The 2nd Regiment Colorado Cavalry was a

cavalry Historically, cavalry (from the French word ''cavalerie'', itself derived from "cheval" meaning "horse") are soldiers or warriors who fight mounted on horseback. Cavalry were the most mobile of the combat arms, operating as light cavalry ...

regiment A regiment is a military unit. Its role and size varies markedly, depending on the country, service and/or a specialisation. In Medieval Europe, the term "regiment" denoted any large body of front-line soldiers, recruited or conscripted ...

that served in the

Union Army During the American Civil War, the Union Army, also known as the Federal Army and the Northern Army, referring to the United States Army, was the land force that fought to preserve the Union (American Civil War), Union of the collective U.S. st ...

during the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states th ...

Service

The 2nd Colorado Cavalry was organized at

St. Louis, Missouri St. Louis () is the second-largest city in Missouri, United States. It sits near the confluence of the Mississippi River, Mississippi and the Missouri Rivers. In 2020, the city proper had a population of 301,578, while the Greater St. Louis, ...

, by consolidation of the 2nd Colorado Infantry and 3rd Colorado Infantry to date from October 1863 under the command of

Colonel Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge of ...

James Hobart Ford James Hobart Ford (May 22, 1829 – January 12, 1867) was a Union colonel and brevet brigadier general during the American Civil War, notable for his contributions in the Trans-Mississippi Theater of the war. Early life James Hobart Ford was born ...

. The regiment was attached to District of Southeast Missouri, Department of Missouri, to December 1863. District of St. Louis, Missouri, Department of Missouri, to January 1864. District of Central Missouri, Department of the Missouri, to December 1864. District of the Upper Arkansas to September 1865. The 2nd Colorado Cavalry mustered out of service at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, on September 23, 1865.

Detailed service

The regiment was organized at

Benton Barracks Benton Barracks (or Camp Benton) was a Union Army military encampment, established during the American Civil War, in St. Louis, Missouri, at the present site of the St. Louis Fairground Park. Before the Civil War, the site was owned and used by th ...

Missouri Missouri is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. Ranking List of U.S. states and territories by area, 21st in land area, it is bordered by eight states (tied for the most with Tennessee ...

, until January 1863. Since January 1863, Companies F, G, H, and K were on duty in the Colorado Territory at Fort Lyon and other areas until November 26, 1863. From Fort Lyon they stayed at Fort Riley,

Kansas Kansas () is a state in the Midwestern United States. Its capital is Topeka, and its largest city is Wichita. Kansas is a landlocked state bordered by Nebraska to the north; Missouri to the east; Oklahoma to the south; and Colorado to the ...

, between November 26 and December 25, 1863. They marched to

Kansas City The Kansas City metropolitan area is a bi-state metropolitan area anchored by Kansas City, Missouri. Its 14 counties straddle the border between the U.S. states of Missouri (9 counties) and Kansas (5 counties). With and a population of more ...

