Patrick Rigney 2nd Cavalry

[patvak]

Hi
Don't know if this is right spot but will ask here. My GGF was Patrick K Rigney on whom I'm chasing family stories. He enlisted in the 2nd Dragoons Co. B in March 1858 for 5 years and was released March 1863 at
the end of his enlistment from Co. H 2nd US Cavalry. Later joined 5th US Cavalry Co. C May 22 1865 in
Washington DC the day of the big parade for 3 years released May 1866. The first storie is he was captured
and released. Have looked at the histories of the 2nd Cavalry and read both of the big histories on the 2nd but was not finding where the 2nd was some place for him to likely to be captured. I lately been looking the Official Record happened on to this in Vol 11 of series 1 Part 1 on page 101 Gen. McClellan is write in a message to
Maj. Gen. Hallock on August 30 1862 about sending help to Gen. Pope at 2nd Bullrun Part of the message
" I have no sharpshooters except the guard around my camp. Have sent off every man but these and will now send them with the train as you direct. I will also send my only remaining squadron of cavalry with Gen, Sumner I can do no more. You now have every man of the Army of the Potomac who is within my reach.
The next day in a message also to Hallock "The squadron of the 2nd Regular Cavalry that I sent with Gen. Sumner was captured today about 2pm. Some 3 miles from Fairfax Court House beyond it on the Little River Pike by Fitzhugh Lee, with 3000 cavalry and 3 light batteries. I have coversed with the first sergeant who says
that when he last saw them they were within a mile of Fairfax. Pope had no troops on that road, this squadron getting there by mistake." I can't find another source of this info. It maybe a mismessage if not what Companies of the 2nd were involved. Hoping someone would know were to look of more info on this.
Thanks Joe

 

[mofederal]

Hello and welcome to the forum from Southeast Missouri. Have you tried sources on the 2nd US Cavalry, or memoirs by it's members. Anything written by Sumner.

 

[East Tennessee Roots]

Hi
Don't know if this is right spot but will ask here. My GGF was Patrick K Rigney on whom I'm chasing family stories. He enlisted in the 2nd Dragoons Co. B in March 1858 for 5 years and was released March 1863 at
the end of his enlistment from Co. H 2nd US Cavalry. Later joined 5th US Cavalry Co. C May 22 1865 in
Washington DC the day of the big parade for 3 years released May 1866. The first storie is he was captured
and released. Have looked at the histories of the 2nd Cavalry and read both of the big histories on the 2nd but was not finding where the 2nd was some place for him to likely to be captured. I lately been looking the Official Record happened on to this in Vol 11 of series 1 Part 1 on page 101 Gen. McClellan is write in a message to
Maj. Gen. Hallock on August 30 1862 about sending help to Gen. Pope at 2nd Bullrun Part of the message
" I have no sharpshooters except the guard around my camp. Have sent off every man but these and will now send them with the train as you direct. I will also send my only remaining squadron of cavalry with Gen, Sumner I can do no more. You now have every man of the Army of the Potomac who is within my reach.
The next day in a message also to Hallock "The squadron of the 2nd Regular Cavalry that I sent with Gen. Sumner was captured today about 2pm. Some 3 miles from Fairfax Court House beyond it on the Little River Pike by Fitzhugh Lee, with 3000 cavalry and 3 light batteries. I have coversed with the first sergeant who says
that when he last saw them they were within a mile of Fairfax. Pope had no troops on that road, this squadron getting there by mistake." I can't find another source of this info. It maybe a mismessage if not what Companies of the 2nd were involved. Hoping someone would know were to look of more info on this.
Thanks Joe

Welcome.

Shiloh after battle report:

Report of Lieut. James Powell, Eighteenth U. S. Infantry,
commanding detachment Second and Fourth U. S. Cavalry.

PITTSBURG, TENN., April 13, 1862.
SIR: I have the honor to report the part taken in the late battle of
Pittsburg, Tenn., on Sunday and Monday, April the 6th and 7th, by
Company C, Second, and Company I, Fourth Cavalry.

