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4th Massachusetts Cavalry

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Note: The regiment was organized by companies into the following battalions:

  • 1st Battalion: Companies I, K, L, M
  • 2nd Battalion: Companies A, B, C, D (Never present at the Siege of Petersburg.)
  • 3rd Battalion: Companies E, F, G, H

Muster In: Organized at Readville December 26, 1863, to February 8, 1864.1
Muster Out: Mustered out November 14, 1865.2

Commander(s):
Colonel Arnold A. Rand
ArnoldARand4thMACavv95p48513

Lieutenant Colonel Francis Washburn
FrancisWashburn4thMACavv103p53024

Commander 3
Commander Image

Commander 4
Commander Image

First Offensive Order of Battle: See battalions for order of battle information.  Entire unit was at Bermuda Hundred until August 23, 1864.

  • Commander:
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons

1st Battalion

(Cos. I, K, L, M): Unattached | X Corps | Army of the James | Union Army5,6

  • Commander: Major Atherton H. Stevens, Jr. (1st Battalion Commander)7

3rd Battalion

(Cos. E, H): Unattached (at HQ) | XVIII Corps | Army of the James | Union Army8

  • Commander: Captain Albert F. Ray9

(Cos. F, G): Unassigned Cavalry | Army of the James | Union Army10

  • Commander:

Second Offensive Order of Battle: See battalions for order of battle information.  Entire unit was at Bermuda Hundred until August 23, 1864.

  • Commander: Lieutenant Colonel Francis Washburn (June 30, 1864)11
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons

1st Battalion

(Cos. I, K, L, M): Unattached | X Corps | Army of the James | Union Army12,6

  • Commander: Major Atherton H. Stevens, Jr. (1st Battalion Commander)14

3rd Battalion

(Cos. E, H): Unattached (at HQ) | XVIII Corps | Army of the James | Union Army15

  • Commander: Captain Albert F. Ray16

(Cos. F, G): Unassigned Cavalry | Army of the James | Union Army17

  • Commander:
  • Unit Strength: >73 officers and men PFD (Co. F & G) (June 30, 1864)18

Third Offensive Order of Battle: Cavalry | X Corps | Army of the James | Union Army19,20

  • Commander: Lieutenant Colonel Francis Washburn (July 31, 1864)21
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:
  • Note: Companies E and H of the 4th Massachusetts Cavalry were acting as an unattached unit with the XVIII Corps.22

Fourth Offensive Order of Battle: Unattached | X Corps | Army of the James | Union Army23,24

  • Commander: Colonel Arnold A. Rand (August 31, 1864)25
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Fifth Offensive Order of Battle: Unattached | X Corps | Army of the James | Union Army26

  • Commander:
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:
  • Note: Companies E and H of the 4th Massachusetts Cavalry were attached to Charles J. Paine’s Third Division, Eighteenth Corps, Army of the James in early September, and were with the majority of the unit at Tenth Corps headquarters when the advance on Chaffin’s Farm began on the night of September 28, 1864.  They stayed at Tenth Corps headquarters until the night of September 30, and then moved on to Eighteenth Corps headquarters for the rest of the offensive.27,28
  • Note: Companies E and H of the 4th Massachusetts Cavalry were at Deep Bottom until September 29, with the rest of the unit at Tenth Corps Headquarters until the night of September 30, when they joined Eighteenth Corps headquarters.29
  • Note: Company M of the 4th Massachusetts Cavalry was serving with the Separate Brigade, Army of the James during the Fifth Offensive.30
  • Note: The Official Records have the First and Third Battalions (the entire unit which was present at Petersburg) as “Unattached | X Corps | Army of the James | Union Army”.31

Sixth Offensive Order of Battle: Unattached | X Corps | Army of the James | Union Army32

  • Commander: Lieutenant Colonel Francis Washburn (October 31, 1864)33
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:
  • Note: Cos. E, F, H, I, K, and L were present with the main unit at this time.34
  • Note: The 4th Massachusetts Cavalry appears on the Union casualty returns for the Battle of Fair Oaks and Darbytown Road, but no casualties were reported.  More research is needed to determine where they were.35
  • Note: Company M of the 4th Massachusetts Cavalry under Lieutenant Thomas Miles was serving with the Separate Brigade, Army of the James at this time.36

Seventh Offensive Order of Battle: Various. See below.

