The First Regiment Oregon volunteer Cavalry was a volunteer

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 ...

in United States service

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 of the collective states. It proved essential to th ...

that was formed in response to 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 state ...

. With men recruited in Oregon and some recruited in surrounding states, the regiment primarily served to protect the state of

Oregon Oregon () is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the Western United States. The Columbia River delineates much of Oregon's northern boundary with Washington, while the Snake River delineates much of its eastern boundary with Idah ...

and surrounding territories during the

Background

In 1861, Colonel

George Wright George Wright may refer to: Politics, law and government *George Wright (MP) (died 1557), MP for Bedford and Wallingford *George Wright (governor) (1779–1842), Canadian politician, lieutenant governor of Prince Edward Island *George Wright (ju ...

requested permission from Oregon Governor

John Whiteaker John Whiteaker (May 4, 1820October 2, 1902) was an American politician, soldier, and judge. A native of Indiana, he joined the army during the Mexican–American War and then prospected during the California Gold Rush. After moving to the Orego ...

to form a cavalry company in the state, as Wright was commander of the District of Oregon that included the

Washington Territory The Territory of Washington was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from March 2, 1853, until November 11, 1889, when the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Washington. It was created from th ...

.Corning, Howard M. (1989) ''Dictionary of Oregon History''. Binfords & Mort Publishing. p. 84. Wright was motivated by the fact that there were a total of 700 soldiers and 19 officers in the Pacific Northwest at a time when there were often battles with Native Americans. Some volunteers joined up, asked to provide their own horse, but were later discharged when the organization failed before Wright was transferred to

California California is a state in the Western United States, located along the Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the most populous U.S. state and the 3rd largest by area. It is also the ...

. Lieutenant Colonel Albemarle Cady replaced Wright late in 1861 as

United States Army The United States Army (USA) is the land warfare, land military branch, service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight Uniformed services of the United States, U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army o ...

regular troops were returned east for the

. To replace those troops, Wright sent volunteers from California to protect Oregon from attacks by Native Americans. In response, Oregon then commissioned

Thomas R. Cornelius Thomas Ramsey Cornelius (November 16, 1827 – June 24, 1899) was a prominent American politician and soldier in the early history of Oregon. Born in Missouri, he moved to the Oregon Country with his family as a young man, where he fought in t ...

in November 1861 as colonel and ordered him to raise ten companies of cavalry troops. Oregonians were unhappy with California volunteers protecting Oregon.

Formation

The initial part of the regiment (companies A through F) was organized and mustered into the army in Oregon from December 1861 to April 1862. In May 1862, it was sent into the

to the Walla Walla country to protect immigrants and miners along the Salmon River. The 1st Oregon occupied

Fort Walla Walla Fort Walla Walla is a United States Army fort located in Walla Walla, Washington. The first Fort Walla Walla was established July 1856, by Lieutenant Colonel Edward Steptoe, 9th Infantry Regiment. A second Fort Walla Walla was occupied Septemb ...

in June 1862 and sent out various expeditions over the next two years to fight the

Snake Indians Snake Indians is a collective name given to the Northern Paiute, Bannock, and Shoshone Native American tribes. The term was used as early as 1739 by French trader and explorer Pierre Gaultier de Varennes, Sieur de la Verendrye when he described ...

and other threats. Hence, the regiment was rarely intact as a single unit for much of the war. Several companies scattered to other frontier forts, including

Fort Vancouver Fort Vancouver was a 19th century fur trading post that was the headquarters of the Hudson's Bay Company's Columbia Department, located in the Pacific Northwest. Named for Captain George Vancouver, the fort was located on the northern bank of the ...

and

Fort Dalles Fort Dalles was a United States Army outpost located on the Columbia River at the present site of The Dalles, Oregon, in the United States. Built when Oregon was a territory, the post was used mainly for dealing with wars with Native Americans. Th ...

