More Than One Cavalry Lancer Unit?

[M E Wolf]

O.R.--SERIES IV--VOLUME I [S# 127]
CORRESPONDENCE, ORDERS, REPORTS, AND RETURNS OF THE CONFEDERATE AUTHORITIES, DECEMBER 20, 1860-JUNE 30, 1862.(*)--#38
CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA, WAR DEPARTMENT,
Richmond, Va., February 24, 1862.
Governor JOSEPH E. BROWN,
Milledgeville, Ga. :
SIR: Your favor of the 14th instant is received, and I cannot too warmly express my acknowledgments for your prompt and cordial co-operation in our effort at defense. I think two regiments of cavalry will be all that we can accept from your State in proportion to the number of infantry called for. I will, of course, accept any reasonable number of cavalry regiments above your quota, but of the number called for I would not be able to accept more than two regiments. Cavalry will be armed with carbines or double-barreled shotguns and sabers, or we will take lancers and provide the lance. We have no pistols, but would pay for any that the men can arm themselves with at fair prices. The batteries for the artillery can be promptly furnished. Two companies are all that I can receive from your State at present, as the rivalry for that arm is very great.

I am, your obedient servant,
J. P. BENJAMIN,
Secretary of War.
-----

 

[M E Wolf]

Dyer's Compendium, Pt. 1 (Campaigns etc.)
Organization List (here for abbreviations)--Michigan

1st Regt. Cav.
2nd Regt. Cav.
3rd Regt. Cav.
4th Regt. Cav.
5th Regt. Cav.
6th Regt. Cav.
7th Regt. Cav.
8th Regt. Cav.
9th Regt. Cav.
10th Regt. Cav.
11th Regt. Cav.
1st U.S. Lancers.
Chandler Horse Guard.

=============

1st U. S. LANCERS.—Org. at Detroit, Saginaw and St. Johns Nov. 30, 1861, to Feby. 20, 1862. Mustered out March 20, 1862.

CHANDLER'S HORSE GUARDS.—Org. at Coldwater Sept. 19, 1861. Mustered out Nov. 22, 1861.

 

[M E Wolf]

Dyer's Compendium, Pt. 1 (Campaigns etc.)
Union Regimental Index--Missouri

SOBOLESKI'S INDPT. COMPANY LANCERS.—Org. at Benton Barracks, Mo., Nov.-Dec., 1861. Mustered out Jany. 24, 1862.

 

[M E Wolf]

Dyer's Compendium, Pt. 1 (Campaigns etc.)
Union Regimental Index--Pennsylvania

6th REGIMENT CAVALRY.—(70th VOLS.). "Rush's Lancers." Org. at Phila. and Reading, Aug. to Oct., 1861. Dec., 1861, Def. Washington, D.C. March, 1862, Emory's Brig., Cooke's Cav., Div. Potomac. April, 1862, Emory's Brig., Cav. Res., Potomac. July, 1862, 2 Brig., Cav. Div., Potomac. Sept., 1862, 3 Brig., Pleasanton's Cav. Div., Potomac. Nov., 1862, Heador's Left, Grand Div., Potomac. Feby., 1863, Res. Cav. Brig., Cav. Corps, Potomac. June, 1863, Res. Brig., 1 Div., Cav. Corps, Potomac. Aug., 1864, Reserve (3) Brig., 1 Div., Cav. Corps, Army Shenandoah, Middle Mil. Div. and Army Potomac. Consolidated with 1st and 17th Pa. Cav., June 17, 1865, to form 2d Prov'l Cav.

==========
Dyer's Compendium, Pt. 3 (Regimental Histories)
PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEERS.

6th REGIMENT CAVALRY (70th VOLUNTEERS), "RUSH'S LANCERS."
Organized at Philadelphia August to October, 1861. Moved to Washington, D.C., December 10 to December 16, 1861. Attached to Emory's Brigade, Cooke's Cav-Brigade, Cavalry Reserve, Army Potomac, to July, 1862. alry Command, Army Potomac, to April, 1862. Emory's 2nd Brigade, Cavalry Division, Army Potomac, to August, 1862. 3rd Brigade, Pleasanton's Cavalry Division, Army Potomac, to November, 1862. Headquarters Left Grand Division, Army Potomac, to February, 1863. Reserve Brigade, Cavalry Corps, Army of the Potomac, to June, 1863. Reserve Brigade, 1st Division, Cavalry Corps, Army Potomac, to August, 1864. 3rd (Reserve) Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, Cavalry Corps, Army Shenandoah and Army Potomac, to June, 1865.

