History of the First Reg't Pennsylvania Reserve Cavalry

Commissioned Officers

By the law of the Pennsylvania Reserve Corps, company officers were elected by the men of their respective companies, and the commanding and field officers were elected by the commissioned officers of the regiment. This mode of choosing has not been productive of so many evil results in this regiment as in many others, but it is plainly evident from experience, that a faithful performance of duty is incompatible with attempts to secure popularity among his subordinates, on the part of either commissioned or non-commissioned officers, who are seeking promotion by the votes of those under their command; consequently those who have best filled subordinate posts, are least likely to secure promotion by election. This system was annulled by an Act of Legislature, early in 1863, and since then the Officers have been appointed in the manner presented by the military laws of the State of Pennsylvania.

Field Officers

Colonels

• George D. Bayard, commissioned August 1, 1861; appointed brigadier-general, May 5, 1862. Killed at Fredericksburg, December 13, 1862.
• Owen Jones, commissioned May 5, 1862, and resigned January 30, 1863.
• J.P. Taylor, commissioned January 30, 1863; commanding First Brigade, Second Cavalry Division, since October 8, 1863.

Lieutenant-Colonels

• Jacob Higgins, commissioned August 1, 1861, and resigned October 8, 1861.
• Owen Jones, commissioned October, 1861. Promoted to colonel.
• S.D. Barrows, commissioned May 5, 1862. Resigned for disability, September, 1862.
• J.P. Taylor, commissioned September, 1862. Promoted to colonel.
• David Gardner, commissioned February 10, 1863. Commanding regiment since October, 1863, and part of the time, brigade.

Majors

• Owen Jones, commissioned August, 1861. Promoted to lieutenant-colonel.
• S.D. Barrows, commissioned October, 1861. Promoted to lieutenant-colonel.
• R.J. Falls, commissioned January 3, 1862. Wounded July 28, 1864; transferred to First Pennsylvania Veteran Cavalry Battalion.
• Thomas J. Richards, commissioned May 5, 1862, and resigned for disability.
• J.H. Ray, commissioned May 5, 1862, and resigned for disability, February 23, 1863.
• Wm. T. McEwen, commissioned February 23, 1863, and resigned for disability October 17, 1863. Wounded at Brandy Station, June 9, 1863.
• David Gardner, commissioned November 23, 1862. Promoted to lieutenant-colonel.
• James M. Gaston, commissioned February 12, 1863. On detached service at headquarters, Second Cavalry Division, since June, 1863.

Staff Officers

Adjutants

• Charles C. Townsend, commissioned November 22, 1862, and resigned for disability June 14, 1863.
• Wm. P. Lloyd, commissioned June 16, 1863.

Quarter Masters

• R.R. Corson, commissioned August, 1861. Promoted to brigade quarter master.
• George H. Baker, commissioned May 5, 1862.

Assistant Commissaries of Subsistence

• Wm. Stadelman, commissioned November 22, 1862, and resigned for disability, January 28, 1863.
• Henry A. Wood, commissioned January 28, 1863.

Medical Department

Surgeons

• David Stanton, commissioned August, 1861, and promoted to the regular army, November 24, 1862.
• G.B. Hotchkin, commissioned November 24, 1862. Acting surgeon-in-chief of First Brigade, Second Cavalry Division, greater part of the last year.

Assistant Surgeons

• Samuel Alexander, commissioned August, 1861, and was killed in a skirmish at Drainesville, Virginia, November 27, 1861.
• G.B. Hotchkin, commissioned November 27, 1861. Promoted to surgeon.
• L.E. Atkinson, commissioned January 21, 1863.
• H.N. Kelly, commissioned December, 1862. Resigned for disability.
• R.H. Tuft, commissioned July 29, 1863.
• J.B. Finney, commissioned August, 1861. Resigned September, 1861.
• S.W.H. Calver, commissioned June, 1862. Resigned August 2, 1862.

Chaplain

• J. Hervey Beale, commissioned September 16, 1861.

Battalion Adjutants

• C.L. Buffington, commissioned March 1, 1862; and mustered out of service, in pursuance of an Act of Congress, annulling the office, September, 1862.
• Wm. S. Foster, commissioned March 1, 1862; and mustered out of service, in pursuance of an Act of Congress, annulling the office, September, 1862.
• Job H. Cole, commissioned March 1, 1862; and mustered out of service, in pursuance of an Act of Congress, annulling the office, September, 1862.

