3rd Regiment Cavalry (39th New Jersey Volunteers)

 

Organized at Camp Bayard, Trenton, N.J., and mustered in by Companies as follows: Company "A" January 26, Company "C" January 22, Company "E" January 4, Company "F" January 12, Companies "G" and "H" January 6, 1864; Company "D" December 2, 1863; Company "B" January 29, and Companies "I," "K," "L" and "M" March 24, 1864. March to Annapolis, Md., April 5-7, 1864. Guard Orange & Alexandria Railroad April 29-May 5. Attached to Cavalry, 9th Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to May, 1864. 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, Cavalry Corps, Army of the Potomac and Middle Military Division, to June, 1865. Defenses of Washington, D.C., to August, 1865.

 

SERVICE

·         Campaign from the Rapidan to the James May 3-June 12, 1864.

·         Wilderness May 5-7.

·         Near Germanin Ford May 5.

·         Picket on the Rapidan May 6.

·         Guard pontoons May 7.

·         Expedition to Fredericksburg May 8-9.

·         Spottsylvania May 9-12.

·         Spottsylvania Court House May 12-21.

·         United States Ford May 19.

·         North Anna River May 23-26.

·         On line of the Pamunkey May 26-28.

·         Totopotomoy May 28-31.

·         Mechump's Creek May 31.

·         Ashland Station June 1.

·         Cold Harbor June 1-12.

·         Totopotomoy, Gaines' Mill, Salem Church and Hawes' Shop June 2

·         Hawes' Shop June 3. Bethesda Church June 11.

·         White Oak Swamp June 13.

·         Smith's Store, near St. Mary's Church, June 15.

·         Weldon Railroad June 20.

·         Jerusalem Plank Road June 22-23.

·         Milford Station June 27.

·         Picket duty at City Point till July 16.

·         Duty at Light House Point July 16-25.

·         Before Petersburg July 25.

·         Mine Explosion, Petersburg, July 30 (Cos. "A" and "E").

·         Sheridan's Shenandoah Valley Campaign August 7-November 28.

·         Winchester August 17.

·         Summit Point August 21.

·         Middleway August 21.

·         Near Kearneysville August 25.

·         Abraham's Creek, near Winchester, September 13.

·         Battle of Winchester September 19.

·         Near Cedarville September 20. Front Royal September 21.

·         Milford September 22.

·         Waynesboro September 29.

·         Bridgwater October 2.

·         Tom's Brook ("Woodstock Races") October 8-9.

·         Picket at Cedar Creek till October 13.

·         Cedar Creek October 13.

·         Battle of Cedar Creek October 19.

·         Newtown (or Middletown) November 12.

·         Rude's Hill, near Mr. Jackson, November 22.

·         Expedition from Kernstown to Lacey's Springs December 19-22.

·         Lacey's Springs December 21.

·         Sheridan's Raid from Winchester February 27-March 24, 1865.

·         Occupation of Staunton March 2.

·         Action at Waynesboro March 2.

·         Occupation of Charlottesville March 3.

·         Near Ashland March 15.

·         Appomattox Campaign March 28-April 9.

·         Dinwiddie Court House March 30-31.

·         Five Forks April 1.

·         Fall of Petersburg April 2.

·         Namozine Church April 3.

·         Sailor's Creek April 6.

·         Appomattox Station April 8.

·         Appomattox Court House April 9. Surrender of Lee and his army.

·         Expedition to Danville and South Boston April 23-27.

·         March to Washington. D.C., May.

·         Grand Review May 23.

·         Mustered out at Washington, D, C., August l, 1865.

 

Regiment lost during service 3 Officers and 47 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 2 Officers and 105 Enlisted men by disease. Total 157.

 


 

Battle Report Filed By Lt. Col. C. C. Suydam, Commanding the

3rd New Jersey Cavalry

 

CAMP THIRD NEW JERSEY CAVALRY,
Near Light-House Point, Va., July 25, 1864.

CAPTAN: I have the honor to make the following report of operations of this regiment during the present campaign, from May 4, 1864, to the present date:

On May 4, 1864. the regiment being then attached to the Ninth Army Corps, lay in camp at Bristoe Station all day under orders to be in readiness to move at a moment's notice.

At 2 a.m. of the 5th, in pursuance of orders, we broke camp and marched by way of Rappahannock Station to the Rapidan, which we crossed at Germanna Ford in the afternoon of the same day, and went into camp about 2 miles south of the river on the main road.

At 1 a.m. of the 6th of May we broke camp, recrossed the Rapidan at Germanna Ford, taking position on the north bank of the river and picketing and scouting the country toward Culpeper, Stevensburg, and Richardsville, and up and down the Rapidan. On the afternoon of the 7th moved to Ely's Ford, thence to Richards' Ford, where we crossed; thence to United States Ford. During these movements the scouting parties of the enemy were frequently met, and the regiment suffered a loss of 1 sergeant and 5 men taken prisoners at Stevensburg. On the morning of the 8th we moved to Chancellorsville; thence to Zion Church, where we reported to Brigadier-General Ferrero, commanding Fourth Division, Ninth Army Corps. From that date the regiment was on duty picketing toward the Wilderness and at United States and Banks' Fords, covering the rear and right flank of the army operating in front of Spotsylvania Court-House. This duty was performed in company with the Fifth New York and Second Ohio Cavalry. The casualties were not numerous. On the 22d May the regiment moved with the troops of Brigadier-General Ferrero's command to near Guiney's Station.

On the 23d marched to a point 2 miles south of Bowling Green, and on the 24th to Wright's Tavern, having crossed the Mattapony near Milford Station. From the time of leaving Zion Church until relieved from duty with the Ninth Army Corps the regiment was engaged in assisting General Ferrero in covering the movements of the trains of the army, and in efforts to check the lawless outrages of stragglers in the rear of the main body of troops. On May 27 relieved from duty with Ninth Army Corps and ordered to report to Brigadier-General Wilson, commanding Third Division, Cavalry Corps. Marched same day and encamped near Concord Church (or Chesterfield Station). Reported that evening to General Wilson and assigned by him to First Brigade, Col. J. B. McIntosh commanding.

Marched May 28 to Mangohick Church. Marched May 29 to near Dabney's Ferry. May 30, went on picket toward Taylor's Ford. May 31, moved to Price's house.

June 1 and 2, the division having gone to Atlee's Station, the regiment and the Eighth New York remained near Hanover CourtHouse, covering the rear of the division, keeping up connection with the right of tim army and tearing up a portion of the Virginia Central Railroad. During the night of June 2 moved with the division on the road toward Old Church and encamped beyond the Totopotomoy Creek.

June 3, recrossed the Totopotomoy and moved to near Talley's house, where the regiment supported a battery in the engagement which the division had with the enemy. After the engagement went into camp near Talley's and remained there during the 3d, 4th, and 5th.

On the 6th moved to near Old Church Tavern. Remained in camp 7th.

June 8, went on picket and remained on picket during the 9th and part of the 10th. On the evening of the 10th the regiment moved, covering the movements of the army to James River, and crossed the Chickahominy at Long Bridge in the afternoon of the 13th; went into camp on the night of the 13th at Charles City CrossRoads.(*)

I have the honor to be, your obedient servant,

 C. C. SUYDAM,

 Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding.

 Capt. CHARLES H. MILLER,

A. A. G., First Brig., Second Div., Cavalry Corps.