SERVICE.--Provost duty in the Defences of Washington, D.C., till May, 1862. Scout to Hunter's Mills March 19. Moved to Fortress Monroe, thence to Yorktown, Va., May 3-5. Reconnoissance to Mulberry Point, Va., May 7-8 (Detachment). Reconnoissance to New Castle and Hanovertown Ferry May 22. Reconnoissance to Hanover C. H. May 24. Charge on picket line with lances May 25 (Co. "C"). Hanover C. H. May 27 (Co. "A"). Operations near Hanover C. H. May 27-29. Occupation of Ashland May 30. Reconnoissance to Hanover C. H. June 10-12. Operations about White House against Stuart June 13-15. Garlick's Landing, Pamunkey River, June 13. Seven days before Richmond June 25-July 1. Beaver Dam Station June 26 (Cos. "B," "C," "G," "H"). Companies "A," "D," "I," "K" with Stoneman on retreat to White House and Williamsburg. Gaines' Mill June 27. Savage Station June 29 (Co. "F"). Glendale June 30. White Oak Swamp June 30. Company "F" Malvern Hill July 1. (Cos. "C" and "H" at Headquarters, 5th Corps.) Company "F" escort Heavy Artillery from Malvern Hill to Harrison's Landing. Fall's Church September 2-4 (Cos. "C," "H"). South Mountain and near Jefferson, Md., September 13. Crampton's Pass, South Mountain, September 14 (Cos. "B," "G," "I"). Antietam September 16-17 (Cos. "B," "G," "I"). Sharpsburg September 19. Shepherdstown Ford September 19. (Co. "K" at Headquarters, 6th Corps, November, 1862, to February 24, 1863.) Bloomfield and Upperville November 2-3. Battle of Fredericksburg December 12-15. Occoquan River December 19-20 (Cos. "B," "G"). "Mud March" January 20-24, 1863 (Cos. "A," "D," "E"). Chancellorsville Campaign April 27-May 6. Stoneman's Raid April 29-May 8 (Co. "L"). Raccoon Ford April 30 (Detachment). Brandy Station and Beverly Ford June 9. Reconnoissance to Ashby's Gap June 14 (Co. "A"). Greencastle, Pa., June 20. Upperville June 21. Battle of Gettysburg, Pa., July 1-3. Williamsport, Md., July 6. Boonsborough July 8. Funkstown July 10-13. Aldie July 11. Kelly's Ford July 31-August 1. Brandy Station August 1. Advance from the Rappahannock to the Rapidan September 13-17. Bristoe Campaign October 9-22. Manassas Junction October 17. Bristoe Station October 18. Advance to line of the Rappahannock November 7-8. Mine Run Campaign November 26-December 2. Demonstration on the Rapidan February 6-7, 1864. Custer's Raid in Albemarle County February 28-March 1. Near Charlottesville February 29. Burton's Ford, Stannardsville, March 1. Rapidan Campaign May and June. Todd's Tavern May 7-8. Sheridan's Raid to James River May 9-24. Ground Squirrel Church and Yellow Tavern May 11. Meadow Bridge. Richmond, May 12. Mechanicsville May 12. Line of the Pamunkey May 26-28. Hanovertown Ferry and Hanovertown May 27. Totopotomoy May 28-31. Old Church May 30. Mattadequin Creek May 30. Bethesda Church, Cold Harbor, May 31-June 1. McClellan's Bridge June 2. Haw's Shop June 4-5. Sheridan's Trevillian Raid June 7-24. Trevillian Station June 11-12. Newark or Mallory's Cross Roads June 12. White House or St. Peter's Church June 21. Black Creek or Tunstall Station June 21. Jones' Bridge June 23. Siege of Petersburg July 3-30. Demonstration north of James at Deep Bottom July 27-29. Charles City Cross Roads July 27-28. Malvern Hill July 28. Shenandoah Valley Campaign August to November. Near Stone Chapel August 10. Toll Gate near White Post August 11, Near Newtown August 11. Near Strasburg August 14. Summit Point August 21. Kearneysville August 25. Leetown and Smithfield August 23. Smithfield Crossing, Opequan, August 29. Ordered to Pleasant Valley, Md., September 8, and to Hagerstown, November. Sheridan's Raid from Winchester February 27-March 25, 1865. Waynesboro March 2. Appomattox Campaign March 28-April 9. Gravelly Run near Five Forks March 30. Dinwiddie C. H. March 30-31. Five Forks April 1. Scott's Cross Roads April 2. Tabernacle Church or Beaver Pond Creek April 4. Sailor's Creek April 6. Appomattox Station April 8. Appomattox C. H. April 9. Surrender of Lee and his army. Expedition to Danville April 23-29. March to Washington, D.C., May. Grand Review May 23. Consolidated with 1st and 17th Pennsylvania Cavalry June 17, 1865, to form 2nd Provisional Cavalry.

