Thomas Wentworth Higginson, Massachusetts in the Army and Navy during the war of 1861-1865, vol. 1, Condensed history of regiments.

Third regiment Massachusetts Cavalry.

（2) Col. Lorenzo Dow Sargent.

（3) Col. Burr Porter.

The 3d Mass. Cavalry was formed June 17, 1863, from four already existing organizations: the 1st, 2d and 3d Cos. Unattached Cavalry and the 41st Regiment Infantry. The 1st Co. Unattached Cavalry, organized as 1st Co. Mounted Rifle Rangers, was recruited by Capt. S. Tyler Read in Boston during September, 1861, and, completing its organization on November 15, with the 2d Co. Mounted Rangers, under Captain Magee, and the 3d Co. Unattached Cavalry, under Captain Durivage, left Boston harbor Jan. 13, 1862, and arrived at Ship Island, Miss., February 12. Here the three companies were united in a battalion, with Captain Read as acting major. On the formation of General Butler's division into brigades, the companies were separated and the 1st Co., forming part of the 1st Brigade, on April 16, 1862, left Ship Island for New Orleans, and was stationed in charge of its defence until May 1, 1864. The 2d Co., under Major-General Williams, entered in the engagement against Baton Rouge, and after the evacuation of the city, returning to New Orleans, remained there until the spring of 1863. Captain Durivage of the 3d Unattached Co. was drowned in the Mississippi River on April 23, 1862, four months after the organization of the company; and Jonathan E. Cowan, appointed in his place, being on leave of absence, the organization served under Lieutenant Perkins; in September, 1862, it became part of Weitzel's Brigade, and encamped at Thibodeaux, La., during the winter of 1862-63. In the autumn of 1862 the 41st Mass. Infantry, the remaining organization to unite in forming the 3d Cavalry, was recruited at Lynnfield and Boxford, Mass., and, under Col. Thomas E. Chickering of Boston, it left the State Nov. 5, 1862, and took up its quarters at Baton Rouge, La. Sharing in the Teche expedition in April, 1863, it occupied Opelousas and Barreas Lauding. On June 17 the four organizations united to form the 3d Cavalry, under Colonel Chickering. The regiment took part in the siege of Port Hudson, and in the spring of 1864 it began its part in the Red River campaign; in the latter part of July, organized as infantry, it was transferred to Maryland, becoming part of the 2d Brigade, 19th Army Corps, and engaged in the battles of the Opequon and Cedar Creek, going into winter quarters at Pleasant Valley, Md., on Dec. 28, 1864. In February, 1865, it was again equipped as cavalry, and in March returned to Virginia. At the close of the previous year the three independent cavalry companies were mustered out and their places were filled by other Massachusetts men. On May 20 those who had originally formed the 41st Infantry were mustered out. The regiment left Washington for Fort Leavenworth, Kan., June 14, 1865; served in Kansas and Nebraska during the summer, and was mustered out of service Sept. 28, 1865. Proceeding at once to Boston, the members of the regiment were paid off and discharged, October 5, at Gallop's Island.

Present also at Irish Bend, Henderson Hill, Georgia Landing, Cane River, Muddy Bayou, Piney Woods and Snag Point.