(see also

The Dalles, Oregon The Dalles is the largest city of Wasco County, Oregon, United States. The population was 16,010 at the 2020 census, and it is the largest city on the Oregon side of the Columbia River between the Portland Metropolitan Area, and Hermis ...

) for detached duty such as constructing roads through the wilderness. In January 1863, the remaining portion of the regiment (companies G, H, I, K, and M) were authorized and activated for duty. Companies G and H served at

Camp Watson Camp Watson was a United States Army camp in central Oregon which operated from 1864 through 1869. History Camp Watson was established by Oregon Volunteers on July 10, 1864. The 1st Oregon Cavalry built several log buildings, but no surrounding ...

on Rock Creek; Company I was at

Fort Klamath Fort Klamath was a military outpost near the western end of the Oregon Trail, between Crater Lake National Park and Upper Klamath Lake in Klamath County, Oregon, United States. The Fort Klamath Site, about a mile southeast of the present commu ...

, Company K at Fort Dalles and Companies L and M at

Fort Boise Fort Boise is either of two different locations in the western United States, both in southwestern Idaho. The first was a Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) trading post near the Snake River on what is now the Oregon border (in present-day Canyon Co ...

Idaho Territory The Territory of Idaho was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from March 3, 1863, until July 3, 1890, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as Idaho. History 1860s The territory ...

. The battalion came together for several skirmishes with local Indians in the Harney Lake Valley and other locations. Men signed up for a three-year tour of duty with the cavalry. Pay was $13 per month for each soldier, and at the end of service men were given a $100 bounty and of land. In addition to Col. Cornelius, other officers included R. F. Maury, C. S. Drew,

Benjamin F. Harding Benjamin Franklin Harding (January 4, 1823June 16, 1899) was an American attorney and politician born in Pennsylvania. He held political offices in the Oregon Territory and later served as a United States senator from the state of Oregon. Early ...

as quartermaster, and J. S. Rinearson.

Disbanding

In January 1865, Col. Reuben F. Maury, 1st Oregon Cavalry, assumed command of the Federal District of Oregon. The 1st Oregon Cavalry mustered out November 20, 1866. The 1st Oregon Volunteer Cavalry Regiment did not muster out all at once, but did so in stages beginning in November 1864. Two years later there were only a small number of men remaining to muster out of service.

1st Regiment Oregon Volunteer Cavalry Commanders

* Colonel

1862 * Colonel Reuben F. Maury 1862–1865

Company assignments

* Company A – The company was organized near

Oregon City ) , image_skyline = McLoughlin House.jpg , imagesize = , image_caption = The McLoughlin House, est. 1845 , image_flag = , image_seal = Oregon City seal.png , image_map ...

and moved to

then to

, June 24 – July 12, 1862. The Company left Fort Walla Walla, July 25, 1862, for Salmon Falls on the

Snake River Expedition against Snake Indians Snakes are elongated, limbless, carnivorous reptiles of the suborder Serpentes . Like all other squamates, snakes are ectothermic, amniote vertebrates covered in overlapping scales. Many species of snakes have skulls with several more joint ...

in what is now

Idaho Idaho ( ) is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the Western United States. To the north, it shares a small portion of the Canada–United States border with the province of British Columbia. It borders the states of Montana and W ...

, August 19 – October 11, 1862, and protecting emigrant roads until November. At Fort Dalles until April, 1863 then ordered to Fort Walla Walla April 20 and sent on another

Expedition against Snake Indians Expedition may refer to: * An exploration, journey, or voyage undertaken by a group of people especially for discovery and scientific research Places * Expedition Island, a park in Green River, Wyoming, US * Expedition Range, a mountain range i ...

in Idaho from May 4 to October 26, 1863.

Expedition from Fort Walla Walla to Snake River, Idaho Territory Expedition may refer to: * An exploration, journey, or voyage undertaken by a group of people especially for discovery and scientific research Places * Expedition Island, a park in Green River, Wyoming, US * Expedition Range, a mountain range i ...

