13th Regiment, Pennsylvania Cavalry (117th Volunteers)

Brief History
This regiment was organized at Philadelphia and Harrisburg December, 1861, to April, 1862. It mustered out July 14, 1865. . Also known as the "Irish Dragoons."

For more information on the history of this unit, see:


 * The Civil War Archive section, 13th Regiment Cavalry (117th Volunteers), (accessed 12 September 2012).

Companies in this Regiment with the Counties of Origin
Men often enlisted in a company recruited in the counties where they lived though not always. After many battles, companies might be combined because so many men were killed or wounded. However if you are unsure which company your ancestor was in, try the company recruited in his county first.

Field Staff and Officers - See Roster

Company A - Men recruited in Philadelphia County, Allegheny County, Cumberland County and Lycoming County - See Roster

Company B - Men recruited in Philadelphia County, Allegheny County, Cumberland County and Lycoming County - See Roster

Company C - Men recruited in Philadelphia County, Allegheny County, Cumberland County and Lycoming County - See Roster

Company D - Men recruited in Philadelphia County, Allegheny County, Cumberland County and Lycoming County - See Roster

Company E - Men recruited at Pittsburg, Allegheny County - SeeRoster

Company F - Men recruited in Cumberland County - See Roster

Company G - Men recruited in Lycoming County - SeeRoster

Company H - Men recruited at Frankford, Philadelphia County - See Roster

Company I - Men recruited at Frankford, Philadelphia County - See Roster

Company K - Men recruited at Frankford, Philadelphia County - See Roster

Company L - Men recruited in Pike County and Wayne County - See Roster

Company M - Men recruited in Philadelphia County - See Roster

Unassigned - See Roster

The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors database lists 3,980 men on its roster for this unit. Roster.

Other Sources

 * Beginning United States Civil War Research gives steps for finding information about a Civil War soldier. It covers the major records that should be used. Additional records are described in ‘Pennsylvania in the Civil War’ and ‘United States Civil War, 1861 to 1865’ (see below).


 * National Park Service, The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, is searchable by soldier's name and state. It contains basic facts about soldiers on both sides of the Civil War, a list of regiments, descriptions of significant battles, sources of the information, and suggestions for where to find additional information.


 * Pennsylvania in the Civil War describes many sources, specifically for Pennsylvania, and how to find them. These include compiled service records, pension records, rosters, cemetery records, Internet databases, published books, etc.


 * United States Civil War, 1861 to 1865 describes and explains United States and Confederate States records, rather than state records, and how to find them. These include veterans’ censuses, compiled service records, pension records, rosters, cemetery records, Internet databases, published books, etc.


 * Dougherty, Michael. Prison diary, of Michael Dougherty, late Co. B, 13th., Pa., cavalry : while confined in Pemberton, Barrett's Libby, Andersonville and other Southern prisons. (Bethesda, Maryland : University Publications of America, c1992),


 * Hand, Harold. "One Good Regiment: The Thirteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry (117th Pennsylvania Volunteer Regiment) 1861-1865". Victoria, B.C.: Trafford, 2000. Google Books.Other Libraries.


 * PaRoots outlines a history for this regiment and rosters for each company. Also lists additionalreferences.


 * PaCivilwargives a history of this regiment and has rosters for each company.