MAINE 2ND CAVALRY

Second Cavalry.-Col., Ephraim W. Woodman; Lieut.-Cols., John F. Godfrey, Andrew B. Spurling; Majs., Charles A. Miller, Eben Hutchinson, Andrew B. Spurling, Nathan Cutler. This regiment was organized at Augusta at the close of the year 1863, and the men were mustered in between Nov. 30, and Jan. 2, 1864, to serve for three years. It numbered 989 men, all of good physique and well armed and disciplined. It was assigned to the Department of the Gulf and arrived in five detachments at New Orleans, during April, 1864. Companies A and D, and a part of G, the first to arrive, were at once ordered to Alexandria, La. and assigned to the 3d cavalry brigade, to participate in the Red River expedition. They took part in the engagements at Cherryville cross-roads Marksville, Avoyelles prairie and Yellow bayou, and rejoined the main body of the regiment at Thibodeaux on June 1. In August the regiment went to Pensacola, Fla., arriving on the 11th, and encamped near Barrancas. During the balance of this year it was engaged in fatigue duty, and participated in raids to Marianna, Fla., and Pollard, Ala. In each of these raids severe damage was inflicted on the enemy, many prisoners and large quantities of stores being captured. In the raid to Pollard four distinct battles were fought, but Lieut.-Col. Spurling, on whom the command of the expedition had devolved, succeeded in conducting his command, encumbered with a train of 50 wagons, 60 miles through the enemy's country, attacked constantly on front, rear and flanks by a superior force. The regiment suffered much during the summer of 1864, from sickness, induced by a sudden change to the excessive heat of southern Louisiana. At one time only 450 were able to report for duty, and during the year the regiment lost by deaths one officer and 278 enlisted men. On Feb. 23, 1865, Lieut.-Col. Spurling with 300 men routed the enemy at Milton, Fla. The regiment joined Gen. Steele's command at Pensacola on March 19, and participated in the campaign which resulted in the capture of Mobile, and opened up the State of Alabama to the Union forces. The regiment rendered highly efficient service, captured many prisoners, destroyed much railroad and other property, frequently engaged the enemy, and opened communication with Gen. Canby, who was besieging Spanish Fort. After the fall of Mobile, a detachment of the regiment accompanied the 16th corps-on a 200-mile march to Montgomery, Ala. In Aug., 1865, detachments of the regiment were stationed at various points in western Florida to preserve the peace. On Dec. 1, it was concentrated at Barrancas, and was mustered out on the 6th, though 25 officers and 116 men remained in Florida, and 14 officers and 500 enlisted men returned to Augusta, where they were finally paid and discharged.

Source: The Union Army, vol. 1

Name	Start Date	End Date	Duration	Place
Mobile Bay	2/08/1864	23/08/1864	21 day(s)	Mobile Bay, Alabama
Fort Blakeley	9/04/1865	9/04/1865	< 1 day	Baldwin County, Alabama
Marianna	27/09/1864	27/09/1864	< 1 day	Marianna, Florida

Maine 2nd Volunteer Cavalry (Union)

Muster

Other

battles

Related Records