The Fourth Alabama Painting by Don Troiani

Army of Northeastern Virginia

Major I N Palmer

Major I N Palmer, commanding United States Battalion Cavalry

United States Battalion Cavalry

Arrived at Washington D. C. between May and July 1861

MAJOR I N PALMER, Second United States Cavalry

First United States Cavalry

Company A: First Lt. T H McCormick
Brevet Captain & Assistant Adjutant General A V Colburn was assigned to command Companies A and E, on 21 July, 1861. Captain S D Sturgis was promoted to major, 1st United States Cavalry, on 3 May, 1861, and First Lieutenant T H McCormick assumed command.

Assignment: First Brigade, Second Division, Army of Norteastern Virginia (See the First Brigade, Second Division, Army of Norteastern Virginia).

Company E: Second Lt. T L'Hommedieu
Brevet Captain & Assistant Adjutant General A V Colburnwas assigned to command Companies A and E, on 21 July, 1861. Captain J B McIntyre was on a leave of absense and First Lieutenant S W Stockton was assigned as aide de camp on the staff of Colonel D Hunter on 21 July, 1861, and Second Lieutenant T L'Hommedieu assumed command. Captain W N R Beall, United States Cavaly, resigned his commission and was appointed as captain of cavalry in the Confederate States Army.

Assignment: First Brigade, Second Division, Army of of Norteastern Virginia (See the First Brigade, Second Division, Army of Norteastern Virginia).

Company A was stationed at Fort Arbuckle, Indian Territory, under the command of Major D B Sacket, 1st United States Infantry, evacuated the post on 3 May, 1861, and arrived at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, on 31 May, 1861; Company B was stationed at Fort Arbuckle, Indian Territory, under the command of Major D B Sacket, 1st United States Infantry, evacuated the post on 3 May, 1861, and arrived at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, on 31 May, 1861; Company C was stationed at Fort Washita, Indian Territory, under the command of Captain E A Carr, evacuated the post on 17 April, 1861, and arrived Fort Leavenworth on 31 May, 1861; Company D was stationed at Fort Smith, Arkansas, under the command of Captain S D Sturgis, evacuated the post on 23 March, 1861, and arrived at Fort Leavenworth on 31 May 1861; Company E was stationed at Fort Smith, Arkansas, under the command of Captain S D Sturgis, evacuated the post on 23 March, 1861, and arrived at Fort Leavenworth on 31 May 1861; Company F was stationed at Fort Wise, Kansas, under the command of Major J Sedgewick, until December 1861; Company G was stationed at Fort Wise, Kansas, under the command of Major J Sedgewick, and was ordered to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas; Company H was stationed at Fort Wise, Kansas, under the command of Major J Sedgewick; Company I was stationed at Fort Washita, Indian Territory, under the command of Captain E A Carr, evacuated the post on 17 April, 1861, and arrived Fort Leavenworth on 31 May, 1861; Company K was stationed at Fort Wise, Kansas, under the command of Major J Sedgewick, and was ordered to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

Lieutenant Colonel W H Emory, was stationed at Washington D. C. and was ordered to Fort Washita, Indian Territory, to establish the 1st United States Cavalry Headquarters on 18 March, 1861. The 1st United States Cavalry, Companies C and I, and the 1st United States Infantry, Company E, under the command of Captain E A Carr, were assigned to duty at Fort Washita, Indian Territory. Companies D and E, under the command of Captain S D Sturgis, evacuated Fort Smith, Arkansas, on 23 April, 1861, and arrived at Fort Washita, Indian Territory, on 30 April, 1861. Colonel E V Summer was on a leave of absence and Captain S D Sturgis assumed the command of the post at Fort Smith, Arkansas. The 1st United States Cavalry, Companies C, D, E, and I, and the 1st United States Infantry, Company E, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel W H Emory, evacuated the post on 30 April, 1861, and joined the 1st United States Cavalry, Companies A and B, previously stationed at Fort Arbuckle, Indian Territory, and two companies of the 1st United States Infantry previously stationed at Fort Cobb, Indian Territory. Lieutenant Colonel W H Emory joined two companies of the 1st United States Infantry, thity-five miles from Fort Cobb, Indian Territory on 9 May, 1861, and arrived at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, on 31 May, 1861. Lieutenant Colonel W H Emory resigned at Fort Smith, Arkansas, in March 1861, and was accepted by the War Department on 8 May, 1861. W H Emory proceeded to Washington D. C. and Major D B Sackett, 1st United States Cavalry, was assigned to command the post at Fort Leavenworth, Kanasas.

