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Second regiment Massachusetts Cavalry.
（1)
Col. Charles Russell Lowell,
Brig. Gen. U. S. Vols.
（2)
Col. Caspar Crowninshield,
Bvt. Brig. Gen. U. S. Vols.
| | | companies. |
| Field and staff. | Line | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | K | L | M | Recruits. | Totals. |
| Number on regimental rolls,— |
| Officers, | 16 | 75 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 91 |
| Enlisted men,1 | 16 | – | 168 | 151 | 174 | 136 | 157 | 156 | 176 | 183 | 155 | 168 | 142 | 155 | 72 | 2,009 |
| Totals, | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 2,100 |
| Enlisted men (included above) commissioned in regiment.2 | 3 | – | 11 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 | – | 1 | 1 | 7 | 4 | – | 40 |
| Enlisted men (included above) serving elsewhere within regiment. | – | – | 5 | 4 | – | – | – | 1 | 2 | – | 2 | 1 | 1 | – | – | 16 |
| Totals, | 3 | – | 16 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 4 | – | 3 | 2 | 8 | 4 | – | 56 |
| Actual total of members of regiment,— |
| Officers, | 16 | 75 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 91 |
| Enlisted men,3 | 13 | – | 152 | 145 | 173 | 134 | 155 | 151 | 172 | 183 | 152 | 166 | 134 | 151 | 72 | 1,953 |
| Totals, | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 2,044 |
The 2d Mass. Cavalry was organized in the autumn of 1862. Co. A, the first company formed, being raised in
California by
Capt. J. Sewell Read in November and December, and mustered into service at
San Francisco, Cal., on December 10; it reached
Boston January 3, and was counted on the quota of that city.
A detachment of five companies, mustered in at Readville, Mass., at varying dates in January and February, 1863, left
Massachusetts Feb. 12, 1863, under command of
Maj. Caspar Crowninshield, and went into camp at
Gloucester Point, opposite
Yorktown, Va. The remaining companies of the regiment,
California furnishing four of these, were organized and mustered into service from February to May, 1863, under
Col. Charles Russell Lowell, and, leaving Readville May 11, encamped near
Washington, moving camp on June 23 to
Poolesville, Md. On August 6 the detachment at
Gloucester Point joined the main body at
Centreville, Va., and the regiment was united with the 13th and 16th N. Y. Cavalries to form a brigade, with
Colonel Lowell as brigade commander.
On September 15 four companies were detached under
Major Thompson and sent into
Maryland, where they remained until the spring of 1864.
The regiment remained in camp at
Centreville, Va., until the first of October, on Oct. 9, 1863, moving to
Vienna, Va., where it remained during the
autumn and
winter.
In July, 1864, the regiment took part in the defence of
Washington, and as part of the 3d Brigade, under
Colonel Lowell, was in constant action during the month of August.
At the battle of the
Opequon, September 19, it was closely engaged, and moved afterwards up the
Luray valley, where, at Luray Court House, a Confederate flag was captured by
Philip Baybutt of Co. A.
In the
battle of Cedar Creek the regiment met its saddest loss,
Colonel Lowell being wounded there, and dying the next day at
Middletown, Va. The regiment went into winter quarters in December at
Winchester, Va.; and at this time, though the regiment numbered 1,100 men, only 15 officers and 500 men were present, 200 were in Southern prisons, over 200 absent, wounded or sick, and over 100 absent on detached service; in January, 175 recruits were added.
In February, 1865, as part of the 1st Division, Reserve Brigade, the regiment advanced to
Petersburg; after the evacuation of
Richmond it engaged in the pursuit of the
Confederates until the surrender of
General Lee at
Appomattox.
Having encamped for a time near
Petersburg, it took part under
General Sheridan against
Johnston's army; participated afterward in the grand review at
Washington, and, after remaining in camp in
Fairfax County until July 20, 1865, was mustered out at Fair.
fax Court House, being finally paid off and discharged Aug. 3, 1865, at Readville, Mass.
Present also at Fort Reno,
Poolesville,
Summit Point,
Luray,
Tom's Brook,
South Anna, White Oak Road, Dinwiddie Court House,
Sailor's Creek and
Appomattox.
