Overview
The 44th Pennsylvania Regiment, also known as the 1st Pennsylvania Cavalry, served as a cavalry regiment for the Union during the American Civil War. The regiment was organized in Pennsylvania, with seven companies forming at Camp Curtin in Harrisburg and three at Camp Wilkins near Pittsburgh. Companies L and M were mustered in as separate companies. The regiment was mustered into United States service for three years in September 1861 and served primarily in the Eastern Theater, participating in numerous campaigns and battles throughout Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania.
The 44th Pennsylvania (1st Pennsylvania Cavalry) was notable for its extensive service, including participation in major engagements such as the Second Battle of Bull Run, Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, and the Overland Campaign. The regiment was mustered out on September 9, 1864, with veterans and recruits consolidated into a battalion and later merged into the 2nd Provisional Cavalry.
Organization & Service
The 44th Pennsylvania Regiment (1st Pennsylvania Cavalry) began organizing in July and August 1861, with ten companies proceeding to Washington, D.C., and completing organization in September 1861. Companies L and M were mustered in separately on July 30 and August 5, 1861, respectively. The regiment was stationed at Tennallytown, Maryland, until October 10, 1861, before moving to Camp Pierpont, Virginia. In November, the regiment conducted a raid on Dranesville, and five companies participated in the battle there in December. On January 7, 1862, Companies L and M, previously stationed in Baltimore, joined the main regiment.
In the spring of 1862, the regiment engaged in skirmishes near Falmouth, Virginia, and joined the pursuit of Confederate forces up the Shenandoah Valley, participating in the battles of Harrisonburg and Cross Keys. After returning to Manassas and a brief rest, the regiment joined General Pope’s army, guarded the fords of the Rapidan River, and fought at Cedar Mountain, Gainesville, Second Bull Run, and Fredericksburg. The regiment wintered at Belle Plain and participated in the “Mud March” in January 1863.
In the 1863 campaign season, the 1st Pennsylvania Cavalry was engaged at Brandy Station, Beverly Ford, and Aldie. During the Gettysburg Campaign, the regiment was assigned to General Meade’s headquarters and guarded the reserve artillery. Company H, which had been attached to the VI Corps since February 22, 1863, fought at Marye’s Heights and Gettysburg, rejoining the regiment on August 15, 1863. The regiment continued to serve in actions at Shepherdstown, Culpeper, Auburn, and during the Mine Run movement.
In 1864, the regiment fought at Todd’s Tavern and participated in General Sheridan’s raid on Richmond, engaging at Childsburg, Ashland, Hungary Station, Yellow Tavern, and Richmond Heights. The regiment also saw action at Haw’s Shop and Barker’s Mills. During Sheridan’s Trevilian Raid, the regiment helped destroy sections of the Virginia Central Railroad and fought at White House and St. Mary’s Church. During the siege of Petersburg, the regiment was active at Ream’s Station, Malvern Hill, Lee’s Mill, Gravel Hill, and again at Ream’s Station, which was its final engagement.
The regiment was mustered out at Philadelphia on September 9, 1864. Veterans and recruits were consolidated into a battalion of four companies, which was later merged with veterans of the 6th and 17th Pennsylvania Cavalry to form the 2nd Provisional Cavalry. This provisional regiment was mustered out at Louisville, Kentucky, on August 17, 1865.
Research This Regiment Further
If you’d like to explore this unit’s history in more depth, regimental histories and Civil War reference works offer valuable detail.
Engagements & Campaigns
- Raid and battle at Dranesville (November–December 1861)
- Skirmishes near Falmouth (Spring 1862)
- Pursuit up the Shenandoah Valley
- Battle of Harrisonburg
- Battle of Cross Keys
- Cedar Mountain
- Gainesville
- Second Bull Run
- Fredericksburg
- “Mud March”
- Brandy Station
- Beverly Ford
- Aldie
- Gettysburg (assigned to headquarters and reserve artillery)
- Marye’s Heights (Company H)
- Shepherdstown
- Culpeper
- Auburn
- Mine Run movement
- Todd’s Tavern
- Sheridan’s Raid: Childsburg, Ashland, Hungary Station, Yellow Tavern, Richmond Heights
- Haw’s Shop
- Barker’s Mills
- Trevilian Raid: White House, St. Mary’s Church
- Siege of Petersburg: Ream’s Station, Malvern Hill, Lee’s Mill, Gravel Hill, Ream’s Station (final engagement)
Casualties
Specific casualty figures for the 44th Pennsylvania Regiment (1st Pennsylvania Cavalry) are not fully detailed in available primary sources. Losses occurred in numerous engagements, including killed, wounded, and those who died of disease or in prison. For precise numbers, consult the Pennsylvania State Adjutant General’s reports and Dyer’s Compendium.
Field Officers & Commanders
- Colonel George D. Bayard
- Colonel Owen Jones
- Colonel J. P. Taylor
- Colonel H. S. Thomas
- Lieutenant Colonel Jacob Higgins
- Lieutenant Colonel Owen Jones
- Lieutenant Colonel S. D. Barrows
- Lieutenant Colonel J. P. Taylor
- Lieutenant Colonel David Gardner
- Lieutenant Colonel Richard J. Falls
- Major Owen Jones
- Major Richard Byrnes
- Major S. D. Barrows
- Major Richard J. Falls
- Major Thomas S. Richards
- Major J. H. Ray
- Major David Gardner
- Major William T. McEwen
- Major James M. Gaston
- Major H. S. Thomas
Regimental Roster
The complete roster of officers and enlisted men who served in the 44th Pennsylvania Regiment (1st Pennsylvania Cavalry) is available on the regiment’s roster page. This resource provides names, ranks, and service details for those who served during the regiment’s three-year term.
To view the full roster, visit the 44th Pennsylvania Regiment (1st Pennsylvania Cavalry) Roster page.
Sources & References
- Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, various volumes and parts (see Army of the Potomac cavalry operations, 1861–1864)
- Pennsylvania State Adjutant General’s Reports
- Dyer, Frederick H. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion
- Fox, William F. Regimental Losses in the American Civil War
- The Union Army, Vol. 1, Federal Publishing Company, 1908