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First regiment Massachusetts Cavalry.
（1)
Col. Robert Williams,
Brig. Gen. U. S. Vols.
（2)
Col. Horace Binney Sargent,
Bvt. Brig. Gen. U. S. Vols.
（3)
Col. Samuel Emery Chamberlain,
Bvt. Brig. Gen. U. . Vols.
| | | companies. |
| Field and staff | Line | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | I1 | K | K2 | L | L3 | M | M4 | Recruits. | Totals. |
| Number on regimental rolls,-- |
| Officers, | 26 | 81 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 107 |
| Enlisted men,5 | 23 | – | 196 | 149 | 140 | 162 | 189 | 168 | 126 | 193 | 94 | 101 | 100 | 93 | 92 | 89 | 89 | 98 | 30 | 2,132 |
| Totals, | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 2,239 |
| Enlisted men (included above) commissioned in regiment.6 | 6 | – | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 3 | – | 1 | – | – | – | 1 | 1 | 1 | – | 33 |
| Enlisted men (included above) serving elsewhere within regiment. | – | – | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | – | 1 | 1 | – | 1 | 1 | – | – | – | 1 | – | 18 |
| Totals, | 6 | – | 5 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | – | 1 | 1 | 2 | – | 51 |
| Actual total of members of regiment,— |
| Officers, | 26 | 81 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 107 |
| Enlisted men,7 | 17 | – | 191 | 144 | 136 | 156 | 182 | 164 | 124 | 189 | 93 | 100 | 99 | 92 | 92 | 88 | 88 | 96 | 30 | 2,081 |
| Totals, | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 2,188 |
The 1st Cavalry was made up almost entirely from State organizations already existing, including among its early volunteers members of the
Boston Lancers, Waltham Dragoons, North Bridgewater Dragoons and Springfield Horseguards.
The first enlistments were made in the early part of September, 1861, and on September 11
Robert Williams of
Virginia, captain,
assistant adjutant-general, U. S. Army, was appointed by
Governor Andrew as colonel of the regiment, being recommended by
Gen. Winfield Scott.
The 1st Battalion, comprising Cos. A, B, C and D, under
Maj. Greely S. Curtis, left
Massachusetts December 25 and went to
Annapolis, Md. The 2d and 3d Battalions, leaving on December 26 and 28, remained ten days in New York and then went on to
Hilton Head, S. C., and were joined in a short time by the 1st Battalion.
In the movement against
Charleston, S. C.,
Colonel Williams commanded the brigade of which the regiment formed a part.
The 1st and 2d Battalions joined the army of the Potomac in
Virginia, Aug. 19, 1862, and the 3d Battalion remained in
South Carolina in command of
Maj. A. H. Stevens, Jr., three companies being stationed at
Beaufort and the other at
Hilton Head; here it remained for some months, engaging in picket and patrol duty, with a reconnoissance Oct. 22, 1862, to
Pocotaligo, S. C.; and in June, 1863, a detachment on duty at
Folly and
Morris islands took part in the siege of
Fort Sumter.
On Aug. 4, 1863, the battalion was permanently detached from the 1st Cavalry and called the Independent Battalion, Mass. Cavalry Vols., and engaged in the expedition to
St. John's River, Fla. By special order, dated Feb. 12, 1864, the Independent Battalion became 1st Battalion, 4th Mass. Cavalry, and under this organization was ordered to
Virginia in May, 1864, and its subsequent history will be found with the 4th Mass. Cavalry.
The 1st and 2d Battalions with the army of the Potomac took part in the marches and skirmishes which preceded the battles of
Antietam and
Fredericksburg.
They took active part in the campaigns of 1863-64, a new battalion of four companies joining them at
Warrenton, Va., in March, 1864.
The regiment was stationed on provost duty at
City Point in March, 1865, and served afterward in the defences of
Washington until mustered out June 26, 1865.
Present also at
Poolesville,
South Mountain,
Antietam,
Fredericksburg, Chancelloreville,
Upperville,
Gettysburg,
Williamsport,
Culpeper,
Auburn, fortifications of
Richmond and Cold Harbor.