On Sunday morning, the 6th, at about 9 o'clock a. m., I ordered the
squadron to deploy as skirmishers on the right flank of our army, to
annoy a rebel battery than kept shelling our camps, and at the same time
keeping the communications open between the expected re-enforcements
under the command of Maj. Gen. L. Wallace and the army, which
position I held against superior force until the arrival of the
above-mentioned general, and then I bivouacked for the night in the rear
of our right flank.

On Monday morning, the 7th, I received to support a battery under the
immediate command of Maj.-Gen. Wallace. I kept that position
during the day, following up the enemy and taking several prisoners. I
remained with this division during the night.

Tuesday, the 8th, I received orders to proceed on the road to Corinth;
found the enemy in force; returned and reported accordingly.

Casualties during the action: Private Frederick Rhyman, I, Fourth
Cavalry, killed, and four horses; wounded, Privates Herberick, Ahrus,
McWilliams, Grew, and Hastings, all slightly.

I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

JAMES POWELL,
First Lieut., Eighteenth Inft., Comdg. Squad. Reg. Cavalry.

ASSISTANT ADJUTANT-GEN., Second Division, U. S. Forces,
Pittsburg, Tenn.

Source: Official Records: Series I. Vol. 10. Part I, Reports. Serial No. 10

*************************************************************************************

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

Hello @patvak .

Welcome to CivilWarTalk.

 

[Jimklag]

Hi
Don't know if this is right spot but will ask here. My GGF was Patrick K Rigney on whom I'm chasing family stories. He enlisted in the 2nd Dragoons Co. B in March 1858 for 5 years and was released March 1863 at
the end of his enlistment from Co. H 2nd US Cavalry. Later joined 5th US Cavalry Co. C May 22 1865 in
Washington DC the day of the big parade for 3 years released May 1866. The first storie is he was captured
and released. Have looked at the histories of the 2nd Cavalry and read both of the big histories on the 2nd but was not finding where the 2nd was some place for him to likely to be captured. I lately been looking the Official Record happened on to this in Vol 11 of series 1 Part 1 on page 101 Gen. McClellan is write in a message to
Maj. Gen. Hallock on August 30 1862 about sending help to Gen. Pope at 2nd Bullrun Part of the message
" I have no sharpshooters except the guard around my camp. Have sent off every man but these and will now send them with the train as you direct. I will also send my only remaining squadron of cavalry with Gen, Sumner I can do no more. You now have every man of the Army of the Potomac who is within my reach.
The next day in a message also to Hallock "The squadron of the 2nd Regular Cavalry that I sent with Gen. Sumner was captured today about 2pm. Some 3 miles from Fairfax Court House beyond it on the Little River Pike by Fitzhugh Lee, with 3000 cavalry and 3 light batteries. I have coversed with the first sergeant who says
that when he last saw them they were within a mile of Fairfax. Pope had no troops on that road, this squadron getting there by mistake." I can't find another source of this info. It maybe a mismessage if not what Companies of the 2nd were involved. Hoping someone would know were to look of more info on this.
Thanks Joe

Hello, Joe. Welcome. Glad to have you with us.

 

[patvak]

Thanks for the welcome and the suggestion are there other books on the 2nd. I have read "One Hundred Years with the Second Cavalry" and "From Everglade To Canyon with the Second United States Cavalry. Both book go from the Peninsula Campaign to Antietam with no mention the 2nd having a part in 2nd Bullrun. Gen. Sumner was the oldest general on either side and died in 1863. I have not found much writing by him. Thanks Joe

 

[DCaughey]

Joe,
That squadron was indeed captured by troops under Fitz Lee. It was commanded by Capt. Hight, I'll look up the companies later today. One of the lieutenants was a fellow by the name of Rodenbough who, while a personal hero of mine, somehow forgot to mention the incident in his book. I thought I had written a blog post about it, will either put a link here or get a new one up this week. Hight had actually been a lieutenant under Buford in Company B before the war. I may have some more info on Rigney from the roster, will check that also.
Best,
Don