore regarded as an independent
organization, it was now assigned to the quota of the state and numbered
the 65th, its officers being commissioned by the governor. In the
Peninsular campaign in the spring of 1862, the regiment, with the
exceptions of Cos. I and K at the front, were employed in scouting in
the rear of the army. While at Fort Magruder, near Williamsburg, it was
attacked on Sept. 9, 1862, by a superior force and suffered a loss of 6
killed, 15 wounded and 33 captured, Col. Campbell being among the
latter. Much reduced in numbers by sickness and casualties, it received
300 recruits in October and November and now numbered 1,200 men.
Detachments of the regiment were employed at intervals during the winter
1862-63 on scout duty, and on Jan. 19, 1863, part of the command had a
sharp engagement at Burnt Ordinary. A battalion under Maj. Kleinz was
again in action there on Feb. 6. In a sharp engagement on the
Williamsburg state road the following day, Cos. L and M suffered a loss
of 35 killed, wounded and prisoners and barely escaped capture. Samuel
M. Williamson, a volunteer with the squadron from Co. H, died a hero's
death in this action, boldly refusing to surrender after he was
surrounded and wounded. On March 29, the enemy under Gen. Wise attempted
to capture the post at Williamsburg, but was repulsed with great loss.
In April the command was attacked by the enemy under Col. Tatum, but the
attack was repulsed. Little of interest occurred during the summer
months, Co. D, under Maj. Hall, being on detached service part of the
time with a force under Gens. Keyes and Gordon. Sickness and casualties
again greatly reduced the command in strength, four-fifths of the men
being afflicted with fever and ague. On Sept. 8 the 65th reported at
Norfolk, when one battalion composed of Cos. C, D, F, H and I proceeded
to South Mills, N. C, the terminus of the Dismal Swamp canal, the other
companies under Lieut.-Col. Lewis, being assigned to scout and picket
duty by detachments on the Albemarle & Chesapeake canal. On Oct. 20 the
regiment was reunited at Great Bridge and went into winter quarters, 250
members reenlisting for three years and being given a veteran furlough.
On Nov. 11, ten companies reported to Gen. Getty, at Getty's station
near Portsmouth, and were assigned to Col. S. P. Spear's cavalry
brigade, Cos. D and K remaining at Great Bridge. A little later these
two companies rejoined the regiment, which joined Gen. Wistar's
expedition to release the Union prisoners confined in Richmond, but
Wistar was checked at Bottom's bridge and forced to return. In February
and March, 1864, recruits to the number of 231 were received by the
65th, and in May it shared in an expedition under Gen. Kautz for the
destruction of the Weldon railroad, after which it proceeded with its
division to Bermuda Hundred. It then engaged in a raid on the Richmond &
Danville railroad ; skirmished at various points ; drove the enemy at
Fort Powhatan ; returned to City Point and joined Gen. Butler's forces
across the Appomattox, where it was dismounted and went into the
trenches with the rest of the cavalry. On May 22 Col. West of the 1st
Pa. artillery was assigned to command the 65th, relieving Lieut.-Col.
Kleinz. It retired from the trenches June 9, when with the cavalry
division under Gen. Kautz and a portion of the 10th corps, Army of the
James, it participated in a gallant assault on the works of Petersburg.
It shared in another assault on the 15th with considerable loss and on
June 22 started on the cavalry movement known as Wilson's raid on the
South Side and Danville railroads, engaging the enemy at Roanoke, Stony
Creek and Reams' stations, losing heavily in men and horses in the last
named battle. Its total loss during the expedition was about 300 men and
as many horses. From the middle of July to the end of September, the
regiment was very active, skirmishing and scouting on both sides of the
James and along the lines. In September it joined Gen. Butler's army,
engaged the enemy with a loss of about 20, and later participated in a
reconnoissance on Charles City cross-roads. In the engagement at New
Market in October the regiment lost nearly half its effective strength,
having 14 killed, 27 wounded and 72 captured. It was later engaged with
slight loss on the Charles City road, and in the engagement near the
same place in December it met with a loss of 7 killed and 14 wounded and
was highly commended for its gallantry on this occasion by Gen. Ord,
commanding the department. In the latter part of March, 1865, it joined
Gen. Sheridan's command and on April 1 started on its last campaign. The
enemy was met and routed at Five Forks, where the 5th cavalry made a
gallant dash, capturing 300 prisoners. During the succeeding week the
command was active in the pursuit, skirmishing at Gravelly run, Amelia
Court House and Burkesville. On the 7th its picket line was established
near Prince Edward Court House and on the evening of the same day it
reached Appomattox Court House, where it shared in the fighting up to
the time of the surrender. It moved to Lynchburg on the 12th and thence
returned through Appomattox, Farmville, Burkesville, Five Forks and
Richmond to the Mechanicsville pike, where it encamped. On May 19, 331
officers and men were mustered out of service, and on June 9 the remnant
of the regiment was consolidated with the 3d Pa. It was finally mustered
out at Richmond on Aug. 7. |
Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing
Company, 1908 - Volume 1
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