, February 16–23, 1864, and to

Southeastern Oregon Southeastern Oregon is a geographical term for the area along the borders of the U.S. state of Oregon with Idaho, California, and Nevada. It includes the populous areas of Burns, Klamath Falls and Lakeview. The region is also known by it ...

April 30 to October 6, 1864.

Expedition from Fort Boise to Salmon Falls, Idaho Territory, and skirmishes Expedition may refer to: * An exploration, journey, or voyage undertaken by a group of people especially for discovery and scientific research Places * Expedition Island, a park in Green River, Wyoming, US * Expedition Range, a mountain range i ...

from August 27 to October 5, 1864. At

and other stations in Oregon and Idaho until muster out.

Expedition from Camp Lyon, Idaho Territory, to Malheur River, Oregon, and skirmish Expedition may refer to: * An exploration, journey, or voyage undertaken by a group of people especially for discovery and scientific research Places * Expedition Island, a park in Green River, Wyoming, US * Expedition Range, a mountain range i ...

July 2–13, 1865. * Company B – Company "B" moved from Salem, Oregon, to

then to Fort Walla Walla via Fort Dalles from May 14 – June 2, 1862. The Company left Fort Walla Walla July 25, 1862, for Salmon Falls on Snake River. Expedition against Snake Indians in Idaho August 19 – October 11, 1862, and protected emigrant roads until November 1, 1862. At Fort Walla Walla until April 1863. Moved to

Fort Lapwai Fort Lapwai (1862–1884), was a federal fort in present-day Lapwai in north central Idaho, United States. On the Nez Perce Indian Reservation in Nez Perce County, it was originally called Camp Lapwai until 1863. East of Lewiston, it wa ...

June 13, 1863, then to Canyon City July 10. Ordered to Fort Vancouver on September 29, 1863, with duty there until April 1864.

Expedition to Southeastern Oregon and skirmishes Expedition may refer to: * An exploration, journey, or voyage undertaken by a group of people especially for discovery and scientific research Places * Expedition Island, a park in Green River, Wyoming, US * Expedition Range, a mountain range i ...

April 20 – October 6, 1864. Duty at Forts Vancouver, Walla Walla,

Boise Boise (, , ) is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Idaho and is the county seat of Ada County. On the Boise River in southwestern Idaho, it is east of the Oregon border and north of the Nevada border. The downtown ...

and other points in the

District of Oregon The United States District Court for the District of Oregon (in case citations, D. Ore. or D. Or.) is the federal district court whose jurisdiction comprises the state of Oregon. It was created in 1859 when the state was admitted to the Union. ...

until muster out. Expedition from

Camp Lyon Camp may refer to: Outdoor accommodation and recreation * Campsite or campground, a recreational outdoor sleeping and eating site * a temporary settlement for nomads * Camp, a term used in New England, Northern Ontario and New Brunswick to desc ...

, Idaho Territory, to

Malheur River The Malheur River (local pronunciation: "MAL-hyure") is a tributary of the Snake River in eastern Oregon in the United States. It drains a high desert area, between the Harney Basin and the Blue Mountains and the Snake. Despite the similarit ...

, Oregon, and skirmish July 2–13, 1865. * Company C – The company was organized near Oregon City moved to Fort Vancouver June 24, 1862. (A Detachment ordered to

Jacksonville, Oregon Jacksonville is a city in Jackson County, Oregon, United States, approximately west of Medford. It was named for Jackson Creek, which flows through the community and was the site of one of the first placer gold claims in the area. It includes J ...

, July 2, 1862.) Duty there and at Klamath operating against Indians in Rogue River District until June, 1865. At

Fort Steilacoom ''For the adjacent park, see Fort Steilacoom Park'' Fort Steilacoom was founded by the U.S. Army in 1849 near Lake Steilacoom. It was among the first military fortifications built by the U.S. north of the Columbia River in what was to become th ...

and other points in District of Oregon until muster out. * Company D – The company was organized near Oregon City moved to Fort Dalles; then to Fort Walla Walla from June 24 – July 12, 1862. Left Fort Walla Walla July 25 for Salmon Falls on Snake River. Expedition against Snake Indians in Idaho and protecting emigrant roads August 19 to October 11, 1862. At Fort Walla Walla November, 1862, to April, 1863.