Regiment lost during service 7 Officers and 71 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 3 Officers and 86 Enlisted men by disease. Total 167.

 

[M E Wolf]

Worthy note of mention of a "Lancer's pendent" being used on board ship....

Navy O.R.-- Series I--Volume 7 [S# 7]
North Atlantic Blockading Squadron.
From March 8 To September 4, 1862. pp. 550-599

Order of Captain Wilkes, U.S. Navy, regarding a distinguishing pennant for pickets and scouts.
U.S.S. WACHUSETT,
James River, July 14, 1862.

The commanding officers of all vessels attached to this command will observe that hereafter the Union troops, cavalry, picketing or scouting on the banks of the James River, will be distinguished by a lancer's red pennant or flag.

It must be understood that the above information is for commanding officers only.

CHARLES WILKES,
Commanding James River Flotilla.

 

[R. Evans]

IIRC, the 1st U.S. Lancers from Michigan were never accepted into service and were disbanded before being fully formed. Could be wrong though.

And thanks everyone for the replies. Very informative.

 

[major bill]

O.R.--SERIES III--VOLUME I [S# 122]
CORRESPONDENCE, ORDERS, REPORTS, AND RETURNS OF THE UNION AUTHORITIES FROM NOVEMBER 1, 1860, TO MARCH 31, 1862.(*)--#24

DETROIT, October 26, 1861.
Hon. S. CAMERON,
Secretary of War:
Three months', one regiment infantry, 780 strong. For the war, ten regiments infantry, one of cavalry, two companies sharpshooters, and one battery; aggregate strength, 11,000 men. Now organized in the State, two regiments cavalry, one infantry, and one battery; aggregate, 3,450. In process of organization, four regiments of infantry, one of lancers, one of fusileers, two companies sharpshooters, and two batteries.
JOHN ROBERTSON,
Adjutant-General of Michigan.
-----

