12th Illinois Cavalry

Regimental History and Service Record

Companies "A," "B," "C," "D," "E" and "G" organized at Springfield, Ill., and mustered in February 24, 1862. Captain Gilmore's Company of Cavalry, Company "A," 32nd Illinois, organized at Camp Butler December 31, 1861; assigned as Company "F." Captain Sheerer's and Captain Barker's Companies, McClellan Dragoons, organized at Chicago, Ill., October, 1861; assigned as Company "H." Captain Brown's Company, McClellan Dragoons, organized at Chicago, Ill., October, 1861; assigned as Company "I." Companies "K," "L" and "M" organized at Springfield, Ill., December 30, 1863, to January 12, 1864. Duty at Camp Butler, Ill., guarding prisoners, until June, 1862. Ordered to Martinsburg, W. Va., June 25. Attached to District of Martinsburg, W. Va., to September, 1862. 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, 12th Army Corps, Army Potomac, to October, 1862. Defenses Upper Potomac, 8th Army Corps, Middle Dept. to February, 1863. 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, Cavalry Corps, Army of the Potomac, to June, 1863. 1st Brigade, 1st Division, Cavalry Corps, Army Potomac, to November, 1863. Chicago, Ill., to February, 1864. District of St. Louis, Mo., Dept. of Missouri, to March, 1864. 1st Brigade, Cavalry Division, 19th Army Corps, Dept. of the Gulf, to June, 1864. District of LaFourche, Dept. of the Gulf, to August, 1864. 4th Brigade, Cavalry Division, Dept. of the Gulf, August, 1864. 3rd Brigade, Cavalry Division, Dept. of the Gulf, to February, 1865. 2nd Brigade, Cavalry Division, District of West Tennessee, to July, 1865. Dept. of Texas to May, 1866.

SERVICE.--

May 31-June 1, 1862 - Battle of Seven Pines, Virginia^[1]
- June 25-July 1, 1862 - The Seven Days Battles before Richmond, Virginia^[2]
Duty at Martinsburg, W. Va., and on the Upper Potomac to September, 1862.
Near Martinsburg September 3.
Bunker Hill September 3-4.
Martinsburg September 6.
Darkesville September 7.
September 11, 1862 - Skirmish near Williamsport, Maryland
- September 14, 1862 - Battle of South Mountain, Maryland^[3]
Martinsburg September 11-12.
Defense of Harper's Ferry, W. Va., September 13-14.
- Regiment cut way through enemy's lines on night of September 14.
Antietam, Md., September 16-18.
September 20, 1862 - Skirmish at Hagerstown, Maryland
Duty on Upper Potomac September 20 to December 8.
Williamsport September 21.
October 10, 1862 - Skirmish at McCoy's Ferry, Maryland (Detachment)
October 10, 1862 - Skirmish at Green Spring Furnace, Maryland (Detachment)
Reconnaissance from Bolivar Heights to Rippon, W. Va., November 9.
Dumfries, Va., December 26-27.
At Falmouth, Va., until April 1863.
April 27-May 6, 1863 - The Chancellorsville Campaign
- Stoneman's Raid April 29-May 8.
- May 3, 1863 - Skirmish near Ashland, Virginia^[4]
- Tunstall Station May 4.
- Aylett's May 5.
Raid from Yorktown into Matthews County May 19-23.
March to Falmouth, Va., Brandy Station and Beverly Ford June 9.
June 11-August 1, 1863 - The Gettysburg Campaign^[5]
- Upperville June 21.
- Expedition from Yorktown to South Anna Bridge June 23-28 (Detachment).
- South Anna Bridge June 26 (Detachment).
- July 1-3, 1863 - Battle of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
- July 6, 1863 - Action at Williamsport, Maryland
- July 8, 1863 - Action at Boonsboro, Maryland
- July 9, 1863 - Skirmish at Benevola, Maryland
- July 10-13, 1863 - Skirmishes near Funkstown, Maryland
- July 14, 1863 - Engagement at Falling Waters, Maryland

Chester Gap July 26. Kelly's Ford July 31-August 1. Brandy Station August 1-4. Near Fairfax Court House August 6 (Detachment). Brandy Station and Culpeper Court House September 7-8. Near Bristoe Station September 12. Advance from the Rappahannock to the Rapidan September 13-17. Culpeper Court House September 13. Raccoon Ford September 14-16. Stevensburg September 17. Reconnaissance across the Rappahannock September 21-23. Jack's Shop, Madison Court House, September 22. Bristoe Campaign October 9-22. Raccoon and Morton's Fords October 10. Brandy Station October 11-12. Oak Hill October 15. Rappahannock Station October 27. Moved to Chicago, Ill., November 20-28, and duty there until February, 1864. Moved to St. Louis, Mo., February 9, thence moved to New Orleans, La., March 15-April 1. Moved to Red River April 20, arriving at Alexandria April 23. Actions at Alexandria April 28-May 5-8. Bayou Teche, La., May 5-8. Wilson's Landing May 14. Avoyelle's or Marksville Prairie May 15. Mansura May 16. Yellow Bayou May 17. Morganza May 20. Arrived at New Orleans, La., June 1. Moved to Napoleonville June 11, and duty there until October, engaged in picketing and scouting.

July 2-10, 1864 - Expedition from Vicksburg, Mississippi to Pearl River, Mississippi^[6]

Near Napoleonville July 29 (Co. "L"). Expedition from Paincoursville to Natchez, Miss., with skirmish August 15-21 (Cos. "I," "L"). Expedition to Grand Lake, Grand River and Lake Natchez September 7-11. Expedition from Napoleonville to Grand River and Bayou Pigeon September 26-30. Moved to Baton Rouge, La., and duty there until November 14. Liberty November 18. Davidson's Expedition against Mobile and Ohio R. R. November 27-December 13. Expedition from Baton Rouge to Clinton December 23-24. Moved to Vicksburg, Miss., thence to Memphis, Tenn., and to Gaines' Landing, Ark., January 7-26, 1865. Osban's Expedition through Southern Arkansas and Northern Louisiana January 27-February 14. Duty near Memphis, Tenn., until June. Expedition from Memphis, Tenn., into Northern Mississippi March 3-11. Moved to Alexandria, La., June 15-22, thence marched to Hempstead, Texas, August 8-26. Duty in Eastern Texas until May, 1866. Mustered out May 29, 1866.