Fourth Regiment
Massachusetts Volunteer Cavalry

Organization

1st Battalion (Companies I, K, L, M): Major Atherton A. Stevens
Formerly the 3rd Battalion, 1st Mass. Cavalry. This unit was detached from the 1st Mass. Cavalry per Special Order No. 346, dated August 4, 1863, and established as an independent battalion. It was operating in Florida when Special Order No. 70 was issued making it part of the newly-organized 4th Mass. Cavalry. It retained it's existing company designations.

2nd Battalion (Companies A, B, C, D): Major David B. Keith
Newly-raised during the winter of 1863-4.

3rd Battalion (Companies E, F, G, H): Major Louis Cabot
Newly-raised during the winter of 1863-4.

Regimental Commander: Colonel Arnold A. Rand
Formerly a captain in the 1st Mass. Cavalry.

1864

2nd Battalion (A, B, C, D)
Sailed from Boston, March 20, on the steamer Western Metropolis. Arrived at Hilton Head, SC, April 1; assigned to the Department of the South, headquartered at Hilton Head.

A detachment took part in an expedition up the Ashepoo River in May, which ended disastrously with the loss of a transport and 74 horses. Another detachment went on an expedition to St. John's Island early in July, participating in several skirmishes and suffering slight loss.

On July 6, Companies B and D, under Captain Morton, sailed for Jacksonville, FL. A detachment from this force went on an expedition to Palatka, FL, where on August 5 they lost one man wounded and a lieutenant and five men captured, all from Company D. At Gainsville, August 17, these two companies suffered a further loss of two killed and 50 prisoners.

About the middle of October, Major Keith resigned, being succeeded by Major Webster. By the end of October, the entire 2nd Battalion was in Florida, engaged on October 24 at Big Gum Creek, losing 3 killed, 6 wounded and 22 prisoners.

Two companies of the 2nd Battalion wintered near Jacksonville, FL; the other two at Deveaux's Neck, SC, about 25 miles up river from Hilton Head.

3rd Battalion (E, F, G, H)
Sailed from Boston, April 23, on the steamer Western Metropolis. Arrived at Hilton Head, SC, April 27. Sent back to Fort Monroe, VA, arriving May 3. In late May, moved up to City Point on the James River; peformed duty there scouting, picketing and on the fortifications until June 16. Duty at Bermuda Hundred until August 23. Companies E and H were assigned to 18th Corps Headquarters, while F and G were assigned to 10th Corps Headquaters. 3rd Battalion was not actively engaged during the winter of 1864-5, being mainly assigned to corps headquarters duty.

1865

• Companies F and K at 24th Corps Headquarters, Army of the James.
• Companies E and H at 25th Corps Headquarters, Army of the James.
• Companies I, L and M at headquarters of General Ord, commanding the Army of the James.
• Company G at or near Williamsburg.

Companies E and H, under Major Atherton A. Stevens, were the first Federal troops to enter Richmond on the morning of April 3. Theirs were the first National colors to be raised on the Confederate capitol. The Confederate flag which was taken down was perserved in the family of Major Stevens until 1927, when it was returned to the state of Virginia.

Companies I, L and M under Colonel Washburn, pursued the Confederates to Burkeville, VA, reaching that place April 5. The next day, they proceeded northward to High Bridge on the Appomattox River near Farmville. They were ordered to burn the bridge, and thus hamper the Confederate retreat. Here they became engaged with a large force of the enemy, losing eight of the twelve officers engaged, all being wounded, Col. Washburn and two others mortally. Dyer's Compendium also names Company F as being on the Appomattox Campaign March 28 to April 9, including High Bridge and the surrender of Lee and his army.

2nd Battalion (A, B, C, D)
Began the spring campaign with two companies at Jacksonville, FL, and the other two at Hilton Head, SC. Each detachment was active in its sphere of operations in the spring of 1865, suffering few casualties.

Stevens and Washburn