The 3rd West Virginia Cavalry Regiment was a cavalry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Organization began in late 1861, but was not completed until late in the war. During 1862 and 1863, the regiment's companies were detached in groups of two or three to various theaters of operation, while the remaining companies often served as guards and scouts. The regiment was near full organization by the spring of 1864, and began fighting as a unit. It was often part of a brigade with the 1st West Virginia Cavalry and 2nd West Virginia Cavalry.
Lieutenant Colonel David H. Strother was the regiment's commander until the second half of 1864, but Strother never led the regiment in the field. Other leaders were John Lowry McGee, Seymour Conger, Lot Bowen, and John S. Witcher. McGee was the regiment's original major, and he eventually was commissioned as colonel. Conger, Bowen, and Witcher eventually became majors. Witcher was commissioned as a lieutenant colonel effective May 1, 1865. Captain Everton J. Conger of CompanyA, brother of Seymour, left for a different regiment in 1863—and was eventually involved in the capture of assassin John Wilkes Booth.
In 1864, the regiment had an important part in the Battle of Moorefield, where a surprise attack led by General William W. Averell routed Confederate cavalry. The regiment also fought in the latter part of General Philip H. Sheridan's Valley Campaign. It fought as part of Capehart's Fighting Brigade, in General George Armstrong Custer's 3rd Division, during the Appomattox campaign in 1865. The Fighting Brigade made important contributions to Union victories in the Battle of Five Forks and the Battle of Sailor's Creek. The brigade was present at General Robert E. Lee's surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia at the Battle of Appomattox Court House.
Background and organization Background Fighting in the American Civil War began on April 12, 1861. Virginia seceded from the United States on April 17, 1861, and joined seven southern states (three additional states seceded later) in the Confederate States of America. In the northern and western portion of Virginia, many people (especially the non-slaveholders) preferred to remain loyal to the United States (a.k.a. the Union). Virginians loyal to the United States approved pursuing their own statehood on October 24, 1861, and the western portion of Virginia officially became the state of West Virginia on June 20, 1863.
During the Civil War and prior to the creation of West Virginia, both the Confederacy and Union had a 3rd Virginia Cavalry Regiment. Reports from Union officers made early in the war sometimes referred to the loyal regiments as Virginia regiments. Adding to the potential confusion: the 3rd West Virginia Infantry Regiment became a mounted infantry regiment in 1863, and became the 6th West Virginia Cavalry Regiment in 1864.
Organization
The 3rd West Virginia Cavalry Regiment was organized mostly between late 1861 and early 1862. The state of West Virginia did not exist prior to mid–1863, and correspondence dated July19,1862, refers to the regiment as "3rd Va Cavalry". Organization was not completed until 1865. The companies of the regiment spent much of 1862 and 1863 serving in detachments, and they did not serve all together until the early summer of 1864. For most of 1864, the regiment was part of the Second Brigade, 2nd Cavalry Division, Army of West Virginia. Beginning in February 1865, the regiment was part of the Third Brigade, 3rd Division, Cavalry Corps. It was present for the April 9, 1865, surrender of Confederate General Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia. The regiment mustered out June 23, 1865.
Lieutenant Colonel David H. Strother was the original regimental commander. Strother never commanded the 3rd West Virginia Cavalry in the field. Most of his time was spent as a staff officer for various commanding generals, including Nathaniel P. Banks, John Pope, George B. McClellan, Benjamin Franklin Kelley, Franz Sigel, and David Hunter. Strother was promoted to colonel during 1863, and resigned from the army in 1864 after Hunter was replaced by Philip Sheridan. John Lowry McGee was the regiment's original major. McGee was previously captain of CompanyA (known as the Kelley Lancers) in the 1st West Virginia Cavalry Regiment, and had earned praise for leading a charge in an October 1861 action at Romney, (West) Virginia. The regiment had no other majors until late July 1863. Among other members of the regiment were brothers Everton and Seymour Conger of CompanyA, who began as captain and lieutenant of that company, respectively. Future congressman John S. Witcher was commissioned as a first lieutenant effective December 1862, and was a major commanding the regiment in the field by the end of the regiment's fighting. His commission as lieutenant colonel became effective May 1, 1865.
Detachment action
From the beginning through the winter of 1863, companies from the 3rd West Virginia Cavalry typically served as independent units. Groups of two or three companies served with several armies, while the remaining companies often served as escorts, guards, pickets, and scouts. CompaniesA andC often served together, as did CompanyD with CompanyE. CompaniesF, H, andI typically served together. During 1863, Major John Lowry McGee served on the staff of Major General Robert H. Milroy, who commanded the 2nd Division of the VIII Corps. McGee was commissioned as lieutenant colonel effective July 18. Effective July 29, Captain Lot Bowen (CompanyE) and Captain Seymour B. Conger (CompanyC) were commissioned as majors.
1862 service
The regiment's CompanyA and CompanyC served with the Second Brigade, 2nd Division, 1st Army Corps of the Army of Virginia until September 1862. Everton Conger and Jonathan Stahl are listed as the captain of CompanyA, and CompanyC, respectively, for that summer. "Captain Conger's company of Third Virginia Cavalry" is mentioned in a report as almost capturing Confederate "General Ashby" on June 3 near Mount Jackson, Virginia. There are two major battles during 1862 where the regiment is given credit for service.
