1st Regiment, Rhode Island Cavalry

Brief History
The 1st Regiment, Rhode Island Cavalry was organized at Pawtucket as 1st New England Cavalry.Afterwards it was designated as 1st Rhode Island Cavalry, It was mustered in on December 14, 1861 to March 3, 1862. It was mustered out at Baltimore, Maryland, August 3, 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 2,124 men on its roster for this unit. Roster.

Regimental History and Roster

 * Sabres and spurs : the First Regiment Rhode Island Cavalry in the Civil War. By Frederic Denison . Central Falls, R.I.: First Rhode Island Cavalry Veteran Association, 1876. Online at: Internet Archive

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 ‘Mississippi 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.


 * Rhode Island in the Civil War describes many Confederate and Union sources, specifically for Mississippi, 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.


 * The Wikipedia Article on 1st Regiment, Rhode Island Cavalry (accessed 22 March 2013)


 * The Civl War Archive Shows Regimental Histories 1st Regiment, Rhode Island Cavalry (accessed 22 March 2013


 * Denison, Rev. Frederic. Sabres and Spurs: The First Regiment Rhode Island Cavalry Book online (accessed 22 March 2013) and (Bethesda, Maryland : University Publications of America, c1991), and (Salt Lake City, Utah : Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1985),  and A chaplain's experience in the Union army. (Washington, District of Columbia : Filmed by the Library of Congress Photoduplication Service, 1975), and (Bethesda, Maryland : University Publications of America, c1991),and  and Shot and shell : the third Rhode Island heavy artillery regiment in the rebellion, 1861- 1865 ; camps, forts, batteries, marches, skirmishes, sieges, battles, and victories ; also the roll of honor and roll of the regiment. (Providence [Rhode Island] : Third R.I. Art. Vet. Assn., 1879),  and (Bethesda, Maryland : University Publications of America, c1991),  and The battle of Cedar Mountain : a personal view, August 9, 1862.  and The battle of Groveton, August 18, 1862.


 * 1st New Hampshire Cavalry Regiment RostersThis regiment organized at Concord N.H., afterward designated 1st Rhode Island Cavalry as Companies I, K, L, M.(accessed 22 March 2013)


 * Battle Flag of 1st Rhode Island Cavalry Returned Tells about the regimental flag being lost and then returned in 2008 (accessed 22 March 2013)


 * American Civil War Pictures &amp; Photos - 1st Rhode Island Cavalry - Photo of Colonel Alfred Duffie, Photo of Colonel R.B. Lawton(accessed 22 March 2013)


 * Bliss, George N. (George Newman). The First Rhode Island Cavalry at Middleburg, Va., June 17 and 18, 1863. (Bethesda, Maryland : University Publications of America, c1991), and Cavalry service with General Sheridan, and life in Libby Prison.  and Reminiscences of service in the First Rhode Island Cavalry.  and How I lost my sabre in war and found it in peace.  and Prison life of Lieut. James M. Fales.


 * Cooke, Jacob B. The battle of Kelly's Ford, March 17, 1863. (Bethesda, Maryland : University Publications of America, c1991),


 * Fales, James M. Prison life of Lieut. James M. Fales. (Bethesda, Maryland : University Publications of America, c1991),


 * Gardiner, William. Operations of the Cavalry Corps, Middle Military Divison, Armies of of the U.S., from February 27 to March 8, 1865, participated in by the First Rhode Island Cavalry. (Bethesda, Maryland : University Publications of America, c1991), and Incidents of cavalry experiences during General Pope's campaign.


 * Green, Charles O. An incident in the battle of Middleburg, Va., June 17, 1863. (Bethesda, Maryland : University Publications of America, c1991),


 * Meyer, William E. The sailor on horseback. (Bethesda, Maryland : University Publications of America, c1991),


 * Stevens, Leverett C. A forlorn hope. (Bethesda, Maryland : University Publications of America, c1991),