On 5 June, 1861, a detachment of 208 recruits stationed at Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania, under the command of Captain W L Elliott, United States Mounted Riflemen, arrived at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. The recruits consisted of 150 United States Mounted Riflemen, twenty-eight 1st United States Dragoons, Companies B and G, and thirty 2nd United States Dragoons, Companies G and I. Second Lieutenant J V Du Bois organised the 1st and 2nd United States Dragoons recruits as a light artillery company at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and assigned one 12 pounder howitzer, three 6 pounder smoothbores and fifty-eight recently arrived recruits. The United States Mounted Riflemen recruits were organised as Companies, A and B, and armed as infantry and the recently organised artillery and infantry companies were assigned to the command of Captain W L Elliott. The 1st United States Cavalry, Companies B, C, D and I; the 1st United States Infantry, Companies B, C, and D; the 2nd United States Dragoons, Company C; the 2nd United States Infantry, Company E; DuBois' United States Light Artillery; and the United States Mounted Riflemen recruits, Companies A and B, assigned as infantry, were ordered to Kansas City on board the steamer Iatan, under the command of Major S D Sturgis, on 12 June, 1861. Major S D Sturgis was ordered to join Brigadier General N Lyons, United States Volunteers, at Clinton, Missouri, on 24 June, 1861. Brigadier General N Lyons was assigned to command the 1st Kansas Infantry, the 2nd Kansas Infantry and the Kansas Mounted Rangers, 2nd Kansas Infantry, Company I, and Major S D Sturgis arrived at Clinton, Missouri, on 4 July, 1861. Captain W L Elliott was relieved from duty and was assigned to the command of the 1st United States Cavalry, Company D, on 24 July, 1861. The United States Mounted Riflemen recruits, Company A, was assigned to the 1st United States Battalion Infantry, Companies B, C, and D, under the command of Captain J B Plummer, 1st United States Infantry, and the United States Mounted Riflemen recruits, Company B, was assigned to the 2nd United States Battalion Infantry, Companies B and E, and a company of General Service recruits, under the command of Captain F K Steele, 2nd United States Infantry, Company E.

Major General G B McClellan, United States Army, requested the 1st United States Cavalry, Companies A and E, assigned to duty as his personal escort on 22 June, 1861, and Companies A and E were ordered to Washington D. C. in July, 1861.

Captain S D Sturgis was promoted to major on 3 May, 1861. Lieutenant Colonel W H Emory resigned his commission on 9 May and was reappointed lieutenant colonel, 6th United States Cavalry on 14 May, 1861.

Companies F, G, H, and K were stationed at Fort Wise, Kansas, under the command of Major J Sedgewick, and Companies F and H were ordered to Fort Kearney, Nebraska, to contain hostile Indians in Nebraska on 29 May, 1861. Companies G and K werestationed at Fort Leavensworth, Kansas, in June 1861. Lieutenant Colonel J Sedgwick was ordered to Washington D. C. and assigned acting inspector general, Department of Washington D. C.

The 1st United States Infantry, Companies B, C, D, and F were stationed at Fort Cobb, Indian Territory, under the command of Captain J B Plummer, and Company E was stationed at Fort Washita, Indian Territory.

Second United States Cavalry

Company B: CAPT. J E HARRISON
First Lieutenant C H Tompkins was assigned to command a detachment of fifty men and was ordered to reconnoiter in the vicinity of Fairfax Courthouse, Virginia, and to gather information on the strength and disposition of the Army of the Potomac at Fairfax County, Virginia, on 31 May, 1861 (See the Skirmish at Fairfax Courthouse).

Assignment: First Brigade, Second Division, Army of Norteastern Virginia (See the First Brigade, Second Division, Army of Norteastern Virginia).