  • Commander:
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:
  • Note: Companies E and F of the 4th Massachusetts Cavalry under Captain Joseph J. Baker served as the Provost Guard of the XXIV Corps during December 3-31, 1864.  I am unsure where these companies were before the Army of the James Reorganization.37
  • Note: Company M of the 4th Massachusetts Cavalry under Lieutenant Thomas Miles was serving at Harrison’s Landing, Virginia with the Separate Brigade, Army of the James at this time.38
  • Note: A detachment of the 4th Massachusetts Cavalry (which companies?) under Colonel Arnold A. Rand was serving at headquarters of the Army of the James at this time.39
  • Note: On December 3, 1864, the X Corps and XVIII Corps of the Army of the James were reorganized into the XXIV Corps and the XXV Corps.  There was no Union organization list in the Official Records for November 30, 1864, so I still need to track down the organization of this unit from November 1 to December 3, 1864 and provide one or more sources.  More to come.

Eighth Offensive Order of Battle: Various. See below.

  • Commander:
  • Unit Strength:
    • 128 officers and men PFDE (January 31, 1865) (only detachment serving under Rand at AotJ HQ)40
    • 130 officers and men PFDE (February 28, 1865)(only detachment serving under Washburn at AotJ HQ) 41
    • 270 officers and men PFD (February 28, 1865)(entire regiment of 8 present companies?)42
  • Weapons:
  • Note: A detachment of the 4th Massachusetts Cavalry (which companies?) under Colonel Arnold A. Rand in January 1865 and under Colonel Francis Washburn in February 1865 was serving at headquarters of the Army of the James at this time.43,44
  • Note: Companies E and F of the 4th Massachusetts Cavalry under Captain Joseph J. Baker served as the Provost Guard of and provided orderlies for the XXIV Corps during January and February 1865.45,46

Ninth Offensive Order of Battle: Various. See below.

  • Commander:
  • Unit Strength:
    • 173 officers and men PFDE (March 20, 1865)47
    • 275 officers and men PFDE (March 31, 1865)48
  • Weapons:
  • Note: Company F of the 4th Massachusetts Cavalry under Captain Joseph J. Baker served as part of the Headquarters Guard for the XXIV Corps during this time.49,50
  • Note: Company K of the 4th Massachusetts Cavalry under Captain Charles E. Thomas served as part of the Headquarters Guard for the XXIV Corps during this time.51,52
  • Note: Companies E and H of the 4th Massachusetts Cavalry under Major Atherton H. Stevens, Jr. were serving as the Provost Guard of the Twenty-Fifth Corps, Army of the James during this time.53,54
  • Note: Companies I, L, and M of the 4th Massachusetts Cavalry under Colonel Francis Washburn was serving as unattached cavalry with the Army of the James at this time.55,56

Dyer’s/Sifakis’ Compendium Info:
Siege of Petersburg Battles57:

  • 1st Battalion (I, K, L, M)
    • Jordan’s Crossing and Petersburg June 9.
    • Siege operations against Petersburg and Richmond June 16, 1864, to April 2, 1865.
    • At Headquarters, Dept. of Virginia and North Carolina, June 21 to August 15, 1864.
    • At Headquarters, 10th Army Corps, until December, 1864.
    • Demonstration on north side of the James August 13-20.
    • Strawberry Plains August 14-18.
    • Flusser’s Mills August 18-19.
    • (Co. “M” detached at Harrison’s Landing on outpost duty August 23, 1864, to March, 1865.)
    • Before Petersburg August 24 to September 28.
    • Chaffin’s Farm, New Market Heights, September 28-30.
    • Harrison’s Landing October 13 (Co. “M”).
    • Fair Oaks October 27-28.
    • Expedition into Charles City and Henrico Counties November 1-5.
    • Duty before Richmond until March, 1865.
    • At Headquarters, Dept. of Virginia and North Carolina, December, 1864, to April, 1865 (Cos. “I,” “L” and “M”).
    • At Headquarters, 24th Army Corps, December, 1864, to April, 1865 (Co. “K”).
    • Appomattox Campaign March 28-April 9, 1865.
    • Fall of Petersburg April 2.
    • High Bridge, Farmville, April 6-7.
    • Appomattox Court House April 9,
    • Surrender of Lee and his army.
  • 2nd Battalion (A, B, C, D)
    • Not present at the Siege of Petersburg.
  • 3rd Battalion (E, F, G, H)
    • Moved to Newport News, Va., May 1-3; thence to City Point May 23, and duty there scouting, picketing and on the fortifications until June 16.
    • Duty at Bermuda Hundred until August 23.
    • Companies “E” and “H” at Headquarters of 18th Army Corps June 16-December 4, and at Headquarters of 25th Army Corps December, 1864, to April, 1865.
    • Company “F” at Headquarters of 24th Army Corps December, 1864, to April, 1865.
    • Company “G” detached at Yorktown and Williamsburg, Va., August 23, 1864, to April, 1865.
    • Occupation of Richmond April 3, 1865 (Cos. “E” and “H”).
    • Company “F” on Appomattox Campaign March 28-April 9.
    • High Bridge, Farmville, April 6-7.
    • Appomattox Court House April 9.
    • Surrender of Lee and his army.