, Missouri, reaching Kansas City on January 6, 1864. They went through Kansas City to Dresden January 16, 1864. After staying at Dresden from February 15 to 20 they marched back to Kansas City. Assigned to duty in 4th Sub-District of Central Missouri, consisting of Cass, Johnston, Bates and Vernon Counties, Mo., and engaged in protecting borders of Kansas and operations against guerrillas, with almost constant fighting by detachments, until October 1864. * The Battle of Camden Point took place on July 13, 1864, near Camden Point, Missouri, USA * Operating from Kansas City, Independence, Westport, Hickman's Mills, Pleasant Hill and Harrisonville. * Skirmish at Dayton, Mo., April 27. * Skirmishes in Johnson County April 28–30. * Skirmish at Sin Hills April 29 and May 21. * Affair at Blue River May 21 (detachment). * Pleasant Hill May 28. * Scout on the Osage June 8–19 (Companies I and L). * Scout from Pleasant Hill June 14–16 (Companies D, I, K, and M). * Expedition from Kansas City into Missouri June 18–20 (Companies I, K, and M). * Operations in western Missouri July 6–30. * Near the Little Blue, Jackson County, July 6 (Company C). * Camden Point July 13. * Near Fredericksburg July 14. * Fayette Road, near Helmsville, July 16. * Fredericksburg July 17. * Scout on South Platte River, Colo. July 17–28 (detachment). * Ragtown July 20. * Camden Point July 22. * Union Mills July 22. * Pleasant Hill July 25. * Near Independence August 1 (detachment). * Scout on Independence Road to Gunter's Mills August 1–3 (Companies F, G, I, K, and L). * Scout from Independence to Lafayette County August 2–8 (detachment). * Scout from Independence to Lafayette and Jackson Counties August 13–18 (Companies C, D, F, I, K, and M). * Operations in Lafayette, Howard and Saline Counties August 13–22. * Engagement, Canadian River, Indian Territory, August 21 (detachment). * Scouts in Jackson and Cass Counties August 25–29 (Company D). * Skirmish near Pleasant Hill August 26 (Company D). * Operations against Price's Invasion August 29-December 2. * Scouts on Little Blue, Jackson County, September 2–10 (Company A). * Walnut Creek September 25. * Skirmish near Pleasant Hill September 26. * Regiment concentrated at Pleasant Hill October 1, and cover Independence and front of the

Army of the Border The Army of the Border was a Union army during the American Civil War. It was created from units in the Department of Kansas to oppose Sterling Price's Raid in 1864. Samuel R. Curtis was in command of the army throughout its duration. Major Gener ...

. * Near Lexington October 17 (Companies C, E, G, K, and L). * Lexington October 19. * Battle of Little Blue October 21. * Pursuit of Price October 21–28. * Independence and State Line October 22. * Big Blue and Westport October 23. * Marias Des Cygnes, Mine Creek, Little Osage River, October 25. * Newtonia October 28. * Moved to District of the Upper Arkansas December 22, and engaged in operations against Indians about Fort Riley, Fort Zarah, Fort Ellsworth and Fort Larned until September 1865. * Skirmish at Godfrey's Ranch, Colorado Territory, January 14, 1865 (detachment). * Operations on Overland Stage Route from Denver to Julesburg, Colorado Territory, January 14–25 (detachment). * Skirmish at Fort Zarah February 1 (Company C). * Scout from Fort Larned to Crooked Creek March 9 (detachment). * Near Fort Zarah April 23 (detachment). * Pawnee Rock May 20 (detachment). * Cow Creek Station, Plum Butte and Pawnee Rock June 12 (detachments).

Commanders

* Colonel James Hobart Ford *

Major Major (commandant in certain jurisdictions) is a military rank of commissioned officer status, with corresponding ranks existing in many military forces throughout the world. When used unhyphenated and in conjunction with no other indicators ...

J. H. Pritchard - commanded at the

Battle of Westport The Battle of Westport, sometimes referred to as the "Gettysburg of the West", was fought on October 23, 1864, in modern Kansas City, Missouri, during the American Civil War. Union Army, Union forces under Major General (United States), Major G ...

and Battle of Mine Creek * Major J. Nelson Smith - commanded at the

; killed in action Smith County, Kansas, was named in his honor.

Notable members

Private Private or privates may refer to: Music * " In Private", by Dusty Springfield from the 1990 album ''Reputation'' * Private (band), a Denmark-based band * "Private" (Ryōko Hirosue song), from the 1999 album ''Private'', written and also recorde ...

John "Liver-Eating" Johnson, Company H - notable

mountain man A mountain man is an explorer who lives in the wilderness. Mountain men were most common in the North American Rocky Mountains from about 1810 through to the 1880s (with a peak population in the early 1840s). They were instrumental in opening up ...

Captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...

Charles Frederick Holly Charles Frederick Holly (September 4, 1819 – September 7, 1901) was an associate justice of the Colorado Territorial Supreme Court from June 10, 1865, to July 19, 1866. He and William H. Gale were jointly appointed by President Andrew Johnson. ...

, Company H - notable Colorado Territorial Legislator 1861-1862, Colorado Territorial Supreme Court Justice 1865-1866

Notes

References