Company E: CAPT. W W LOWE

Assignment: Escort to Colonel S P Heintzelman, Third Division, Army of Northeastern Virginia.

Company G: CAPT. R N EAGLE
First Lieutenant T Drummond commanding on 21 July, 1861.

Assignment: First Brigade, Second Division, Army of Northeastern Virginia (See the First Brigade, Second Division, Army of Norteastern Virginia).

Company I: CAPT. A G BRACKETT

Assignment: Escort to Brigadier General I McDowell commanding Army of Northeastern Virginia.

Company A was stationed at Fort Mason, Texas, under the command of Captain R W Johnson, evacuated the post on 29 March, 1861, and arrived at Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania, on 27 April, 1861; Company B was stationed at Camp Colorado, Texas, under the command of Captain E Kirby, evacuated the post on 26 February, 1861, and arrived at Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania, on 13 April, 1861; Company C was stationed at Fort Inge, Texas, under the command of Captain E Kirby, evacuated the post on 19 March, 1861, and arrived at Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania, on 27 April, 1861; Company D was stationed at Fort Chadbourne, Texas, under the command of Captain I N Palmer, evacuated the post on 21 February, 1861, arrived at Carlise Barracks, Pennsylvania, on 13 April, 1861, and was ordered to Washington D. C.; Company E was stationed at Camp Hudson, Texas, under the command of Captain G Stoneman, 8th United states Infantry, evacuated the post on 17 March, 1861, arrived at Carlise Barracks, Pennsylvania, on 13 April, 1861, and was ordered to Washington D. C.; Company F was stationed at Fort Mason, Texas, under the command of Captain R W Johnson, evacuated the post on 17 March, 1861, and arrived at Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania, on 27 April, 1861; Company G was stationed on the Rio Grande River, Texas, under the command of Captain W R Bradfote, evacuated the post on 20 March, 1861, and arrived at Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania, on 27 April, 1861; Company H was stationed at Fort Chadbourne, Texas, under the command of Captain I N Palmer, evacuated the post on 21 February, 1861, arrived at Carlise Barracks, Pennsylvania, on 13 April, 1861, and was ordered to Washington D. C.; Company I was stationed at Camp Verde, Texas, under the command of Captain A G Brackett, evacuated the post on 21 February, 1861, and arrived at Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania, on 13 April, 1861; Company K was stationed at Camp Wood, Texas, under the command of Captain C J Whiting, evacuated the post on 29 March, 1861, and arrived at Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania, on 27 April, 1861.

First detachment

Company B evacuated Camp Colorado, Texas, under the command of Captain E Kirby, on 26 February, 1861, and arrived at Indianola, Texas, in March, 1861. Companies D and H evacuated Fort Chadbourne, Texas, under the command of Captain I N Palmer, on 21 February, 1861, and arrived at Indianola, Texas, on 22 March, 1861. Company E evacuated Camp Hudson, Texas, under the command of Captain G Stoneman, on 17 March, 1861, and was ordered to Camp Witherell, at the mouth of the Rio Grande River. Company G evacuated Camp Witherell, at the mouth of the Rio Grande River, on 20 March, 1861, and arrived at Indianola, Texas, on board the steamer Brazos Santiago on 22 March, 1861, with Company G. Captain W R Bradfote, Company G, resigned on 21 March, 1861. Company I evacuated Camp Verde, Texas, under the command of Captain A G Brackett, on 21 February, 1861, and was ordered to Indianola, Texas. The six companies stationed at Indianola, Texas, under the command of Captain I N Palmer, proceeded to New York Harbour on board the steamer Coatzacoalcos on 31 March, 1861. The first detachment arrived at New York Harbour on 11 April, 1861, and reported to Major G H Thomas. Companies D and H, under the command of Captain I N Palmer, were ordered to Washington D. C. and arrived on 17 April, 1861. Companies B, E, G, and I, under the command of Major G H Thomas, arrived at Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania, on 13 April, 1861, and were ordered to proceed to Washington D. C. as soon as they were remounted on 1 May, 1861. Companies B, E, G, and I, were assigned to duty guarding the White House and the Treasury buildings and Companies B, G, and I, under the command of Major G Stoneman, were order across the Potomac River on 24 May, 1861. Companies G and I were ordered across the Long Bridge, Washington D. C. and Company B, under the command of First Lieutenant C H Tompkins, across the Chain Bridge, Virginia (See the Occupation of Arlington Heights and Alexandria). A detachment of the 2nd United States Cavalry, Company H, under the command of Captain W T Magruder, 1st United States Dragoons, was ordered Rockville, Maryland, under the command of Colonel C P Stone, on 10 June, 1861 (See the Rockville Expedition). The detachment was ordered to return to Washington D. C. on 2 July, 1861.

