Washington Cavalry, Pennsylvania

Brief History
The regiment was organized at Wheeling, W. Va., August 19, 1861. It was consolidated with the Ringgold Battery and Lafayette Cavalry, (Pennsylvania volunteers.) and transferred to the 22d Pa. cavalry, February 24, 1864.

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


 * The Civil War Archive section, Washington County Cavalry Company, (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.

Although this company was formed in West Virginia, many men were from Washington County, Pennsylvania and across the state of Pennsylvania. See Roster of Officers.

For a roster of other soldiers see the Ringgold Battalion and 22nd Regiment Pennsylvania Cavalry.

The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors database lists 165 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.


 * Pa-Roots gives a brief history of the organization and battles for this unit and has aroster of the officers.


 * Ranger95 outlines a brief history of the organization of this unit.