1st Regiment, District of Columbia Cavalry

Brief History
The 1st Regiment was organized with 4 Companies, "A," "B," "C" and "E", at Washington, D.C., June to December, 1863. Eight companies were organized at Augusta, Maine, January to March, 1864. Companies "D," "F," "G," "H," "I," "K" and "L" transferred to the 1st Maine Cavalry August 27, 1864. The other companies consolidated to a Battalion of 2 Companies. The regiment had duty in the Department of Virginia until October and mustered out October 26, 1865.

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.

The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors database lists 1,960 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 ‘District of Columbia 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.


 * District of Columbia in the Civil War describes many Confederate and Union sources, specifically for District of Columbia, 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.