OHIO ELEVENTH CAVALRY (Three Years)

Eleventh Cavalry. Lieut.-Cols., William O. Collins, Thomas L. Mackey; Majs., John O. Ferrell, Bolivar C. Converse, Levi G. Marshall, William H. Evans. Cos. A, B, C and D of this regiment were organized as the 7th Ohio cavalry, but were consolidated on Dec. 19, 1861, with the 6th cavalry, forming the 1st battalion of that regiment, the whole being then rendezvoused at Camp Dennison. On March 13, 1862, the 1st battalion, under command of Lieut.-Col. Collins, was detached from the 6th cavalry and ordered to report to Gen. Halleck, at St. Louis, Mo., by whom it was ordered to proceed to Fort Laramie, D. T. (now Wyoming) , where it arrived on May 30, 1862, having marched overland from Fort Leavenworth, Kan., a distance of about 640 miles. During the summer of 1862, the battalion was permanently detached from the regiment and designated as the "First Independent Battalion Ohio Volunteer Cavalry." A battalion of four companies (E, F, G and H) was organized at Camps Dennison and Chase, Ohio, from June 26 to July 31, 1863, when the two battalions were consolidated and designated the 11th Ohio cavalry. The 2nd battalion was called into service during John Morgan's raid through Ohio, and after the capture and dispersion of his force returned to Camp Dennison. Leaving Camp Dennison on Aug. 1, 1863, it reached Fort Leavenworth, Kan., on the 13th. While there awaiting supplies the sacking and burning of the town of Lawrence occurred and the battalion was sent in pursuit of Quantrill. After marching about 150 miles it was recalled, and on Sept. 2 proceeded across the plains for Fort Laramie, where it arrived on Oct. 10. Cos. I, K and L were organized on June 30, 1864, at Fort Laramie, D. T., being composed of surplus recruits assigned to the regiment. The ground of the operations of this regiment, which was never actually together during its term of service, was in the center of the Rocky mountains and the then hostile Indian country, before the organization of the territory of Wyoming, when nearly all that vast extent of territory was known as Dakota and Idaho. Its principal duty was to guard the Pacific telegraph line and the overland route of communication and supply, extending from Colorado and western Nebraska and Kansas through Wyoming and Idaho to Utah and Oregon. With the exception of Fort Laramie, the men of this regiment erected and guarded all the military posts and stations established in 1864-65 on the line of communication and supply indicated, to make the circuit of which required 1,000 miles of travel. From March 1 to Sept. 5, 1865, a single company of this regiment erected five posts, guarded 150 miles of Pacific telegraph line, and its several detachments had 13 engagements with Indians. Two companies, on an expedition to Powder and Tongue rivers, took part in a charge upon and the burning of an Indian village, marched 1,200 miles and were out 58 days. It is difficult to definitely locate and designate the numerous engagements between the detachments and the Indians, but the following is a list of the principal battles, compiled after a careful research, during the preparation of this work: South Pass, Sweet Water bridge, Mud Springs Station, Rush creek, near Laparelle creek, near Poison creek, Fort Marshall, Deer Creek Station, Camp Marshall, Deer creek, St. Mary's Station, Elkhorn, near Deer creek, Sage Creek Station, Sweet Water bridge, Rock creek, Platte bridge (Ft. Caspar), Powder river, Indian village (Tongue River). Cos. A, B, C and D were mustered out on April 1, 1865, at Omaha, Neb., by reason of expiration of term of service. The remaining companies, being the last volunteer troops from Ohio in service, were mustered out on July 14, 1866, at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., by order of the war department.

Source: The Union Army, vol. 2

Ohio 11th Volunteer Cavalry (Union)

Muster

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