The 2nd Regiment Colorado Cavalry was a 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 conscript ...

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

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 ...

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 and the Missouri Rivers. In 2020, the city proper had a population of 301,578, while the bi-state metropolitan area, which e ...

, 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 o ...

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 The Department of the Missouri was a command echelon of the United States Army in the 19th century and a sub division of the Military Division of the Missouri that functioned through the Indian Wars. History Background Following the successful ...

, 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 Fort Leavenworth () is a United States Army installation located in Leavenworth County, Kansas, in the city of Leavenworth. Built in 1827, it is the second oldest active United States Army post west of Washington, D.C., and the oldest perma ...

, 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 state in the Midwestern region of the United States. Ranking 21st in land area, it is bordered by eight states (tied for the most with Tennessee): Iowa to the north, Illinois, Kentucky and Tennessee to the east, Arkansas t ...

, until January 1863. Since January 1863, Companies F, G, H, and K were on duty in the Colorado Territory at

Fort Lyon Fort Lyon was composed of two 19th-century military fort complexes in southeastern Colorado. The initial fort, also called Fort Wise, operated from 1860 to 1867. After a flood in 1866, a new fort was built near Las Animas, Colorado, which opera ...

and other areas until November 26, 1863. From Fort Lyon they stayed at

Fort Riley Fort Riley is a United States Army installation located in North Central Kansas, on the Kansas River, also known as the Kaw, between Junction City and Manhattan. The Fort Riley Military Reservation covers 101,733 acres (41,170 ha) in Ge ...

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 th ...

, between November 26 and December 25, 1863. They marched to Kansas City, 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 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 forces under Major General Samuel R. Curtis decisively defeate ...

and

Battle of Mine Creek The Battle of Mine Creek, also known as the Battle of the Osage, was fought on October 25, 1864, in Linn County, Kansas, as part of Price's Missouri Expedition during the American Civil War. Major General Sterling Price of the Confederate Stat ...

* Major J. Nelson Smith - commanded at the

; killed in action

Smith County, Kansas Smith County (standard abbreviation: SM) is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 3,570. Its county seat is Smith Center. The county is named in memory of Maj. J. Nelson Smith, who was part of ...

, 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 * Captain Charles Frederick Holly, Company H - notable Colorado Territorial Legislator 1861-1862, Colorado Territorial Supreme Court Justice 1865-1866

Notes

References