Line Officers A Company

Captains

• John K. Robinson, commissioned July 29, 1861, and resigned March 28, 1862.
• Thomas J. Frow, commissioned March 28, 1862, and resigned March 14, 1863.
• Wm. H. Patterson, commissioned March 28, 1863.

First Lieutenants

• Thomas J. Frow, commissioned July 29, 1861. Promoted to captain.
• Wm. H. Patterson, commissioned March 28, 1862. Promoted to captain.
• James R. Kelly, commissioned March 8, 1863. Wounded July 17, 1863. Prisoner June 24, 1864.

Second Lieutenants

• Wm. H. Patterson, commissioned July 29, 1861. Promoted to first lieutenant.
• James R. Kelly, commissioned March 28, 1862. Promoted to first lieutenant.
• D.H. Wilson, commissioned March 28, 1863. Killed June 2, 1864.

Line Officers B Company

Captains

• Jacob Stadelman, commissioned August 8, 1861. Resigned March 26, 1862.
• Joseph C. Roberts, commissioned March 26, 1862. Resigned May 8, 1862.
• Wm. Litzenberg, commissioned May 8, 1862. Wounded July 28, 1864.

First Lieutenants

• Theodore Streck, commissioned August 8, 1861. Promoted to captain, Company H, November 26, 1861; wounded February, 1862.
• John Kline, commissioned November 25, 1861. Resigned December 30, 1861.
• Joseph C. Roberts, commissioned January 1, 1862. Promoted to captain.
• William Buzby, commissioned March 26, 1862. Died March, 1864.

Second Lieutenants

• John Kline, commissioned August 8, 1861. Promoted to first lieutenant.
• Joseph C. Roberts, commissioned November 25, 1861. Promoted to first lieutenant.
• William Buzby, commissioned January 3, 1862. Promoted to first lieutenant.
• Robert S. Lawsha, commissioned March 26, 1862. Wounded May 28, 1864. Promoted to first lieutenant.

Line Officers C Company

Captains

• J.P. Taylor, commissioned August 6, 1861. Promoted to lieutenant-colonel.
• William T. McEwen, commissioned October, 1862. Promoted to major.
• R.J. McNitt, commissioned February 13, 1863. Prisoner June 21, 1864.

First Lieutenants

• William Mann, commissioned August, 1861. Resigned February 26, 1862.
• William T. McEwen, commissioned February 26, 1862. Promoted captain.
• R.J. McNitt, commissioned October, 1862. Promoted to captain.
• Hiram McClenahen, commissioned February 12, 1863. Wounded July 17, 1863; absent on recruiting service since August, 1863.

Second Lieutenants

• William T. McEwen, commissioned August, 1861.Promoted to first lieutenant.
• R.J. McNitt, commissioned February 26, 1862. Promoted to first lieutenant.
• John W. Nelson, commissioned October, 1862. Transferred to First Pennsylvania Veteran Cavalry Battalion, September 1, 1864.

Line Officers D Company

Captains

• J.W. Smith, commissioned August, 1861. Resigned September, 1861.
• William S. Gile, commissioned September 20, 1861. Resigned June 24, 1862.
• Hugh A. McDonald, commissioned July 1, 1862, was wounded in three different places in the battle of Cedar Mountain, August 9, 1862.

First Lieutenants

• S.D. Barrows, commissioned August 1, 1861. Promoted to major.
• Warren L. Holbrook, commissioned July 1, 1862; transferred to First Pennsylvania Veteran Cavalry Battalion, September 1, 1864.

Second Lieutenants

• M.L. French, commissioned November 15, 1862. Promoted to Captain of Company E.
• William F. Butcher, commissioned July 1, 1862; killed in action at Cedar Mountain, August 9, 1862.
• Philip H. Walker, commissioned September 9, 1862. Resigned for disability February 23, 1864, S.O. No. 52.
• A.R. McDonald, promoted July, 1864; veteran volunteer.

Line Officers E Company

Captains

• Jonathan Wolf, commissioned August 1, 1861. Resigned November, 1861.
• Robert R. Lipton, commissioned November, 1861. Resigned April, 1862.
• Jeremiah Newman, commissioned February, 1863.

First Lieutenants

• Robert R. Lipton, commissioned August, 1861. Promoted to captain.
• John A. Bayard, commissioned November, 1861. Resigned February, 1862.
• Jeremiah Newman, commissioned April, 1862. Promoted to captain.
• William P. Lloyd, commissioned March 22, 1863. Promoted to adjutant.
• Samuel Lipton, commissioned February 10, 1863. Resigned for disability March 2, 1863.
• Johnston C. Akers, commissioned June 16, 1863.

