12th Virginia Cavalry

A Brief History of the Regiment

Nearly 1,500 hard-riding, sabre slashing men from ten counties in the Shenandoah Valley served in the 12th Virginia Cavalry during the Civil War. The 12th (also known as the 10th) Regt. Va. Cav. was organized June 21, 1862 with ten companies, A to K, which had previously served in the 7th Virginia Cavalry. The regiment participated in over 100 skirmishes and battles for the next three years.

By mid-September 1862, the 2nd, 6th, 7th, and 12th regiments, and the 17th Bn. of Virginia Cavalry, and Chew's Battery, were organized into the Laurel Brigade. The 12th Virginia would be led by two superb cavalry officers; Asher W. Harman and Emanuel Sipe.

Perhaps the regiment's greatest achievement occured at the Battle of Brandy Station on june 9, 1863. As a Union flanking movement threatened to destroy J.E.B. Stuart's cavalry corps, a bold and reckless charge by the 12th Virginia helped to thwart the Yankee attempt, thus securing the key position for the Confederates.

Other noteable 12th Cavalry actions included the capture of Union railroad trains in the Shenandoah Valley; adventurous missions deep into West Virginia in 1863 and 1864; assisting with the capture and roundup of over 2,000 cattle far behind Union lines in the famous "Beefsteak Raid"; and participating in the last charge at Appomattox only two hours before Lee's surrender.



List of Companies that composed the 12th Va. Cavalry:

  • A - Capt. James W. Glenn's Co. (Jefferson Co.)

  • B - Capt. Robert W. Baylor's Co. (Jefferson Co.)

  • C - Capt. John H. Ford's Co. (Frederick Co.)

  • D - Capt. Henry W. Kearney's Co. (Jefferson Co.)

  • E - Capt. James Marshall's Co.

  • F - Capt. James L. Clark's Co.

  • G - Capt. Albert C. Swindler's Co.

  • H - Capt. Edward C. Randolph's Co. (Rockingham Co.)

  • I - Capt. Granville Eastham's Co. (Warren Co.)

  • K - Capt. Levi Lutz's Co. (Shenandoah Co.)

  • James C. Blackford's Co.


    For more detailed information on this regiment, and the men who fought in it, I recommend
    the

    12th Virginia Cavalry
    by Dennis E. Frye

    Available from

    The Virginia Regimental Histories Series


    The United States Army Military History Institutes Guide to further references concerning the 12th Virginia Cavalry

    The Virginia Civil War Home Page

    Forward the Colors to the Virginia Regimental Histories Series

    These pages authored and maintained by Robert H. Moore, II.
    ©1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 All rights reserved.
    Robert Moore, II and
    Jeffrey C. Weaver;
    H. E. Howard, Inc.
     Rt. 2 Box 496H
    Appomattox, Virginia 24522
    Page established: 12/21/97
    Last revised: 01/4/01

    1