Union Support Units

Drawings from the Olustee Post Card Set.

The remainder of the Union Army consisted of Colonel Guy V. Henry's cavalry brigade, including the Fortieth Massachusetts Mounted Infantry; the Independent Battalion Massachusetts Cavalry, commanded by Major A.H. Stevens; and Battery B, First United States Artillery, commanded by Captain Elder, also known as Elder's Horse Battery. Major Atherton H. Stevens, Jr. Left: during the War - from a carte de visite - courtesy Michael Wilson, Carte-de-Visite by: Sam A. Cooley photographer, Tenth Army Corps, Beaufort, S.C. Right: after the War - from a carte de visite - courtesy Gary Vickerson Major Atherton H. Stevens, Jr., was Provost Marshal of the 25th Corps after his unit returned to the Army of the Potomac. On April 3, 1865, Major Stevens led two companies of the 4th Massachusetts Volunteer Cavalry into Richmond, Virginia, and was the first Federal officer to enter the city upon its fall. Major Stevens raised the guidons of the two companies over the Virginia Capitol Building, these being the first federal colors raised over the capital of the Confederacy. Additional artillery support came from Battery E, Third U.S. Artillery, commanded by Captain John Hamilton; Battery M, First U.S. Artillery, commanded by Captain Loomis L. Langdon; and Sections C and B of the Third Rhode Island Artillery, commanded by Lieutenant. Henry H. Metcalf. Captain Loomis Langdon served at Pensacola at the beginning of the Civil War and later was in charge of the siege batteries duing the assault on Battery Wagner at Charleston on July 18, 1863. He was one of the two soldiers who lowered the Confederate flag and raised the American flag over the Confederate Capitol building in Richmond on April 3, 1865. Years later, he was the jailer of Geronimo. The Union guns were commanded by Captain John Hamilton. In support of the Union artillery were Companies A and E of the 1st New York Volunteers, an engineer unit. Henry's cavalry had already seen action during the preliminary stages of the Florida Campaign, and performed well. The Union artillery was primarily regular army batteries -- professionally trained, equipped, and led. These support units were far superior to the ill-equipped artillery and cavalry of the Confederates.

Captain Hamilton's Official Report of the Battle
Captain Landgon's Official Report of the Battle
Lieutenant Metcalf's Official Report of the Battle
Lieutenant Myrick's Official Report of the Battle

Letter from Lt. Tully McCrea, 1st U.S. Artillery.
Letter from Lt. Col. James Hall, 1st New York Volunteers
Letter from A. J. Clement, Independent Battalion Massachusetts Cavalry
Letter from Lt. Geo. E. Eddy, 3rd Rhode Island Artillery
Letters from Captain L.L. Loomis, 1st Artillery
Article for Chelsea Telegraph and Pioneer on Gainesville attack, February 14, 1864
Boston Herald article on 40th Mass. Mounted Infantry and Ambush at the St. Mary's River
Newspaper article praising the 40th Massachusetts Mounted Infantry
First section from letter of Charles Remick, 40th Mass., in the Boston Journal, February 29, 1864
Second section from letter of Charles Remick, 40th Mass., in Boston Journal, February 29, 1864
Article from Boston Herald, March 1, 1864. Olustee and the Capture of Gainesville
Article in Chelsea Telegraph and Pioneer on the death of John Lemont, Independent Battalion Massachusetts Cavalry March 26, 1864
Excerpt from the book A History of The First Regiment of Massachusetts Cavalry Volunteers
Photographs of officers of the Independent Battalion Massachusetts Cavalry
Photograph of Lt. L.G. Dennis, Company K, 40th Massachusetts Mounted infantry
Photograph of Sergeant Oramel Bromley Scofield, Company F, 40th Massachusetts Mounted infantry
Photograph of Lt. Henry H. Metcalf, 3rd Rhode Island Artillery

1st New York Volunteer Engineer Regiment

Union Order of Battle
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