Second detachment

Companies A and F, under the command of Captain R W Johnson, Headquarters, and Band evacuated Fort Mason, Texas, on 29 March, 1861 and proceeded to Indianola, Texas. Lieutenant Colonel R E Lee and Major E Van Dorn were on a leave of absence and Captain R W Johnson was assumed command of the post. Company C evacuated Fort Inge, Texas, under the command of Captain E Kirby, on 19 March, 1861, and arrived at Indianola on 12 April, 1861. Company K evacuated Camp Wood, Texas, under the command of Captain C J Whiting, on 15 March, 1861, and arrived at Indianola. Companies A, C, F, and K, under the command of Captain C J Whiting, and he 3rd United States Battalion Infantry, Companies B, D, G, H, and K, under the command of Captain O L Sheppherd, were ordered to proceed to New York Harbour on board the steamer the Empire City on 16 April, 1861, and arrived on 25 April, 1861. The 2nd United States Cavalry, Companies A, C, F, and K were ordered to report to Major G H Thomas at Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania, and arrived on 27 April, 1861, and were outfitted for field service by 27 May, 1861. The 2nd United States Cavalry, Companies A, C, F, and K, Headquarters, and the Philadelphia City Cavalry, First Troop, under the command of Colonel G H Thomas, were ordered to Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, on 1 June, 1861, and reported to Major General G Patterson. Major G H Thomas was promoted to colonel on 3 May, 1861, and assigned to command the First Brigade, First Division, Army of the Upper Potomac, under Major General G Cadwalader, Pennsylvania Militia (See the First Brigade, First Division, Army of the Upper Potomac). The 2nd United States Cavalry, Companies A, C, F, and K, were ordered to Bunker Hill, Virginia, on 15 July, 1861, and proceeded to Charlestown, Virginia, on 17 July, 1861. The companies were ordered to Harpers Ferry, Virginia, on 21 July, 1861, and were assigned to the First Brigade, Army of the Shennadoah, at Sandy Hook, Maryland, on 29 July, 1861. Companies A, F, and K were ordered to Washington D. C on 14 September, 1861, and Company C on 30 September, 1861.

Colonel G H Thomas was assigned to the Department of Cumberland as a brigadier general of volunteers on 17 August, 1861, and resigned the command of the 2nd United States Cavalry on 28 August, 1861.

Second United States Dragoons

Company K Second United States Dragoons: CAPT. F C ARMSTRONG
Captain F C Armstrong was assigned as aide de camp on the staff of Brigadier General S Harney, United States Army, until May 1861. Captain F C Armstrong resigned his commission on 13 August, 1861, and was assigned as an assistant adjutant general on the staff of Brigadier General B McCulloch, Confederate States Army.

Assignment: Escort to Colonel D Hunter, Second Division, Army of Northeastern Virginia.

