Description
Very honest and fully functional cavalry weapon that shows up in the Springfield Research database as being in the range of Remington Army models issued to the 5th Illinois Cavalry! The serial number is #80808 and stamped under the barrel and under the grip on the left side of the frame.
When I removed the grips to check the serial number, I observed the date “1864” scratched on one and the other with a stamping of “3d Mich. Cav.”—so it may have been reissued at some point in time. Both regiments were in similar regions and were in Texas late in the Civil War.
All markings are clear and readable and overall, it is a very decent unmolested “in the brown” handgun. There is a small chip on the right front grip as shown. All cylinder nipples appear original and the gun shows moderate field use overall.
This is a very honest and original condition weapon that would be an asset to a collection of any size!
The Fifth Cavalry was organized at Camp Butler, in November, 1861, and Hall Wilson appointed Colonel. On February 20, 1862, moved to Benton Barracks, St. Louis, Mo. March 3, moved to Pilot Knob. On 27th, marched to Doniphan, and, arriving April 4, had a skirmish with the enemy, capturing their camp, killing 3 and taking 7 prisoners. On April 17, marched to Pocahontas. On 27th June, started on the march for the Mississippi River. Arrived at Jacksonport, on 19th, and joined General Curtis’ Army, and arrived at Helena, July 13.
On October 22, a forage train was attacked by the enemy, and Lieutenant Elliot, and 18 men, of the Fifth Cavalry, captured, after losing 1 killed and 6 wounded. On January 11, 1863, the Regiment made an expedition to Duvall’s Bluff, and, in April, pursued Marmaduke, who was retreating from Missouri.
May 29, 1863, embarked for Vicksburg, and June 1, landed at Snyder’s Bluff. June 3, made a reconnoissance to Mechanicsburg, drove the enemy 10 miles, skirmishing heavily. June 4, forming a junction with Brigadier General Kimball, who had 2 Regiments Infantry and 8 pieces of artillery, they attacked the enemy, who was strongly posted, and defeated him. The Regiment lost 1 killed and 7 wounded.
On 6th of July, 1863, moved, with General Sherman’s Army, Ninth and Fifteenth Corps, toward Jackson. On the 11th, the Cavalry Brigade, Third and Fourth Iowa, Second Wisconsin, and Fifth Illinois Cavalry, Colonel Bussey, of Third Iowa, commanding, went on an expedition to Canton, Miss, arriving after some fighting, on the 17th, and after destroying the public work shops, railroads, etc., returned to the main army at Jackson.
On August 3, with Third and Fourth Iowa Cavalry, Colonel E.F. Winslow commanding the Fifth Cavalry went on an expedition to Grenada, Miss. Reached the Mississippi Central, at Durant, and, capturing wagon trains and destroying bridges, etc., it moved up the railroad, to Grenada, where it arrived August 17, and, driving the enemy, under Chalmers, from town, effected a junction with Lieutenant Colonel Phelps’ command. The bridge over the Yallabusha being destroyed, the captured rolling stock could not be saved, and 40 engines and 320 cars were burned. On 19th moved toward Memphis. On 21st, encountered Blythe’s rebel cavalry, at the Coldwater, and defeated them–the Regiment losing 1 killed and 5 wounded. Arrived at Memphis on the 22d.
Embarked for Vicksburg, and camped at Black River, August 29. Remained until May 1, 1864, when the Regiment moved to Vicksburg. On October 16, 1863, the Regiment moved with General McPherson’s Seventeenth Corps. to Jackson. Took part in a cavalry charge at Brownsville routing the rebel General Wirt Adams, and driving him from his position. The Regiment lost 2 wounded and 1 prisoner.
January 1, 1864, many of the Regiments re-enlisted as veterans. On February 3, moved with General Sherman’s command, on the Meridian raid. March 17, the veterans were furloughed, returning to the command May 10.