At the June 8 Battle of Cross Keys, a detachment, unattached to any brigade, had no reported casualties. At the August 30 Second Battle of Bull Run, the only participant from the 3rd West Virginia Cavalry was CompanyC, and it reported no casualties. The regiment's CompanyC, and Battery I from the 1st Ohio Light Artillery, were not attached to any brigade. On October 24, 1862, a patrol led by the Conger brothers was attacked by a larger Confederate cavalry force near Catlett Station, Virginia. Captain Everton Conger was shot, slashed across the face, and left for dead. Lieutenant Seymour Conger was captured and sent to prison in Richmond. During the next month, Everton was paroled and Seymour was exchanged. Seymour was promoted to captain of CompanyC with a commission date of November 22. Everton did not return to active duty until July 1863.
1863 service
On May 16, 1863, Captain James R. Utt of CompanyD led a detachment that liberated 51 soldiers and captured 40 Confederates. Utt was killed during the action. At the time, he was the highest ranking officer in the regiment to be killed in action. At the Battle of Brandy Station on June 9, a 3rd West Virginia Cavalry detachment had three enlisted men wounded. The detachment, consisting of two companies commanded by Captain Seymour Conger, served in the Second Brigade of the 1st Division of the cavalry corps commanded by Brigadier General Alfred Pleasonton. The Second Brigade's commander was Colonel Thomas C. Devin. The Second Battle of Winchester occurred during June 13 to June 15. The regiment's CompanyD and CompanyE were detached to the Second Brigade, 2nd Division, of the VIII Army Corps. The brigade was commanded by Colonel William G. Ely. The two companies totaled to about 125 soldiers, and had casualties of one wounded and 71 missing. In this battle, Union forces were routed and had estimated casualties of 4,443 compared to only 266 for Confederate troops. In the June 21 Battle of Upperville, the 3rd West Virginia detachment that was the part of Devin's Second Brigade had no casualties listed. At the July 1–July 3 Battle of Gettysburg, two companies from the regiment were under the immediate command of Captain Seymour Conger as part of Devin's Brigade. CompaniesA andC were positioned near McPherson Ridge during their first day of fighting. The only known monument to the regiment is located in that vicinity. At the July 14 Battle of Williamsport (Falling Waters), the 3rd West Virginia Cavalry detachment in Devin's Second Brigade did not have any casualties. CompaniesA andC were at the Battle of Bristoe Station on October 14. For the period of October 9 through 19, those companies had three enlisted men killed and six captured or missing. On May 23, 1863, Brigadier General William W. Averell took command of the 4th Separate Brigade. This brigade was a mixture of infantry, mounted infantry, cavalry, artillery batteries; and portions of the force consisted of detachments. Included in this brigade were companiesE,H, andI from the 3rd West Virginia Cavalry. Captain Lot Bowen, promoted to major effective July 29, commanded the three companies. In the November6 Battle of Droop Mountain, those three companies were part of Major Thomas Gibson's Independent Cavalry Battalion that was used in the pursuit of the defeated Confederate Army at the end of the battle. According to Gibson's report, prior to the battle, Major Bowen and two companies from the 3rd West Virginia Cavalry were stationed elsewhere with dismounted soldiers and extra supplies.
1864 service On May 10, 1864, a "detachment of the Third Virginia, under Major Conger" fought as part of a division commanded by Brigadier General Averell in the indecisive Battle of Cove Mountain near Wytheville, Virginia.
Service as a brigaded regiment in 1864 Early in the summer of 1864, the regiment began serving as a unit. John Lowry McGee continued as lieutenant colonel, and Seymour Conger and Lot Bowen continued as majors. Captain John S. Witcher, captain of CompanyE, had been promoted to major with a commission date of April 13, 1864. Later in the year, Lieutenant Colonel David H. Strother resigned on September 10, and Captain Charles E. Anderson was commissioned as major effective December 15.
Battle of Lynchburg In Major General David Hunter's Lynchburg Campaign, including the Battle of Lynchburg on June 17 and 18, the 3rd West Virginia Cavalry Regiment was part of Averell's 2nd Cavalry Division, Department of Army of West Virginia. Although the regiment was designated as part of Colonel John H. Oley's Second Cavalry Brigade, it served as dismounted cavalry with the 2nd Infantry Division commanded by Brigadier General George Crook. Casualties for dismounted cavalry for the period of June 10 through June 23 were six killed, 23 wounded, and one missing or captured. Major Bowen resigned December 12, 1864, and a letter sent to Governor Boreman dated November 27 indicates Bowen was disabled during the Lynchburg Raid.
Second Battle of Kernstown
For the July 24 Second Battle of Kernstown, the regiment was part of Averell's 2nd Cavalry Division that was part of the Army of West Virginia commanded by Brevet Major General George Crook. The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd West Virginia Cavalry regiments comprised the Second Brigade that was commanded by Colonel William H. Powell. Crook underestimated the Confederate force he was facing, and marched cavalry and infantry up the Valley Turnpike. He sent Averell's division south on the Front Royal Road as part of an effort to get behind the Confederate Army. Crook was defeated, and his army retreated north.