3rd Rhode Island Cavalry The 3rd Rhode Island Volunteer Cavalry was a cavalry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War . The regiment briefly served dismounted as infantry in the defenses of New Orleans , June – September , 1864 . Service . The 3rd Rhode Island Cavalry was organized in Providence , Rhode Island and mustered in September 12 , 1863 for a three year enlistment . On January 14 , 1864 , the 2nd Rhode Island Cavalry ( by this time it was battalion strength ) was transferred to 3rd Rhode Island Cavalry . The regiment was attached to Defenses of New Orleans , Department of the Gulf , to March 1864 . 5th Brigade , Cavalry Division , Department of the Gulf , to June 1864 . Defenses of New Orleans , Louisiana , to October 1864 . District of LaFourche , Department of the Gulf , to November 1865 . The 3rd Rhode Island Cavalry mustered out of service November 29 , 1865 . Detailed service . 1st Battalion moved to New Orleans , La . , December 31 , 1863 to January 14 , 1864 . Red River Campaign March 10 - May 22 , 1864 . Advance to Alexandria March 14 – 26 . Monett ' s Ferry and Cloutiersville March 29 – 30 . Natchitoches March 31 . Campti April 4 . Sabine Cross Roads April 8 . Pleasant Hill April 9 . Natchitoches April 19 . ( Companies E , F , and L moved to join the regiment at Alexandria April 20 – 22 . ) Action at Tunica Bend April 21 . About Cloutiersville April 22 – 24 . Monett ' s Ferry or Cane River Crossing April 23 . Gov . Moore ' s Plantation May 1 – 2 . Alexandria May 11 – 12 . Retreat from Alexandria to Morganza May 13 – 20 . Natchitoches May 14 . Mansura May 16 . Near Moreauville May 17 . Yellow Bayou May 18 . Near Morganza May 24 . Reached Fort Banks , opposite New Orleans , June 2 . Companies G and H reported at New Orleans May 8 and joined the regiment at Greenville June 10 . Regiment dismounted June 22 , and served duty as infantry in the defenses of New Orleans until September . Remounted September 20 . Assigned to duty in the District of LaFourche at Donaldsonville , Napoleonville , Thibodeaux , Camp Parapet , Plaquemine , Houma , Hermitage Plantation , and other points in Louisiana , scouting and patrol duty and operating against guerrillas , until November 1865 . Action at Napoleonville November 1 , 1864 , and at Doyall ' s Plantation November 29 . 1864 ( detachment ) . Expedition from Brashear City to Whiskey Bayou January 16 – 18 , 1865 ( Companies B , I , and K ) . Expedition from Napoleonville to Grand River January 18 – 19 ( detachment ) . Scout from Donaldsonville January 19 – 20 ( detachment ) . Skirmish , Thompson ' s Plantation , January 23 . Scouts from Bayou Goula to Grand River January 29 - February 7 . Skirmish , Richland Plantation , January 30 . Expedition from Thibodeaux to Lake Verret and Bayou Planton January 30 – 31 ( Company H ) . Near Lake Verret January 30 . Skirmish , Kittredge ' s Sugar House , near Napoleon , February 10 . Expedition from Donaldsonville to Grand Bayou and Bayou Goula February 14 – 18 . Skirmish , Martin ' s Lane , February 15 ( Companies D , F , and K ) . Expedition from Plaquemine to the Park February 17 – 22 ( detachment ) . Expedition from the Hermitage to the French Settlement April 2 – 5 ( detachment ) . Expedition to Lake Verret , Grand Bayou , etc . , April 2 – 10 . Expedition from Terre Bonne to Pelion ' s Plantation and Grand Caillou April 19 – 25 ( Company M ) . operations about Brashear City April 30 - May 12 . Bayou Goula May 9 . Expedition from Bayou Boeuf to Bayou de Large May 25 – 27 . Affair , Bayou de Large , May 27 . Casualties . The regiment lost a total of 147 men during service ; 8 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded , 4 officers and 135 enlisted men died of disease .