Second Lieutenants

• Samuel Murray, commissioned August 1, 1861. Resigned December, 1861.
• Samuel Deavenport, commissioned December, 1862. Resigned March, 1862.
• Samuel Lipton, commissioned May, 1862. Promoted to first lieutenant.
• Amos M. Herrick, commissioned February 11, 1861. Transferred to First Pennsylvania Veteran Cavalry Battalion September 1, 1864.

Line Officers F Company

Captains

• J.M. Harper, commissioned August 15, 1861. Resigned October 19, 1861.
• J.H. Ray, commissioned November 15, 1861. Promoted to major.
• Alexander Davidson, commissioned April 1, 1862. Died of wounds July 31, 1864.

First Lieutenants

• J.H. Ray, commissioned August 15, 1861. Promoted to captain.
• Alexander Davidson, commissioned November 15, 1861. Promoted to captain.
• Lewis K. Evans, commissioned January 13, 1862. Resigned June 22, 1862.
• Thomas Lucas, commissioned August 17, 1862. Received a sabre wound from the enemy June 9, 1863. Promoted to captain.

Second Lieutenants

• Alexander Davidson, commissioned August, 1861. Promoted to first lieutenant.
• Lewis K. Evans, commissioned November 15, 1861. Promoted to first lieutenant.
• Samuel Greenlee, commissioned June 13, 1862. Wounded June 9, 1863. Killed May 28, 1864.

Line Officers G Company

Captains

• Jacob Higgins, commissioned August, 1861. Promoted to lieutenant-colonel.
• David Gardner, commissioned August, 1861. Promoted to major.
• Henry C. Beamer, commissioned November, 1862. Resigned for disability April 12, 1863.
• Francis P. Confer, commissioned April 12, 1863.

First Lieutenants

• David Gardner, commissioned August, 1861. Promoted to captain.
• Hampton S. Thomas, commissioned September, 1861. Promoted to Captain of Company M.
• Henry C. Beamer, commissioned April, 1862. Promoted to captain November 24, 1864.
• Francis P. Confer, commissioned November 24, 1862. Promoted to captain.
• Alonzo Reed, commissioned November 24, 1862. Killed June 24, 1864.
• Hiram Platt, commissioned, August 1, 1864. First Pennsylvania Veteran Cavalry Battalion.

Second Lieutenants

• Hampton S. Thomas, commissioned August, 1861. Promoted to first lieutenant.
• H.C. Weir, commissioned November, 1861. Promoted to captain and A A.G. on General Bayard's staff.
• Francis P. Confer, commissioned November, 1862. Promoted to first lieutenant.
• Alonzo Reed, commissioned November 24, 1862. Promoted to first lieutenant.
• George J. Geiser, commissioned April 12, 1863. Dismissed, February 17, 1864.

Line Officers H Company

Captains

• James B. Davidson, commissioned August, 1861. Resigned September, 1861.
• Theodore Streck, commissioned November 24, 1861. Resigned December, 1862. Wounded May 24, 1862.
• William S. Craft, commissioned February 12, 1863. Wounded May 28, 1864.

First Lieutenants

• David Gilmore, commissioned August, 1861. Resigned November, 1861.
• John D. Scott, commissioned November 21, 1861. Dismissed September, 1862.
• William S. Craft, commissioned September 12, 1862. Promoted to captain.
• Thomas C. Lebo, commissioned February 12, 1862. Wounded July 28, 1864; transferred to First Pennsylvania Veteran Cavalry Battalion, September 1, 1864.

Second Lieutenants

• William Brown, commissioned August, 1861. Resigned October 8, 1861.
• James Jackson, commissioned September, 1861. Resigned November, 1861.
• Thomas C. Lebo, commissioned November, 1861. Promoted to first lieutenant.
• Eli C. Forsyth, commissioned February 12, 1863.

Line Officers I Company

Captains

• W.W. McNulty, commissioned August 13, 1861. Resigned.
• John W. Ross, commissioned August 24, 1861. Resigned November 22, 1861.
• George T. Work, commissioned August 23, 1861. Resigned.
• James A. Gaston, commissioned July 12, 1862. Promoted to major February 10, 1863.
• T.C. McGregor, commissioned February 26, 1863. Transferred to First Pennsylvania Veteran Cavalry Battalion, September 1, 1864.