Bibliography:

    Siege of Petersburg Documents Which Mention This Unit:

    Sources:

    1. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3) ↩
    2. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3) ↩
    3. Arnold A. Rand image.  MOLLUS-Mass Civil War Photograph Collection, Vol. 95, Page 4851.  United States Army Heritage and Education Center, Carlisle, PA. ↩
    4. Francis Washburn image.  MOLLUS-Mass Civil War Photograph Collection, Vol. 103, Page 5302.  United States Army Heritage and Education Center, Carlisle, PA. ↩
    5. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 1 (Serial Number 80), p. 235 ↩
    6. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 2 (Serial Number 81), p. 554 ↩
    7. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 1 (Serial Number 80), p. 235 ↩
    8. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3): “Companies “E” and “H” at Headquarters of 18th Army Corps June 16-December 4, and at Headquarters of 25th Army Corps December, 1864, to April, 1865.” ↩
    9. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 1 (Serial Number 80), p. 236: Note that thiss source actually has these two companies attached to Hinks’ Third Division, XVIII Corps at this time.  I am unsure on what date this may have happened, and it could be after the First Offensive.  More research is needed. ↩
    10. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 1 (Serial Number 80), p. 238 ↩
    11. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 2 (Serial Number 81), p. 554 ↩
    12. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 1 (Serial Number 80), p. 235 ↩
    13. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 2 (Serial Number 81), p. 554 ↩
    14. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 1 (Serial Number 80), p. 235 ↩
    15. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3): “Companies “E” and “H” at Headquarters of 18th Army Corps June 16-December 4, and at Headquarters of 25th Army Corps December, 1864, to April, 1865.” ↩
    16. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 1 (Serial Number 80), p. 235 ↩
    17. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 1 (Serial Number 80), p. 238 ↩
    18. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 1 (Serial Number 80), pp. 163-178: The unit had this number of officers and men “present for duty equipped” on June 30, 1864.  Present for Duty Equipped attempts to strip away anyone not actually going into combat.  Those non-combatants are included in PFD, the way I represent unit strengths across this web site for consistency.  So the unit had at least this number of officers and men PFD, though we know that number is higher. ↩
    19. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 1 (Serial Number 80), page 265 ↩
    20. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 3 (Serial Number 82), page 739 ↩
    21. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 3 (Serial Number 82, page 739 ↩
    22. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 1 (Serial Number 80), page 265 ↩
    23. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 2 (Serial Number 88), page 621: “Organization of the Army of the Potomac…August 31, 1864” ↩
    24. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 1 (Serial Number 87), page 120: “Return of Casualties in the Union Forces (August 1864)” ↩
    25. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 2 (Serial Number 88), page 621: “Organization of the Army of the Potomac…August 31, 1864” ↩
    26. Sommers, Richard J. “Grant’s Fifth Offensive at Petersburg: A Study in Strategy, Tactics, and Generalship.  The Battle of Poplar Spring Church, the First Battle of the Darbytown Road, the Second Battle of the Squirrel Level Road, the Second Battle of the Darbytown Road (Ulysses S. Grant, Virginia).” Doctoral Thesis. Rice University, 1970. Print. p. 1303. ↩
    27. Sommers, Richard J. “Grant’s Fifth Offensive at Petersburg: A Study in Strategy, Tactics, and Generalship.  The Battle of Poplar Spring Church, the First Battle of the Darbytown Road, the Second Battle of the Squirrel Level Road, the Second Battle of the Darbytown Road (Ulysses S. Grant, Virginia).” Doctoral Thesis. Rice University, 1970. Print. p. 1304. ↩
    28. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 1 (Serial Number 87), page 136: “Return of Casualties in the Union Forces (September-October 1864)” ↩
