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5th Virginia Cavalry

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Muster In: Organized by the addition of companies to the 2nd Virginia Cavalry Battalion on June 25, 1862.1
Muster Out: April 9, 18652

Commander(s):
Colonel Reuben B. Boston
Commander Image

Lieutenant Colonel James H. Allen
Commander Image

Commander 3
Commander Image

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

  • Commander:
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

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

  • Commander: Colonel Reuben B. Boston5
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Third Offensive Order of Battle: Lomax’s Brigade | Fitzhugh Lee’s Division | Cavalry Corps | Army of Northern Virginia | Confederate Army6

  • Commander: Colonel Reuben B. Boston7
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Fourth Offensive Order of Battle: Lomax’s Brigade | Fitzhugh Lee’s Division | Cavalry Corps | Army of Northern Virginia | Confederate Army8

  • Commander: Colonel Reuben B. Boston9
  • 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, 1864.10

Fifth Offensive Order of Battle: ?

  • Commander:
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:
  • Note: Left the Siege of Petersburg in mid-September 1864.11

Sixth Offensive Order of Battle:

  • Not at the Siege of Petersburg.12

Seventh Offensive Order of Battle:

  • Not at the Siege of Petersburg.13
  • Note: Consolidated with the 15th Virginia Cavalry and designated as the 5th Virginia Consolidated Cavalry on November 8, 1864.14

Eighth Offensive Order of Battle: Payne’s Cavalry Brigade | Fitzhugh Lee’s Division | Cavalry Corps | Army of Northern Virginia | Confederate Army15,16,17

  • Commander:
    • Colonel Reuben B. Boston (commanded the brigade at times in February)(February 1865)18
    • Lieutenant Colonel James H. Allen (February 1865)19
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:
  • Note: Returned to the Siege of Petersburg in late January-early February 1865. Payne’s Cavalry Brigade, minus the 36th Virginia Cavalry Battalion, arrived in the Richmond area by February 24, 1865.20,21

Ninth Offensive Order of Battle: Payne’s Cavalry Brigade | Fitzhugh Lee’s Division | Cavalry Corps | Army of Northern Virginia | Confederate Army22,23

  • Commander:
    • Colonel Reuben B. Boston (in the hospital at least March 20)(March 1865)24
    • ? (while Col. Boston was in the hospital)(March 1865)25
    • None listed. (April 1-2, 1865)26
    • Colonel Reuben B. Boston (killed April 6, 1865)27
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:
  • Note: Payne’s Cavalry Brigade, minus the 36th Virginia Cavalry Battalion, arrived in the Richmond area by February 24, 1865.28

Dyer’s/Sifakis’ Compendium Info:
Siege of Petersburg Battles29:

  • Petersburg Siege (June 1864-April 1865)
  • Consolidated with the 15th Virginia Cavalry and designated as the 5th Virginia Consolidated Cavalry on November 8, 1864.
  • Five Forks (April 1, 1865)
  • High Bridge (April 7, 1865)
  • 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. 109-110 ↩
    2. Compendium of the Confederate Armies: Virginia by Stewart Sifakis, pp. 109-110 ↩
    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. The Confederate Order of Battle, Volume 1: The Army of Northern Virginia by F. Ray Sibley, Jr., page 123 ↩
    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 132 ↩
    9. The Confederate Order of Battle, Volume 1: The Army of Northern Virginia by F. Ray Sibley, Jr., page 132 ↩
    10. The Confederate Order of Battle, Volume 1: The Army of Northern Virginia by F. Ray Sibley, Jr., page 132 ↩
    11. Compendium of the Confederate Armies: Virginia by Stewart Sifakis, pp. 109-110: More research is needed as to the exact date. ↩
    12. Compendium of the Confederate Armies: Virginia by Stewart Sifakis, pp. 109-110 ↩
    13. Compendium of the Confederate Armies: Virginia by Stewart Sifakis, pp. 109-110 ↩
    14. Compendium of the Confederate Armies: Virginia by Stewart Sifakis, pp. 109-110 ↩
    15. 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. ↩
    16. The Confederate Order of Battle, Volume 1: The Army of Northern Virginia by F. Ray Sibley, Jr., page 187 ↩
    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 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. ↩
    18. The Confederate Order of Battle, Volume 1: The Army of Northern Virginia by F. Ray Sibley, Jr., page 187 ↩
    19. The Confederate Order of Battle, Volume 1: The Army of Northern Virginia by F. Ray Sibley, Jr., page 187 ↩
    20. The Confederate Order of Battle, Volume 1: The Army of Northern Virginia by F. Ray Sibley, Jr., page 187 ↩
    21. Compendium of the Confederate Armies: Virginia by Stewart Sifakis, pp. 109-110: More research is needed as to the exact date. ↩
    22. The Confederate Order of Battle, Volume 1: The Army of Northern Virginia by F. Ray Sibley, Jr., page 196 ↩
    23. The Confederate Order of Battle, Volume 1: The Army of Northern Virginia by F. Ray Sibley, Jr., page 205 ↩
    24. The Confederate Order of Battle, Volume 1: The Army of Northern Virginia by F. Ray Sibley, Jr., page 196 ↩
    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 205 ↩
    27.  “Tragic Death Ended Col. Boston’s Career.” Richmond Times-Dispatch. March 13, 1910 p. 3, col. 3-4 ↩
    28. The Confederate Order of Battle, Volume 1: The Army of Northern Virginia by F. Ray Sibley, Jr., page 187 ↩
    29. Compendium of the Confederate Armies: Virginia by Stewart Sifakis, pp. 109-110 ↩

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