First Lieutenants

• John W. Ross, commissioned August, 1861. Promoted to captain.
• George T. Work, commissioned August, 1861. Promoted to captain.
• James M. Gaston, commissioned November 23, 1861. Promoted to captain.
• T.C. McGregor, commissioned July 12, 1862. Promoted to captain.
• F.S. Morgan, commissioned February 12, 1863. Transferred to First Pennsylvania Veteran Cavalry Battalion September 1, 1864.

Second Lieutenants

• George W. Seigrist, commissioned November 23, 1861. Resigned May 10, 1862.
• J.B. Richey, commissioned July 12, 1862. Dismissed February 18, 1863.
• J.M. Gaston, commissioned August 1, 1861. Promoted to first lieutenant.
• T.C. McGregor, commissioned May 10, 1862. Promoted to first lieutenant.
• George W. Lyon, commissioned February 25, 1863. Killed in action by guerrillas September 6, 1863.

Line Officers K Company

Captains

• William Boyce, commissioned September, 1861. Resigned December 17, 1861.
• J.H. Williams, commissioned January 5, 1862. Dismissed February 3, 1864; reinstated May, 1864, and transferred to First Pennsylvania Veteran Cavalry Battalion September 1, 1864.

First Lieutenants

• William A. Kennedy, commissioned September, 1861. Wounded May 28, 1864.

Second Lieutenants

• Samuel W. Morgan, commissioned September, 1861. Wounded September 15, 1863.

Line Officers L Company

Captains

• J.C.A. Hoffeditz, commissioned August, 1861. Resigned April 16, 1862.
• Wm. A. Sands, commissioned April 16, 1862. Prisoner June 21, 1864.

First Lieutenants

• Wm. A. Sands, commissioned August 1, 1861. Promoted to captain.
• H.S. Gaul, commissioned April 16, 1862.

Second Lieutenants

• H.S. Gaul, commissioned August, 1861. Promoted to first lieutenant.
• Charles Lichtenthaller, commissioned April 19, 1862. Resigned June 26, 1863.
• David S. Buxton, commissioned June 26, 1863. Wounded December 27, 1863; mortally wounded and prisoner, June 21, 1864.

Line Officers M Company

Captains

• Thomas S. Richards, commissioned August, 1861. Promoted to major.
• H.S. Thomas, commissioned May 5, 1862. Detached as A.A. Inspector-general First Brigade, since April, 1863. Transferred to First Pennsylvania Veteran Cavalry Battalion.

First Lieutenants

• George D. Leaf, commissioned August, 1861. Resigned January, 1863.
• Henderson Sample, commissioned February 12, 1863. Resigned August 12, 1864.

Second Lieutenants

• A.S. Shollenberger, commissioned August, 1861. Resigned.
• Henderson Sample, commissioned December 30, 1861. Promoted to first lieutenant.
• Joseph S. Wright, commissioned February 12, 1863. Mortally wounded, June 24, 1864.

Non-Commissioned Staff

Sergeant Majors

• George W. Seigrist, appointed September 28, 1861. Promoted to second lieutenant.
• C.L. Buffington, appointed November 23, 1861. Promoted to battalion adjutant.
• Henry C. Beamer, appointed February 17, 1862. Promoted to first lieutenant.
• Wm. McEwen, appointed May 8, 1862. Discharged for disability, September 29, 1862.
• George J. Geiser, appointed September 29, 1862. Promoted to second lieutenant.
• John Hamilton, appointed April 12, 1863.

Quartermaster Sergeants

• George H. Baker, appointed September 28, 1861. Promoted to quartermaster.
• Wm. Stadelman, appointed May 5, 1862. Promoted to A.C.S.
• George W. Fincher, appointed October 28, 1862. Vet. vol, February 1, 1864.

Commissary Sergeants

• Henry A. Wood, appointed June 5, 1862. Promoted to A.C.S.
• John McCahan, appointed January 27, 1863.

Chief Buglers

• Thomas R. Storer, appointed October 16, 1861. Mustered out, in pursuance of an Act of Congress, annulling the office, September, 1862.
• James P. Landis, appointed May 1, 1863. Wounded June 9, 1863. Vet. vol., February 1, 1864.

Hospital Stewards

• Joseph Deveney, appointed September 6, 1861. Transferred.
• C.C. Townsend, appointed September, 1861. Promoted to adjutant.
• Ernest Conzler, appointed October, 1861. Transferred to regular army November, 1862.
• Charles Gardner, appointed October, 1862.
• Wm. P. Lloyd, appointed December 18, 1862. Promoted to first lieutenant.
• William J. Jackman, appointed March 22, 1863.

Regimental Veterinary Surgeon

• Jacob Woolf, appointed July, 1863.

Submitted by: Nancy.