1st Battalion, Delaware Cavalry (Union)

Brief History
The 1st Battalion, Delaware Cavalry was organized at Wilmington, Delaware, January 20, 1863 and mustered out June 30, 1865. Also known as the 1st Regiment, Delaware Cavalry Volunteers.

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 battalion's list shows 1,110 men in the Civil War Soldiers and Sailors Database (19 September 2012).

Nields Independent Battery - Muster Out Roll, starting on page 1.

Company A - many men from New Castle County. Muster Out Roll, starting on page 23.

Company B - men from all 3 Delaware counties. Muster Out Roll, starting on page 37.

Company C - many men from Wilmington, New Castle County. Muster Out Roll, starting on page 49.

Company D - many men from Wilmington, New Castle County. Muster Out Roll, starting on page 61.

Battalions:

 * Red Lion Mounted Guards
 * Delaware Light Dragoons

Companies:

 * Four companies raised by Napoleon B. Knight, of Dover.
 * Purnell Cavalry - Served and mustered out in Wilmington

The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors database lists 1,100 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 ‘Delaware 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.


 * Delaware in the Civil War describes many Confederate and Union sources, specifically for Delaware, 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.