CHAPTER XIII.
PATRIOTISM OF SHELBY AND MOULTRIE COUNTIES.

THIRD CAVALRY REGIMENT
Pg. 118

     The Third Regiment of Cavalry was organized at Camp Butler, Illinois, by Col. Eugene A. Carr of the regular army in August, 1861.  About two thirds of company M, a large part of company H, and one private in company C, from Shelby county, composed a part of it.  On the 25th of September, 1861, the regiment moved  to St. Louis on the first of October proceeded up the Missouri river to Jefferson city, and thence marched to Warsaw, arriving Oct. 11.  On 23d marched toward Springfield, Mo., in Col. Carr's brigade, General Ashboth's division.  On the 2d of November following, Gen. Hunter took command of the army.  Nov. 13th the first and second battalions moved with the army on Rolla, Mo.  The third battalion, Maj. Ruggles commanding, was the last to Springfield.  Reached Rolla Nov. 19.  Here the regiment remained until December 29, when it moved in the advance of General Curtis' army for the south-west.  On the 13th of February, 1862, near Springfield, the third cavalry fought the first engagement, and won the first victory of Gen. Curtis' campaign.  On the 14th of February, 1862, it occupied Springfield, Mo.  On the 16th came up with Gen. Price's army, and took some prisoners.  On the 18th at Sugar Creek, Ark., the third battalion participated in a cavalry charge, routing the enemy.  It had various skirmishes and short marches during the summer and fall in Arkansas, and west of the Mississippi river, when on the 23d of December, 1862, company M, with H and C, and other companies, reported to Gen. Steele at the mouth of the Yazoo river, formed part of the force, and did good service in the disastrous attack on Vicksburg under Gen. Sherman.  Company M was the last to leave the field and embark on the boats after the battle.  In the spring of 1863, Col. McCrillis, with a battalion, moved to Memphis, and soon after, as a part of the thirteenth corps, this battalion took part in the battle of Post Gibson, Champion Hill, Black River Bridge, and the siege of Vicksburg.  Aug. 16 reported to Gen. Banks, and bore a part in the western Louisiana campaign, and at Vermilionville, Opelousas, and Carrion Crow Bayou.  Aug. 21, a part of the third regiment participated in the repulse of Gen. Forrest, in his attack on Memphis.  On Aug. 24, 1864, the non-veterans having been mustered out, the veterans were consolidated into a battalion of six companies.  A large per centage of the men in companies M and H from Shelby county went into the new arrangement, and the remainder were mustered out, their time having expired.  The battalion took part in the battles with Gen. Hood's army in December, 1864, and operated below and around Nashville. Embarked for St. Louis in May, 1865; thence to St. Paul, Minnesota, reporting to General Curtis.  On July 4 started on an Indian expedition over the plains of Minnesota and Dakota; north to the British line; south and west to Devil's Lake and Fort Barthold, and returned to Fort Snelling Oct. 1, arriving at Springfield, Ill., Oct. 13, 1865, and was mustered out of service.
     Such are some of the leading movements of the Third Cavalry Regiment, in which companies H, M and C largely participated.  Few regiments of the war passed over, by marches and otherwise, a greater area of country, or did more active duty.

THIRD CAVALRY REGIMENT.
- (Three years' service.)

MUSTER ROLL COMPANY "C."

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