Company A was stationed at Fort Kearny, Nebraska, evacuated the post on 8 November, 1861, under the command of Captain B Livingston, 3rd United States Cavalry, and arrived in Washington D. C. on 29 November, 1861; Company B was stationed at Camp Floyd, renamed Fort Crittenden, Utah Territory, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel C F Smith, 10th United States Infantry; Company C was stationed at Fort Leavenworth, Kanasas, proceeded to Springfield, Missouri, under the command of Second Lieutenant C E Farrand, 1st United States Infantry, on 12 June, 1861, and arrived on 6 August, 1861; Company D was stationed at Fort Laramie, Nebraska, under the command of Colonel E B Alexander, 10th United States Infantry; Company E was stationed at Camp Floyd, renamed Fort Crittenden, Utah Territory, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel C F Smith, 10th United States Infantry; Company F was stationed at Fort Laramie, Nebraska, under the command of Colonel E B Alexander, 10th United States Infantry; Company G was stationed at Fort Craig, New Mexico, under the command of Brevet Lieutenant Colonel E R S Canby, 10th United States Infantry, was ordered to proceed to Washington D. C. on 21 February, 1862, and arrived on 25 November, 1862; Company H was stationed at Camp Floyd, renamed Fort Crittenden, Utah Territory, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel C F Smith, 10th United States Infantry; Company I was stationed at Fort Union, New Mexico, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel G B Crittenden, United States Mounted Rifles, at Fort Garland, New Mexico, until September 1862 and arrived at Washington D. C. on 25 November, 1862; Company K was stationed at Fort Scott, Kansas, evacuated the post on 7 January, 1861, arrived at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, on 3 February, 1861, and was ordered to Washington D. C. on 2 July, 1861.

The 2nd United States Dragoons, except Companies C, G, and I, arrived at Cantonment Holt, Washington D. C., prior to 23 December, 1861. Company A was stationed Fort Kearny, Nebraska, under the command of Captain B Livingston, 3rd United States Cavalry, and was ordered ot proceed to Fort Leavenworth on 8 November, 1861. The company arrived at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, on 21 November, 1861, and was ordered to Washington D. C., under the command of Captain J T Ray, 2nd United States Infantry, on 22 November, 1861. Company A arrived at Washington D. C. on 29 November, 1861, and Company C was stationed at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. The company was ordered to proceed to Clinton, Missouri, under the command of Major S D Sturgis, 1st United States Cavalry, on 12 June, 1861. Company G was stationed at Fort Craig, under the command of Brevet Lieutenant Colonel E R S Canby, 10th United States Infantry, and was depleted by numbers by 8 October, 1861. Company G was temporaily assigned to the 3rd United States Cavalry, Company I, under the command of Captain A McRae, as artillery. Company I was stationed at Fort Union, New Mexico, under the command of Second Lieutenant C J Walker, and was ordered to proceed to Fort Garland, New Mexico. Companies I and G were ordered to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, under the command of First Lieutenant C W Canfield, as escort to Brigadier General E R S Canby, United States volunteers, and arrived on 27 October, 1862. Companies I and G were ordered to proceed to Washington D. C. and arrived on 25 November, 1862.

Brevet Major H H Sibley, commanding the post at Fort Union, resigned on 13 May, 1861, and First Lieutenant J Pegram, Company I, resigned on 10 May, 1861.

Detachment of United States Army

Detachment: Second LT. J S Brisbin, First United States Dragoons

A detachment of recruits from Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania, under the command of Second Lieutenant J S Brisbin, was ordered to Washington D.C. on 19 July, 1861. The recruits were to be assigned to the 2nd United States Artillery, Light Company M, the 3rd United States Infantry, and the United States Cavalry at Washington D. C. and as Brigadier General J K Mansfield had proceeded to Manassas Junction the detachment received arms and was ordered to Centreville, Virginia. Second Lieutenant J S Brisbin was unable to obtain orders and proceeded to the battlefield. After the first battle of Bull Run Second Lieutenant J S Brisbin was promoted to captain, 6th United States Cavalry.

Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania, was garrisoned by United States recruits and was commanded by Major L P Graham, 2nd United States Dragoons.

Sources

"In addition to the regular garrison of the Post there were at this time at Carlisle Barracks, several troops of the 2nd (now 5th) Cavalry under command of Maj. George H. Thomas of that regiment."

Fighting rebels and redskins: Experiences in army life of Colonel George B. Sanford 1861–1892, by George B Sandford

"The first troop of the Second to tead the soil of Virginia was K (Armstrong's), which arrived early in July, and was stationed at Arlington Heights."