On May 27, Colonel John McConnell arrived, was mustered, and took command of the Regiment. At this time, 8 companies were dismounted. Companies A, B, C, and D, were fully mounted and equipped. On July 1, this Battalion, with detachments of the Eleventh Illinois Cavalry, Second Wisconsin Cavalry, and Third United States Colored Cavalry, Major Mumford, of Fifth Illinois Cavalry, commanding, with a Brigade of Infantry, Brigadier General Dennis commanding the expedition, moved to Jackson, with continual skirmishing. On July 5, on the return march, it was attacked by a large force of the enemy, who was repulsed, after severe fighting. The Battalion lost 1 man killed, and Lieutenant March, and several men, wounded.
On September 27, with same cavalry, Colonel Osband, Third United States Colored Cavalry, commanding, moved down the river, landing at Port Gibson, and drove the enemy from the place, the Fifth losing 1 man killed. Thence, moved to Natchez; was joined by the Fourth Illinois Cavalry and a battery, and moved to Tonica Bend. Landed, and moved to Woodville. Surprised and captured a rebel camp. During the night, the enemy advanced, with 3 guns and 600 men. The Fifth Cavalry, and Third United States Cavalry, under Colonel McConnell, charged the enemy the next morning, driving him in confusion. Returned to Vicksburg, October 11.
On November 20, went with an empedition to destroy the Mississippi Central Railroad, over which supplies were being sent to Hood. It was successful, the command destroying many miles of railroad.
On January 24, 1865, the Regiment moved to Memphis. Was assigned to First Brigade, Cavalry Division, Colonel E.D. Osband, Third United States Colored Cavalry, commanding. Went on an expedition to Southern Arkansas and Northern Louisiana–returning February 13.
On March 3, moved with an expedition, to Ripley, Miss., and having returned. March 11, was assigned to guard duty on Memphis and Charleston Railroad.
July 1, moved to Texas, via Red River, arriving at Alexandria, La., July 13, 1865. Regiment was assigned to First Brigade, Brigadier General Forsythe commanding; Second Division, Major General Custer commanding. Marched, on August 12, and arrived at Hempstead, Tex., August 26. Remained at this post until October 6, when moved for Springfield, Ill., arriving on 16.
Mustered out October 27, 1865, and received final payment and discharge, October 30, 1865.
3rd Regiment, Michigan Cavalry
- OVERVIEW:
- Organized at Grand Rapids, Mich., August 24 to November 28, 1861. Left State for St. Louis, Mo., November 28, 1861. Duty at Benton Barracks, Mo., till February 21, 1862. Ordered to Commerce, Mo., February 21. Attached to Cavalry Division, Army of the Mississippi, to April 1862. 1st Brigade, Cavalry Division, Army of the Mississippi, to June, 1862. 5th Division, Army of the Mississippi, to September, 1862. 2nd Brigade, Cavalry Division, Army of the Mississippi to November, 1862. 3rd Brigade, Cavalry Division, 13th Army Corps (Old) Dept. of the Tennessee, to December, 1862. Cavalry Brigade, District of Jackson, Tennessee, 16th Army Corps, to March, 1863. Mizner’s Cavalry Brigade, 3rd Division, 16th Army Corps, to June, 1863. 2nd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, 16th Army Corps, to August, 1863. 1st Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, 16th Army Corps, to January, 1864. District of St. Louis, Mo., Dept. of Missouri, March to May, 1864. 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, 7th Army Corps, Dept. of Arkansas, to August, 1864. 4th Brigade, Cavalry Division, 7th Army Corps, Dept. of Arkansas, to February, 1865. 1st Brigade, Cavalry Division, 7th Army Corps, to April, 1865. 1st Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, Military Division of West Mississippi, to May, 1865. 2nd Brigade, 2nd Cavalry Division, West Mississippi, to August, 1865. Dept. of Texas to February, 1866.