The First United States Lancers a.k.a. Rankin's Lancersa.k.a. Michigan Lancers (companies formed in several cities) was formed under Colonel Rankin a colonel form the 9th Division Canadian Militia and member of Canadian Parliament. He was forced to resign and the regiment soon disbanded.
"We have seen the undress uniform of the Lancers. It consists of dark blue pants with an inch and a half gold stripe on either side; a green, tight fitting jacket with three rows of ornamental buttons running from either shoulder and the chin to a point at the waist; the cap is blue, and is surrounded with an inch and a half gold band. The full dress has not been decided upon. The uniform above described will be far the most showy of any yet."http://civilwartalk.com/#_edn1A Drawing in an article in Harpers Weekly shows them in single breasted round-about jackets and trousers with light stripes. The article shows their pillbox caps which had arrived on November 7 1861.[ii] An article on the Detroit Daily Advertiser on January 13 1962 indicates the lancers are now receiving uniforms. It is possible that the green uniforms described above were those Coronal Rankin had originally planning to order from New York, he subsequently changed his mind, and ordered the uniforms from Samuel Sykes of Detroit. Sykes was to provide 250 suits in mid December 1861 to the 1st Lancers.
The Detroit Free Press of March 22 1862 has a letter from a discharged lancer which details what he was issued. He had received an overcoat, one jacket, one pair of shoddy pants, one cloth cap, one blanket, one pair of boots, two cotton shirts, two pairs of cotton drawers, and two pairs of socks.
The Detroit Daily Advertiser article goes on to say they were to be armed like the 16th Regiment of British Lancers They were actually armed with a lance, carbine, dragoon revolver and saber. Samuel Shaw made the lances and swords for Rankin's Lancers (also referred to in other sources as W. H Shaw). These were nine feet, seven inches long overall with eleven inches of that being a double bladed lance head that was one and a half inches wide at the widest point. The pennons were red and white. When the lancers were disbanded the state stored the lances for further use.
When the lancers disbanded in early 1862 most of the men joined other Michigan regiments (many joined the 16th Infantry Regiment) and some men may have worn their Lancer uniforms until their new regiment were issued uniforms.

http://civilwartalk.com/#_ednref1Detroit Daily AdvertiserOctober 3 1861.
[ii]Detroit Free Press, November 7 1861.

 

[OldGreyMare]

One of the reasons why lances weren't used was due to the terrain. The other (and possibly more considerable) reason is: using the lance takes a well drilled cavalry -- something neither side had. U.S. cavalry adopted the pistol charge in response to this (and it worked out rather well for them).

 

[AUG]

Company B of the 5th Texas Mounted Rifles - one of the four mounted regiments that made up Sibley's army during the New Mexico Campaign - was armed with lances captured during the Mexican War, mainly due to lack of proper arms. The company was raised by Lieutenant Willis L. Lang, a former planter and Texas Ranger. Co. B made an infamous charge at the battle of Valverde, where they were gunned down to nearly the last man by a company of Colorado Volunteers. Captain Lang was severely wounded in the charge and a week later he put himself out of his misery. His second in command, Lt. Demetrius M. Bass, was also wounded several times and died a few days after the battle. When the battle was over most of the remaining lancers, along with others armed with inadequate weapons equipped themselves with rifles picked up off the field.

In the last year or so Don Troiani painted this awesome depiction of the Co. B, 5th Texas Lancers:

 

[Elennsar]

Since Eric mentioned them: Was the 5th Virginia Cavalry intended to be a lancer regiment (like the 6th Pennsylvania Cavalry), or were the lances merely "hey, at least its a weapon." like how pikes seem to have been?

 

[Kungfooey]

I've sent this PM to major bill, but I figure I should post for everyone else to see as someone else may also have some knowledge. Below is text of PM.

"I saw your post on the forums in regard to the 1st US Lancers and your lament at not having seen a photo or knowing of one in existence. I recently purchased an ID'd CDV on Ebay of a member who has a pencil ID on the reverse that you may be interested in. I was attracted to this particular CDV and purchased it due to a few things. 1). Name of individual - ease of research and 2). unique uniform. This individual is wearing a pillbox cap and has trousers with a gold strip along the legs. Based on what I have found via the internet, this individual named Henry W. Gunnison was a Lt. sent to Milwaukee to recruit for Col. Rankin. As there are two individuals listed in the NPS database with the same name but one was in the 24th Wisconsin Infantry, I believe that once the Lancers disbanded, this guy went on to join up with the 24th as he was originally from Milwaukee. I've included a link to the ebay item as it hasn't been purged. I'd like your thoughts on all this. Feel free to respond back to me here or at the below email address."

http://www.ebay.com/itm/381141186330?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

 

[major bill]

I bumped this in hope someone might have new information about the First United States Lancers a.k.a. Rankin's Lancers a.k.a. Michigan Lancers. I am interested in these green jackets and if theses green jackets were in fact ever issued. I am of the view that the green uniforms were only made for recruiting and that when it was decided that the uniforms were to be made in Michigan that the only difference between the lancers and other Michigan were the lancer style pillbox caps.