From Everglade to Canyon with the Second United States Cavalry, by Theophilus Francis Rodenbough

"The cavalry rejoined Palmer, and, on the morning of the 19th, Brakett's company was detailed as General McDowell's escort. Captain Lowe's company, of the 2nd Cavalry, was sent to Colonel Heintzelman, commanding a division; Captain Armstrong's company, of the 2nd Dragoons, to Colonel Hunter, also commanding a division; and the remaining four companies, under Major Palmer, were attached to Colonel Andrew Porter's brigade, of Hunter's division."

History of the United States cavalry: From the formation of the Federal Government to the 1st of June, 1863, by Albert Gallatin Brackett

"Custer noticed that these volunteer soldiers did not step along like West Pointers. They also lacked regulation uniforms: smoe dressed in flaming scarlet, others in green, black or brown; only a few wore blue."

"By midmorning Company G reached Arlington Heights and turned into its old encampment."

Custer: The life of General George Armstrong Custer, by Jay Monaghan

"Rushing down to Washington, Second Lieutenant Custer was able to join his first unit, Company G, 2nd U.S. Cavalry, with General Irvin McDowell's army at Cenreville on the eve of the Battle of Bull Run, 20 July 1861."

Custer victorious: The Civil War battles of General George Armstrong Custer, by Gregory J W Urwin

"These companies were chiefly employed during the battle of Bull Run as supports to batteries of artillery. Those with General Hunter's division crossed Bull Run at one of the upper fords and assisted in turning the enemy's left flank, which at half-past three o'clock p.m. had been forced back until the National troops had pocession of the Warrenton Pike leading from the stone bridge."

"He participated in the battle of Bull Run, where his company served as escort to General McDowell during the entire day, having been detailed for duty on the 19th." During the diastrous retreat his company, with the regular cavalry, constituted about all there was of a rear-guard, and by vigorous and intelligent action did much to restore order among the volunteers, who had been abandoned by their own appointed officers." Captain A G Brackett

"He reported to the adjutant-general of the army on 20th of July, and was selected by General Scott as a bearer of dispatches to General McDowell. He started at seven o'clock PM for Centreville, where he arrived about three o'clock PM of 21st, and having delivered his dispatches, reported for duty with his company at daybreak, and participated in the battle of Bull Run, where he was distinguished for gallant conduct." Second Lieutenant G A Custer

Across the continent with the Fifth Cavalry, by George Frederic Price

"I had one company of cavalry attached to my division, which was joined during the engagement by the cavalry of Colonel Hunter's division."

Report of Colonel S. P. Heintzelman, Seventeenth United States Infantry, commanding Third Division, Army of Northeastern Virginia

"I had one company of cavalry attached to my division, which was joined, during the engagement, by the cavalry of Colonel Hunter’s division. Major Palmer, who commanded them, was anxious to engage the enemy."

The C. S. A., and the Battle of Bull Run: A letter to an English friend, by J G Barnard

William H. Emory: Soldier-scientist, by L David Norris, James C Milligan and Odie B Faulk

The Lyon campaign in Missouri being a history of the First Iowa Infantry and of the causes which led up to its organization, and how it earned the thanks of Congress, which it got: together with a birdseye view of the conditions in Iowa preceding the great Civil War of 1861, by E F Ware

An account of the battle of Wilson's creek or Oak hills, fought between the Union troops, commanded by Gen. N. Lyon and the Southern, or Confederate troops, under command of Gens. McCulloch and Price, on Saturday, August 10, 1861, in Greene county, Missouri Written and comp. from authentic sources, by Holcombe & Adams

Of duty well and faithfully done: A history of the Regular Army in the Civil War, by Clayton R Newell and Charles R Shrader

The Army of the United States: Historical sketches of staff and line with portraits of generals in chief, by T F Rodenbough, Brevet Brigadier General, and W L Haskin, Major, First Artillery

Official Army Register for September 1861, Adjutant General's Office, Washington, 1 September, 1861

Biographical register of officers and graduates of the United States Military Academy, at West Point, N. Y., from its establishment, 16 March, 1802 to the army reorganisation of 1866–67, by Bvt. Major General George W Cullum, Colonel, Corps of Enginers, U. S. Army