- SERVICE:
- Siege of New Madrid, Mo., March 3-14, 1862. Siege and capture of Island No. 10, Mississippi River, March 15-April 8. Moved to Hamburg Landing, Tenn., April 17-22. Advance on and siege of Corinth, Miss., April 29-May 30. Action at Farmington May 1. Farmington Heights May 4 (Cos. “A,” “E,” “I,” “K”). Reconnoissance toward Corinth May 8. Reconnoissance on Alabama Road toward Sharp’s Mills May 10. Reconnoissance to Memphis & Charleston Railroad May 13. Near Farmington May 19 (3rd Battalion). Near Farmington May 22 (Co. “G”). Reconnoissance to Burnsville and Iuka May 22-23. Tuscumbia Creek May 30. Pursuit to Booneville May 30-June 12. Reconnoissance toward Baldwyn June 3. Action at Booneville June 3-4. Clear Creek, near Baldwyn, June 14. Blackland June 28. Ripley June 29. Hatchie Bottom July 20 (Co. “H”). Booneville July 26. Spangler’s Mills July 28 (Cos. “H,” “L,” “M”). Iuka September 19. Battle of Corinth October 3-4. Pursuit to the Hatchie River October 5-12. Grant’s Central Mississippi Campaign November 2, 1862, to January 10, 1863. Capture of Ripley and Orizaba November 2, 1862. Reconnoissance from Lagrange November 8-9. Coldwater and Lamar November 8. Holly Springs November 13. Expedition from Grand Junction to Ripley, Miss., November 19-20 (Detachment). Holly Springs November 29 and December 20. Orizaba November 29. Waterford, Lumpkia’s Mills, November 29-30. About Oxford December 1-3. Water Valley Station December 4. Coffeeville December 5. Water Valley Station December 18. Ripley December 23. Bolivar December 24. Expedition from Lexington to Clifton February 17-21, 1863 (Cos. “A,” “B,” “K,” “L”). Clifton February 20. Scout from Lexington to mouth of Duck River March 31-April 1. Trenton April 19. Cotton Grove April 25. Forked Deer Creek June 13. Operations in Northwest Mississippi June 15-25. Near Holly Springs June 16-17. Lagrange June 17. Belmont and Coldwater Bridge June 18. Near Panola June 19-20. Senatobia June 20. Matthews’ Ferry, on Coldwater River, June 20. Lamar July 5. Forked Deer Creek July 15. Jackson, Tenn., July 17. Expedition to Grenada, Miss., August 12-23. Grenada August 13. Operations in Northern Mississippi and Western Tennessee against Chalmers October 4-17. New Albany October 5. Salem October 8. Ingraham’s Mills, near Byhalia, October 12. Wyatt’s Ford, Tallahatchie River, October 13. Smith’s Bridge October 19. Corinth, Miss., November 2. Operations on Memphis & Charleston Railroad November 3-5. Corinth, Miss., November 12. Operations on Memphis & Charleston Railroad against Lee’s attack November 28-December 10. Danville November 14-15. Ripley November 27. Molino November 28. Ripley December 1 and 4. Regiment veteranize January 19, 1864. At Lagrange till January 29. Lagrange January 25. On Veteran furlough till March. Provost duty at St. Louis, Mo., March 22-May 18, and at Little Rock, Ark., May 24 to August 1. Clarendon, Ark., June 25-26. Remount Camp and Lake Bluff August 5. Bull Creek August 6. Expedition from Little Rock to Little Red River August 6-16. Hatch’s Ferry August 9 (Detachment). Augusta August 10 (Detachment). Duvall’s Bluff August 23. Searcy August 29. Brownsville September 4. Scout and patrol duty September-October. At Brownsville Station, Memphis & Little Rock Railroad, November, 1864, to February, 1865. Expedition from Brownsville to Arkansas Post December 7-13, 1864 (Cos. “A,” “H,” “K,” “L,” “M”). Near Dudley’s Lake December 16 (Cos. “E,” “F” and “G”). Moved to Carrollton, La., March 14-23, 1865; thence to Mobile, Ala. Siege operations against Forts Blakely and Spanish Fort March 26-April 9. Occupation of Mobile April 12. Citronelle, Ala., May 4. Surrender of Gen. Dick Taylor (Regiment acted as escort to Gen. Canby). Moved to Mobile, thence to Baton Rouge, La., May 8-22, and to Shreveport June 10. March from Shreveport to San Antonio, Texas, July 10-August 2. Garrison duty at San Antonio and scouting along frontier to Rio Grande till February 12, 1866. Mustered out February 12 and discharged at Jackson, Mich., March 15, 1866.
Regiment lost during service 3 Officers and 27 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 4 Officers and 380 Enlisted men by disease. Total 414.
