1st Battalion Nevada Volunteer Cavalry
Encyclopedia
The 1st Battalion of Nevada Volunteer Cavalry, or the Nevada Territory Cavalry Volunteers, was a unit raised for the Union army
during the American Civil War
. It remained in the west, garrisoning frontier posts, protecting emigrant routes, and engaged in scouting duties. The unit was disbanded in July 1866.
began in Virginia City
. These early volunteers were mustered into the 3rd California Cavalry, and occupied military posts within the territory. The following spring, Nevada was authorized to raise their own battalion of cavalry for three-years service. Recruitment offices were first opened at Gold Hill
and Silver City
, and the first men began mustering in on 17 June 1863. Other recruiting stations were later opened in Aurora
, Carson City
and Genoa
and the battalion of six companies would be completed in April 1864.
The companies, or detachments of, would be engaged in various scouting missions and fort garrisoning during their service. Companies A and B left for the Utah Territory
in 1864, where they encamped at Fort Bridger
, Companies C and F manned Camp Douglas in Utah, while the other two were engaged in numerous skirmishes with hostiles throughout Nevada.
The Expedition to the Humboldt River would take Captain Wells and Company D on a 1,200 mile scouting operation, from their camp at Fort Churchill north and west to the California border and back. In the 84 days, they never engaged or saw any hostile Indians.
The Pyramid Lake, Walker Lake
and Mud Lake operations in March 1865 involved Companies D and E investigating the murders of miners and the theft of cattle from settlers. The 10 March incident at Walker Lake with Capt Wallace and Company E was settled quickly, with the suspected murderers being handed over by the Paiute
band. For Capt Wells and Company E, however, encountering the Smoke Creek Paiutes at Mud Lake (now Winnemucca Lake
) on 14 March became a battle. Though only one man was wounded, twenty-nine Indians were killed in the action. Reports from both sides offer largely different versions of the incident.
Table (or Godfrey's) Mountain, 20 May 1865.
Capt Littlefield, with 35 men of Company D, while on a scouting run near Paradise Valley, encountered a large band of Paiute's. Largely outnumbered, he returned to camp to notify Captain Wells, who gathered up Co. E, and returned to the scene with a force of 65 soldiers. Chief Zeluawick, with 500 Paiute, Shoshone
and Bannock
warriors, held a position on top of a butte
. Wells, Littlefield and 40 men (the remainder of the force keeping the horses) charge up the hill, and fought until night fall, when a retreat was ordered. Two soldiers were killed, and four wounded in the attempted assault.
Skirmishes with these bands of Paiutes continued throughout the summer, with additional troops of the 1st Nevada Infantry and 2nd California Cavalry taking part. Companies D and E, along with a detachment from Company F, would be mustered out on 18 November 1865. Companies A, B and C would be mustered out of service on 12 July 1866, while the remainder of Company F stayed on until 21 July.
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. It remained in the west, garrisoning frontier posts, protecting emigrant routes, and engaged in scouting duties. The unit was disbanded in July 1866.
History
In the spring of 1862, recruiting for the army in the Nevada TerritoryNevada Territory
The Territory of Nevada was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from March 2, 1861, until October 31, 1864, when it was admitted to the Union as the State of Nevada....
began in Virginia City
Virginia City
Virginia City is a city located in Storey County, Nevada.Virginia City may also refer to:* Virginia City, Montana* Virginia City, Nevada* Virginia City, Virginia* Virginia City , a 1940 film starring Errol Flynn...
. These early volunteers were mustered into the 3rd California Cavalry, and occupied military posts within the territory. The following spring, Nevada was authorized to raise their own battalion of cavalry for three-years service. Recruitment offices were first opened at Gold Hill
Gold Hill, Nevada
Gold Hill is a community in Storey County, Nevada, located just south and downhill of Virginia City. Incorporated December 17, 1862, in order to prevent its annexation by its larger neighbor, the town at one point was home to at least 8,000 residents. Prosperity was sustained for a period of 20...
and Silver City
Silver City, Nevada
Silver City is a town in Lyon County, Nevada, USA, near the Lyon/Carson border. The population as of the 2000 census was 170....
, and the first men began mustering in on 17 June 1863. Other recruiting stations were later opened in Aurora
Aurora, Nevada
Aurora is a ghost town in Mineral County in the western central part of the U.S. state of Nevada, approximately southwest of the town of Hawthorne and three miles from the California border....