Expedition from Fort Walla Walla against Snake Indians Expedition may refer to: * An exploration, journey, or voyage undertaken by a group of people especially for discovery and scientific research Places * Expedition Island, a park in Green River, Wyoming, US * Expedition Range, a mountain range ...

in Idaho May 4 – October 20, 1863. Ordered to Fort Dalles October 29, and duty there until April, 1864.

April 20 – October 6, 1864. Expedition from Siletz Block House to Coos Bay, Crooked River, April 21 – May 12, 1864 (Co. "D"). Ordered to Fort Vancouver October 6, 1864. Duty at Fort Vancouver, Fort Walla Walla and other points in the District of Oregon until muster out.

July 2–13, 1865. * Company E – The company was organized near Salem moved to Fort Vancouver; then to Fort Walla Walla via Fort Dalles May 14 – June 3, 1862. Duty at Fort Walla Walla until April, 1863. Expedition to Grand Ronde Prairie August 10–22, 1862. Expedition against Snake Indians in Idaho May 4 – October 20, 1863. At Fort Walla Walla until April, 1864.

Expedition from Fort Walla Walla to Snake River, Washington Territory Expedition may refer to: * An exploration, journey, or voyage undertaken by a group of people especially for discovery and scientific research Places * Expedition Island, a park in Green River, Wyoming, US * Expedition Range, a mountain range i ...

, February 16–23, 1864.

Expedition from Fort Walla Walla to Southeastern Oregon and skirmishes Expedition may refer to: * An exploration, journey, or voyage undertaken by a group of people especially for discovery and scientific research Places * Expedition Island, a park in Green River, Wyoming, US * Expedition Range, a mountain range i ...

April 20 – October 6, 1864. At Forts Dalles,

Colville Colville may refer to: Places Canada * Colville Lake (Northwest Territories), a lake in Northwest Territories * Colville Lake, Northwest Territories, a settlement corporation *Colville Range, a small mountain range in southwestern British Colu ...

and other points in District of Oregon until muster out. * Company F – The company was organized near Oregon City. Company "F" moved to Fort Dalles; then to Fort Walla Walla June 24 – July 12, 1862. Duty near Lewiston,

Nez Perce Reservation The Nez Percé (; autonym in Nez Perce language: , meaning "we, the people") are an Indigenous people of the Plateau who are presumed to have lived on the Columbia River Plateau in the Pacific Northwest region for at least 11,500 years.Ames ...

, July 25 to November 1, 1862. Garrison at

until May, 1865.

Expedition from Fort Lapwai to the Meadows Expedition may refer to: * An exploration, journey, or voyage undertaken by a group of people especially for discovery and scientific research Places * Expedition Island, a park in Green River, Wyoming, US * Expedition Range, a mountain range i ...

August 22 to September 20, 1863. Skirmish, Harney Lake Valley September 23, 1864 (Cos. "F" and "H"). At Fort Walla Walla and other points in District of Oregon May, 1865, to muster out. * Company G – Company "G," authorized January, 1863. Company "G" at Camp Watson on Rock Creek, Ore. No other companies were mustered during the regiment's service. Regiment mustered out November 20, 1866.

Notes

References

* Dyer, Frederick H., ''A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion''. Vol. 2. Dayton, Ohio: Morningside Press, 1979.
National Park Service Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System

External links

Col. Edward D. Baker Camp – Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War
* Shannon, Donald H. "Massacre Rocks and City of Rocks" (2008). Chapter Thirteen. pp 157–176. Caldwell, ID: Snake Country Publishing. {{ISBN, 978-0-9635828-3-6 Military units and formations in Oregon Units and formations of the Union Army from Oregon 1862 establishments in Oregon Military units and formations established in 1862 Military units and formations disestablished in 1866