Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1933-03-30

rapidly OF movement, and the sacrifices made,
the expedition is supposed to be wholly I'M
precedented.n Whether or not 1t was UMPIRE
cedented, is not known. 1t is however, worthy
OF mention that command of cavalry, moving
rs large body, maintained rite of march of
90 miles a day for so long period -
In the Mexican war the First Dragons
there had been Second Regiment organized In
1836-took a glorious part Companies and IL
fought with Taylor in his vigorous campaign.
Company F escorted General Scott from Vera
Cruz to the City of Mexico. and was present
at the battle fought before that city. Companies
d and K also saw service In SCOTS line. The
remaining companies In the United States car
red as before the war, helping keep the
Indians under control up and down the western
Mississippi valley.
The period from the close OF the Mexico
to the outbreak OF the war between the states
was In all respects similar to the period pre-
ceding the former contest. The dragons were
on Indian duty In the West. Headquarters were
moved to Fort Union. New Mexico Territory.
In 1854, and with that as base OF operations,
companies of the command operated against
hostile Indians all the way from the Rio Grande
to the Canadian border on the one hand and
from the Mississippi to the Pacific on the other,
Engagements with the Utah, Apache, Navajo,
Spokane, and other Indians recorded
AT the outbreak of the Civil war the designa-
ton Of the command changed from First
Regiment of Dragons" to First Regiment OF
Cavalry without any change of internal
ganizaton or shifting of personnel other than
what was necessary for expansion to war
strength.
During the latter part OF 1861, the regiment,
less Companies D and G, was transferred from
the Pacific coast to Washington, ID. O., to be-
come part OF the line of Union defenses around
that city. And while the regiment, minus Its two
companies was taking part in various tactical
movements around the Federal Capital, the two
companies left In the West were making history.
In January, 1862, they acted as escort for
General Candy; on February 10. Company D
engaged Confederate troops in skirmish near
Fort Craig; the two companies took part In the
battle OF Valverde on February q and Company
ID took part In engagements at Pigeons Ranch,
March 30 Albuquerque, April rs, and Perato,
April a. 277 In June, 1853, the two companies we're
broken up, the officers and noncommissioned
officers being transferred to- Carlisle Barracks,
Pennsylvania. There the two units were reor-
ganIzed and joined the regiment at Camp Blu
ford, Maryland, October, 1863
From this time until the end OF the war, the
First regiment was destined to see action ON
many fronts, tramp many miles up and down
the valleys of Virginia, and finally to be present
at the closing scene at Appomattox In April. 1855.
1t was attached to Sheridans famous cavalry
corps which on the march and In the attack
was second only to Jackson's In point Of swift
ness
When little Phil" swung around Richmond
the First cavalry was with him. taking part In
the following engagements: Beaver Dam sta
tion Yellow Tavern Meadow Bridge Mechanics
Vile, Tunstalrs station, Hawe's Shop. and Old
Church. Other important engagements In which
the command took part were Cold Harbor. PEN
insnla Campaign. AntIetam, Charlottesville,
Gettysburg Wilderness, Spottsylyania, Peters
burg, and Appomattox
After the surrender of both Lee and Johnston,
the regiment returned to Washington, escorting
General Sherman and was present for the "Great
Review on May IA and Is, 1865, when $1,000
OF the victorious troops paraded through the
streets of the city.
Almost Immediately thereafter the command
left for the South to aid In the work OF recon
struction, taking station In the Vicinity of New
Orleans. There ii remained until December, 1885