New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-05-24
HISTORY OF CAVALRY ORGANIZE.
T1OND.
First Cavalry Division.

First and Second Brgades, commanded respectively
iby Cols Grimes Davis aad Thoe c. Dcvin. 1t parti'
cipated in the battle OF Cbanceorsvile, ard won fos
Itself an updying rcnovp, Gen. Pieasantons COM
ipinentar, order Of that date It's gaartry Ia that
engagement made iis commander fn Majcr-Gencral'
VITO shortly after took command Of the Cavalry Corps.
Tie division IVES for a rhort time aterword commanded
by OH Thos c. D.vio, who fought 1t under the dreo'
ton Of BRIG Cen John Bufort In the battle OF Beverly
FORD In June 1853. The engagement wos severe one;
and the Division received the complimentary order
its commander. Gen. Buford was shortly aftcrward
assigned to the command, bringing wiki him to the
division the Cavalry Reserve Brigade embracing
VI the regular cavalry in this Experiment. then
commanded BY Brighten. Wesley Merritt. Al
thus reorgLnized the division participated In ths
Grand Pennsylvania campaign Of 1908 AT tns
Battle of uppclyille it carried everything before it.
sosi1g Stewards thousands in tie gap in rear Of
the oHn-,urning its back upon the retreating foe.
it, march 20 Getty sbnrg at unprecedented-
almost A. hours in rear Of tie Army of tie Poto-
mac II Developing to certainty the ingenious design
of he Rebel Leo it marched past ito faithful comrades
with the speed Of veteran patriots and reached tic
lfimous hills Of Gettysburg "a hours in advance Of
Nead's infantry.
| All Will remember the reception on the day OF ito
,rrrivsl; tho streets flied with joyful people
bands glec Gibbs church choirs aud Sabbath School
classes playing aLd singing patriotic airs Of vel
come. nd tae widest cut5us .sln prevailed. The Di'
vision played DOS conspicuous psr upon that great
battle.Ilain Striking Lee in fax IL brought him to
ray in the right place. AID then held him for one entire
day, until Gen Meade could get bis gallant army ~
and in pusiiDr
Bufords reputation made from that day forward,
AMI the Division carried with il the highest need OF
praise 1t participated In eli the subsequent actions OF
the ups,gn--prominent at Failing Waters Shepardk
town. Brandy Station. Cnipeppei, and Racoon Ford On
tic liaridan River.
il participated 10 The most important reconnolsssnces
;h.. developed re des.gn of Gen. Lee to fank tho
Army OF the Potomac in the Fan Of the same year.
covering hi let.aad from lie south banks Of the
Rapdsn Rlrer to the ee.cnces Il Washington without
the loss of solivy ragot. hoh, ne III cheek day sfes
day the irnpuisiyc CHARGES Of Lees best troops.
Especially I'D it distinguish Itself at Stephensbrg,
Brandy Station. and Oak IIll In the subsequent ad.
yaace e lie same season. it played prominent part
on the ey.renc right. south Of SnptaI Springs. In
tits campaign tte lamcnted Buiord contracted tie
dsease that cost him his life to tie sorrow OF every
officer AID man fl the division. Big. Gen. Merritt
succeeded him in command. In the Spring
Of 1854 the corps was reorSanized under
Mnor.Ge, sheridan. and Brighten. Torbet was
assigned to command of Ire division, Gen. Merrittto
the command Of TIE Cavalry Reserve Brigade. Gen
Cu.ti. tic inst BRIGADE ard Col Devon the Second
BsSale. The division became The right bower OK
t5heridan ard participated in all tho engagements Of
the campaign against Richmond in lsCi-includng the
raid around Richmond and Jr;viDicn Station. Return
ing and crossing the James. 10 employed on the
left Of tue srmv. until July isGf. it embarked
for the she landoah Valley. Gen. TOrbet was
then made chief OF commanding. and Gen. Merritt
AGAIN took copmard of The dlysior-to it and its gal
liant cpmmendor. in peculiar measure, belongs the
or # the battle OF Winchester on the i'ih OF Seltem
her It's c,rtrres lurin The bloody campaign i'm
nepsc; il took par, in nv engagement, Gnd captured
more cuus and materials on the 9.h Of Oct at Cedar
Creek than /. conlt remove during the entire night
under command Of Br.g..Gen. Thomas c. Derin. On
tho 9th of February less II commenced its march with
tie CORPS 70 reoIn ths Army Of the Potomac. raiding
through e. the W hite House via Deep Bottom to the
left Of the army Again lei the ldvauce to the Five
Forks and there otter three days Of the severest fight
ing on record carried the position shown by the dis
patch Of President Lincoln of April Joining in the
persut Of TIE now routed Rebel army. IL taught
hy dav and marched by night until the 9Th Of April
locked hands In It's gallant comrades around the ter.
roi. stricken mnions Of secession at Apponattox
House: returning 10 Petersburg with the corps.
II hastily rcfttrd and marched upon Johnston 10 North
Carolina. reaching tho Dan River; and the surrender
If tie enemy becoming known to tie satisfaction Of tho
authorities il returned via Richmond to Washington
Tho division nerr lost sHr-perhaps more
than can be said Of sny other Ia this
lepar,mentwi Its history is associated the greatest
battles Ind the grsi.est victories and the most dis
tiusui,led csvalry officers Of the The names Of
Pleasoron Of Buford Of Merritt Of Iorbet and Devfn.
OF Gifts and Stagg and Fistrigh hseparably as
80 lated with he comingjhisorytof this war, and viii
b. remembered in gratitude through generations 70
cone
The organization in the last campaign as fcllowss
Division Commander Brig Gen. Thomas {. Devsn.
Brigade Commanders Brig. Ger Gibbs. Con- Res
Brig. Col Peter Stage First Brigade; Col. Charles L.
Fiisbugh. Second Brigade.
Hpans. SECOND BRIGADE FiRsr CAVALRY DIVISION,
NIPPLE MILITARY DIVISION Nov 6, lsS
The Bieve Bgadier General commanding feels
tst he should allow the present Opportunity to pass With
on. referring and sns the oPesiions Of bis brigade
during the late engagements. ,,
Rapidly transferred from the Army Of the Potomac to the
Shenandoah Valley you on the second asy n.iSn ensissa
Front Royal S,nthssid, Kean,sy.vils. and siep-
each on hu back the serred mses Of the foe AZ
tbs Of the Opequsn aer cbsrss and routing superior
force Of the enemy cavalry ~ your you wa r x
down in tie face whitening In two chsrgss,
csptnrng over $40 prisoners and five bate fas.:
the long pursuits Of Esrys srny Fishers h to PeS
R.pubic your gaantry and daring while pressing the
s"emy called forth the hishss. Fr,i.- Ia
near ESinbuig you drove Lomsss Division wLirling"
Moon Jackson and scross toe Shenandoah capturing
On the memorable 18th Of October tho GROWING sor,
a.. Ived for ron, OF pursuing tho enemy snd