Notes

Second Lieutenant D S Gordon, 2nd United States Dragoons, was temporarily assigned to a detachment of fifty men, under the command of First Lieutenant CH Tompkins, during the skirmish at Fairfax Courthouse, Virginia, on 1 June, 1861 (See the Skirmish at Fairfax Courthouse). At the first battle of Bull Run Second Lieutenant D S Gordon was appointed as aide de camp to Colonel E D Keyes, commanding the First Brigade, First Division, Army of Northeastern Virginia. The United States Battalion Cavalry was temporarily organised prior to the first battle of Bull Run, under the command of Major I N Palmer, and consisted of the 1st United States Cavalry, Companies A and E; the 2nd United States Cavalry, Companies B, E, G, and I; and the 2nd United States Dragoons, Company K. Second Lieutenant G A Custer was assigned to the 2nd United States Cavalry, Company G, and Second Lieutenants J W Spangler, H McQuade and C B McClellen, 3rd United States Cavalry, were assigned to the United States Battalion Cavalry on 21 July, 1861. First Lieutenant J J Sweet, 2nd United States Cavalry, Company K, was appointed as aide de camp to Colonel S P Heintzelman, commanding the Third Division, Army of Northeastern Virginia, and First Lieutenant S W Stockton, 1st United States Cavalry, was appointed as aide de camp to Colonel D Hunter, Second Division, Army of Northeastern Virginia. Companies B, G, and I, under the command of Major G Stoneman, were order across the Potomac River on 24 May, 1861. Companies G and I were ordered across the Long Bridge, Washington D. C. and Company B, under the command of First Lieutenant C H Tompkins, across the Chain Bridge, Washington D. C. The United States Battalion Cavalry encamped near Arlington, Virginia. The First Brigade, Second Division, Army of Northeastern Virginia, under the command of Colonel A Porter, was ordered to proceed along the Columbia Turnpike to Little River Turnpike, near Annandale, Virginia, at 4 PM on 16 July, 1861, and encamped at Annandale, Virginia, at 7 PM on 16 July, 1861. Colonel A Porter was ordered to proceed to Fairfax Courthouse, Virginia, via Little River Turnpike, Virginia, on 17 July, 1861, and arrived at Fairfax Courthouse, Virginia, at 9 AM on 17 July, 1861. The First Brigade, Second Division, Army of Northeastern Virginia, was ordered to Centreville, Virginia, via Germantown, Virginia, in the morning on 18 July, 1861. The United States Battalion Cavalry was ordered to Sudley Ford, Virginia, at 3.30 AM on 21 July, 1861. After the first battle of Bull Run the United States Battalion Cavalry was ordered to retreat to Centreville, Virginia, and arrived at 8.30 PM . The United States Battalion Cavalry was ordered to return to Arlington, Virginia, and arrived at 5.30 AM on 22 July, 1861.

The United States Cavalry was reorganised as the following on 3 August, 1861; the 1st United States Cavalry was redesignated the 4th United States Cavalry; the 2nd United States Cavalry the 5th United States Cavalry; the 2nd United States Dragoons the 2nd United States Cavalry; and the United States Mounted Riflemen the 3rd United States Cavalry.

The Military District of the Potomac was established on 25 July, 1861 by consolidating the Military District of Washington and the Department of Northeastern Virginia and redesignated the Department of the Potomac on 15 August, 1861. The 2nd United States Cavalry, Company I, was assigned to Brigadier General W T Sherman's Brigade and Company G, was assigned to Brigadier General P Kearney's Brigade, Army of the Potomac, on 4 August, 1861. On 30 July, 1861, the 1st United States Cavalry, Companies A and E, were assigned as Provost Guard or City Guard, under the command of Colonel A Porter, 16th United States Infantry, detached for temporary duty as provost marshal. The 2nd United States Dragoons, Company K, and the 2nd United States Cavalry, Companies B and E, were assigned to duty in the defenses of Washington D. C.

Report

OFFICIAL REPORT NO.37: Series I, Volume 2 (S# 2), Chapter IX, p. 393
Major I N Palmer, Second United States Cavalry, commanding battalion of regular cavalry