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3rd Virginia Cavalry

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Muster In: Organized with 11 companies as the 2nd Virginia Cavalry in May and June 1861.  Designated as the 3rd Virginia Cavalry ca. October 31, 1861.1
Muster Out: April 9, 18652

Commander(s):
Colonel Thomas H. Owen
Commander Image

Lieutenant Colonel William M. Feild
Commander Image

Commander 3
Commander Image

First Offensive Order of Battle: Wickham’s Brigade | Fitzhugh Lee’s Division | Cavalry Corps | Army of Northern Virginia | Confederate Army3

  • Commander:
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Second Offensive Order of Battle: Wickham’s Brigade | Fitzhugh Lee’s Division | Cavalry Corps | Army of Northern Virginia | Confederate Army4

  • Commander:
    • (until June 26, 1864)
    • Colonel Thomas H. Owen (June 26, 1864 and on)5,6
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Third Offensive Order of Battle: Wickham’s Brigade | Fitzhugh Lee’s Division | Cavalry Corps | Army of Northern Virginia | Confederate Army7

  • Commander:
    • Colonel Thomas H. Owen (in hospital at least July 20, 1864)8
    • ? (while Owen was in the hospital)9
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Fourth Offensive Order of Battle: Wickham’s Brigade | Fitzhugh Lee’s Division | Cavalry Corps | Army of Northern Virginia | Confederate Army10

  • Commander:
    • ? (August 1-4, 1864)11
    • Colonel Thomas H. Owen (in hospital August 1-4, 1864, and reassumed command)12
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:
  • Note: Fitz Lee’s Cavalry Division was ordered to join Early in the Shenandoah Valley on August 8, 1864 and actually reached his army on August 18, 1864.13

Fifth Offensive Order of Battle:

  • Not at the Siege of Petersburg.14

Sixth Offensive Order of Battle:

  • Not at the Siege of Petersburg.15

Seventh Offensive Order of Battle:

  • Not at the Siege of Petersburg.16

Eighth Offensive Order of Battle: Wickham’s Cavalry Brigade | Fitzhugh Lee’s Division | Cavalry Corps | Army of Northern Virginia | Confederate Army17,18,19

  • Commander: Colonel Thomas H. Owen (February 1865)20
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:
  • Note: Returned to the Siege of Petersburg in late January-early February 1865. Wickham’s Cavalry Brigade had arrived in the Richmond area by February 27, 1865.21,22

Ninth Offensive Order of Battle: Wickham’s Cavalry Brigade | Fitzhugh Lee’s Division | Cavalry Corps | Army of Northern Virginia | Confederate Army23,24

  • Commander:
    • Colonel Thomas H. Owen (in the hospital at least March 15)(March 1865)25
    • Lieutenant Colonel William M. Feild (wounded March 31)(March 1865)26
    • ? (after Lt. Col. Feild was wounded)(March & April 1-2, 1865)27,28
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:
  • Note: Wickham’s Cavalry Brigade had arrived in the Richmond area by February 27, 1865.29

Dyer’s/Sifakis’ Compendium Info:
Siege of Petersburg Battles30:

  • Trevilian Station (June 11-12, 1864)
  • Petersburg Siege (June 1864-April 1865)
  • Reams’ Station (June 29, 1864)
  • Appomattox Court House (April 9, 1865)

Bibliography:

    Siege of Petersburg Documents Which Mention This Unit:

    Sources:

    1. Compendium of the Confederate Armies: Virginia by Stewart Sifakis, pp. 105-107 ↩
    2. Compendium of the Confederate Armies: Virginia by Stewart Sifakis, pp. 105-107 ↩
    3. The Confederate Order of Battle, Volume 1: The Army of Northern Virginia by F. Ray Sibley, Jr., p. 113 ↩
    4. The Confederate Order of Battle, Volume 1: The Army of Northern Virginia by F. Ray Sibley, Jr., p. 113 ↩
    5. The Confederate Order of Battle, Volume 1: The Army of Northern Virginia by F. Ray Sibley, Jr., p. 113 ↩
    6. “Fitz. Lee’s Cavalry.” Richmond Examiner. July 7, 1864, p. 1 col. 3 ↩
    7. The Confederate Order of Battle, Volume 1: The Army of Northern Virginia by F. Ray Sibley, Jr., page 123 ↩
    8. The Confederate Order of Battle, Volume 1: The Army of Northern Virginia by F. Ray Sibley, Jr., page 123 ↩
    9. The Confederate Order of Battle, Volume 1: The Army of Northern Virginia by F. Ray Sibley, Jr., page 123 ↩
    10. The Confederate Order of Battle, Volume 1: The Army of Northern Virginia by F. Ray Sibley, Jr., page 132 ↩
    11. The Confederate Order of Battle, Volume 1: The Army of Northern Virginia by F. Ray Sibley, Jr., page 132 ↩
    12. The Confederate Order of Battle, Volume 1: The Army of Northern Virginia by F. Ray Sibley, Jr., page 132 ↩
    13. The Confederate Order of Battle, Volume 1: The Army of Northern Virginia by F. Ray Sibley, Jr., page 132 ↩
    14. Compendium of the Confederate Armies: Virginia by Stewart Sifakis, pp. 105-107 ↩
    15. Compendium of the Confederate Armies: Virginia by Stewart Sifakis, pp. 105-107 ↩
    16. Compendium of the Confederate Armies: Virginia by Stewart Sifakis, pp. 105-107 ↩
    17. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 2 (Serial Number 96), page 1175: “Organization of the Army of Northern Virginia, commanded by General R. E. Lee, January 31, 1865”; This list contains many commanders who were not there.  They were the “official” commanders but may have been gone on leave.  I have used none of the leaders from this list as a result. ↩
    18. The Confederate Order of Battle, Volume 1: The Army of Northern Virginia by F. Ray Sibley, Jr., page 187 ↩
    19. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 2 (Serial Number 96), page 1274: “Organization of the Infantry and Cavalry of the Army of Northern Virginia, General R. E. Lee, C. S. Army, commanding, February 28, 1865”; This order of battle was based off of inspection reports from February 28, 1865.  However, leaders listed are from January.  I’ve chosen to ignore the leaders and just use this source for the organization of the order of battle. ↩
    20. The Confederate Order of Battle, Volume 1: The Army of Northern Virginia by F. Ray Sibley, Jr., page 187 ↩
    21. The Confederate Order of Battle, Volume 1: The Army of Northern Virginia by F. Ray Sibley, Jr., page 187 ↩
    22. Compendium of the Confederate Armies: Virginia by Stewart Sifakis, pp. 105-107: More research is needed as to the exact date. ↩
    23. The Confederate Order of Battle, Volume 1: The Army of Northern Virginia by F. Ray Sibley, Jr., page 196 ↩
    24. The Confederate Order of Battle, Volume 1: The Army of Northern Virginia by F. Ray Sibley, Jr., page 205 ↩
    25. The Confederate Order of Battle, Volume 1: The Army of Northern Virginia by F. Ray Sibley, Jr., page 196 ↩
    26. The Confederate Order of Battle, Volume 1: The Army of Northern Virginia by F. Ray Sibley, Jr., page 196 ↩
    27. The Confederate Order of Battle, Volume 1: The Army of Northern Virginia by F. Ray Sibley, Jr., page 196 ↩
    28. The Confederate Order of Battle, Volume 1: The Army of Northern Virginia by F. Ray Sibley, Jr., page 205 ↩
    29. The Confederate Order of Battle, Volume 1: The Army of Northern Virginia by F. Ray Sibley, Jr., page 187 ↩
    30. Compendium of the Confederate Armies: Virginia by Stewart Sifakis, pp. 105-107 ↩

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