Purnell Legion, Maryland Cavalry

Brief History
The Purnell Legion, Maryland Cavalry, Companies "A" and "B" were organized at Pikesville September to November, 1861. Company "C" organized at Baltimore, Md., September, 1862. Their duty was on the eastern shore of Maryland and in St. Mary's County, Md., till July, 1865; Near Harper's Ferry, W. Va., July 14, 1863. Mustered out July 28, 1865. Company "B" mustered out October 26, 1864.

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


 * The Civil War Archive section,Purnell Legion Cavalry, (accessed 22 March 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.


 * Company A - many men from Pikesville City, Baltimore County - see Roster on page 783 - 785
 * Company B - many men from Pikesville City, Baltimore County - see Roster on page 785 - 787
 * Company C - many men from Baltimore County - see Roster on page 787 - 790

The list of companies with their counties and their rosters are on the Purnell Legion, Maryland Cavalry in L. Allison Wilmer, J. H. Jarrett, and Geo. W. F. Vernon. 1898. History and roster of Maryland volunteers, war of 1861-5. Baltimore: Press of Guggenheimer, Weil &amp; Co. other library  INTERNET ARCHIVE

Other Sources

 * Purnell Legion Cavalry (Maryland)time line


 * 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 ‘Maryland 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.


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


 * Company A, Purnell Legion (Maryland) Cavalry Monument