, Carson City
Carson City, Nevada
The Consolidated Municipality of Carson City is the capital of the state of Nevada. The words Consolidated Municipality refer to a series of changes in 1969 which abolished Ormsby County and merged all the settlements contained within its borders into Carson City. Since that time Carson City has...
and Genoa
Genoa, Nevada
Genoa is an unincorporated town in Douglas County, Nevada, United States. Founded in 1850, it was the first settlement in what became the Nevada Territory. It is situated within Carson River Valley and is about south of Reno....
and the battalion of six companies would be completed in April 1864.
The companies, or detachments of, would be engaged in various scouting missions and fort garrisoning during their service. Companies A and B left for the Utah Territory
Utah Territory
The Territory of Utah was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from September 9, 1850, until January 4, 1896, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Utah....
in 1864, where they encamped at Fort Bridger
Fort Bridger
Fort Bridger was originally a 19th century fur trading outpost established in 1842 on Blacks Fork of the Green River and later a vital resupply point for wagon trains on the Oregon Trail, California Trail and Mormon Trail. The Army established a military post here in 1858 during the Utah War until...
, Companies C and F manned Camp Douglas in Utah, while the other two were engaged in numerous skirmishes with hostiles throughout Nevada.
The Expedition to the Humboldt River would take Captain Wells and Company D on a 1,200 mile scouting operation, from their camp at Fort Churchill north and west to the California border and back. In the 84 days, they never engaged or saw any hostile Indians.
The Pyramid Lake, Walker Lake
Walker Lake (Nevada)
Walker Lake is a natural lake, 50.3 mi² in area, in the Great Basin in western Nevada in the United States. It is 18 mi long and 7 mi wide, located in northwestern Mineral County along the eastern side of the Wassuk Range, approximately 75 mi southeast of Reno...
and Mud Lake operations in March 1865 involved Companies D and E investigating the murders of miners and the theft of cattle from settlers. The 10 March incident at Walker Lake with Capt Wallace and Company E was settled quickly, with the suspected murderers being handed over by the Paiute
Paiute
Paiute refers to three closely related groups of Native Americans — the Northern Paiute of California, Idaho, Nevada and Oregon; the Owens Valley Paiute of California and Nevada; and the Southern Paiute of Arizona, southeastern California and Nevada, and Utah.-Origin of name:The origin of...
band. For Capt Wells and Company E, however, encountering the Smoke Creek Paiutes at Mud Lake (now Winnemucca Lake
Winnemucca Lake
Winnemucca Lake, just east of Pyramid Lake in the northwestern portion of the U.S. state of Nevada is on the dividing line between Washoe County and Pershing County counties.- Geography :...
) on 14 March became a battle. Though only one man was wounded, twenty-nine Indians were killed in the action. Reports from both sides offer largely different versions of the incident.
Table (or Godfrey's) Mountain, 20 May 1865.
Capt Littlefield, with 35 men of Company D, while on a scouting run near Paradise Valley, encountered a large band of Paiute's. Largely outnumbered, he returned to camp to notify Captain Wells, who gathered up Co. E, and returned to the scene with a force of 65 soldiers. Chief Zeluawick, with 500 Paiute, Shoshone
Shoshone
The Shoshone or Shoshoni are a Native American tribe in the United States with three large divisions: the Northern, the Western and the Eastern....
and Bannock
Bannock (tribe)
The Bannock tribe of the Northern Paiute are an indigenous people of the Great Basin. Their traditional lands include southeastern Oregon, southeastern Idaho, western Wyoming, and southwestern Montana...
warriors, held a position on top of a butte
Butte
A butte is a conspicuous isolated hill with steep, often vertical sides and a small, relatively flat top; it is smaller than mesas, plateaus, and table landform tables. In some regions, such as the north central and northwestern United States, the word is used for any hill...
. Wells, Littlefield and 40 men (the remainder of the force keeping the horses) charge up the hill, and fought until night fall, when a retreat was ordered. Two soldiers were killed, and four wounded in the attempted assault.
Skirmishes with these bands of Paiutes continued throughout the summer, with additional troops of the 1st Nevada Infantry and 2nd California Cavalry taking part. Companies D and E, along with a detachment from Company F, would be mustered out on 18 November 1865. Companies A, B and C would be mustered out of service on 12 July 1866, while the remainder of Company F stayed on until 21 July.