    29. Sommers, Richard J. “Grant’s Fifth Offensive at Petersburg: A Study in Strategy, Tactics, and Generalship.  The Battle of Poplar Spring Church, the First Battle of the Darbytown Road, the Second Battle of the Squirrel Level Road, the Second Battle of the Darbytown Road (Ulysses S. Grant, Virginia).” Doctoral Thesis. Rice University, 1970. Print. p. 1303. ↩
    30. Sommers, Richard J. “Grant’s Fifth Offensive at Petersburg: A Study in Strategy, Tactics, and Generalship.  The Battle of Poplar Spring Church, the First Battle of the Darbytown Road, the Second Battle of the Squirrel Level Road, the Second Battle of the Darbytown Road (Ulysses S. Grant, Virginia).” Doctoral Thesis. Rice University, 1970. Print. p. 1302. ↩
    31. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 1 (Serial Number 87), page 134: “Return of Casualties in the Union Forces (September-October 1864)” ↩
    32. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 3 (Serial Number 89), page 466: “Organization of the Union Forces” (October 31, 1864)” ↩
    33. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 3 (Serial Number 89), page 466: “Organization of the Union Forces” (October 31, 1864)” ↩
    34. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 3 (Serial Number 89), page 466: “Organization of the Union Forces” (October 31, 1864)” ↩
    35. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 1 (Serial Number 87), page 150: “Return of Casualties in the Union Forces…Fair Oaks and Darbytown Road, Va., October 27-28, 1864” ↩
    36. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 3 (Serial Number 89), page 468: “Organization of the Union Forces” (October 31, 1864)” ↩
    37. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 3 (Serial Number 89), page 1124: “Organization of the Union Forces” (December 31, 1864) ↩
    38. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 3 (Serial Number 89), page 1128: “Organization of the Union Forces” (December 31, 1864) ↩
    39. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 3 (Serial Number 89), page 1123: “Organization of the Union Forces” (December 31, 1864) ↩
    40. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 1 (Serial Number 95), pages 61-63 ↩
    41. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 1 (Serial Number 95), pages 61-63 ↩
    42. 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 747: “Organization of the Union Forces” (February 28, 1865) ↩
    43. 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 334: “Organization of the Union Forces” (January 31, 1865) ↩
    44. 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 747: “Organization of the Union Forces” (February 28, 1865) ↩
    45. 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 334: “Organization of the Union Forces” (January 31, 1865) ↩
    46. 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 748: “Organization of the Union Forces” (February 28, 1865) ↩
    47. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 1 (Serial Number 95), pages 61-63 ↩
    48. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 1 (Serial Number 95), pages 61-63 ↩
    49. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 1 (Serial Number 95), page 577: “Organization of the Union Forces” (March 31, 1865) ↩
    50. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 1 (Serial Number 95), page 594: “Return of casualties in the Union Forces commanded by Lieut. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, March 29-April 9, 1865” ↩
    51. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 1 (Serial Number 95), page 577: “Organization of the Union Forces” (March 31, 1865) ↩
    52. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 1 (Serial Number 95), page 594: “Return of casualties in the Union Forces commanded by Lieut. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, March 29-April 9, 1865” ↩
    53. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 1 (Serial Number 95), page 579: “Organization of the Union Forces” (March 31, 1865) ↩
    54. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 1 (Serial Number 95), page 596: “Return of casualties in the Union Forces commanded by Lieut. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, March 29-April 9, 1865” ↩
    55. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 1 (Serial Number 95), page 576: “Organization of the Union Forces” (March 31, 1865) ↩
    56. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 1 (Serial Number 95), page 593: “Return of casualties in the Union Forces commanded by Lieut. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, March 29-April 9, 1865” ↩
    57. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3) ↩

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