"COLE'S CAVALRY," FIRST REGIMENT POTOMA.C HOME BRIGADE CAVALRY. 661

After the expiration of the furlough of the veteran battalion, the command was
recruited up to a full regiment of twelve companies. Whilst waiting for the proper
mounting and equipment of the entire regiment, all of the mounted men both in the old
battalion and new battalions were sent to the front. In the disastrous battles fought
by General Sigel, at New Market, Va.,May 13th and 15th, 1862, "Cole's Cavalry" suffered
heavily, when General Hunter assumed command of this army in the Shenandoah, and
again advanced. All of "Cole's Cavalry" then mounted, joined him and participated in the
splendid victory at the battle of Piedmont, Va., June 5, 1864, as well as the skir-
mishes at Tye River Gap, June 12, 1864, Lexington, June 13, Buchannon, June
14, and Lynchburg, Va., June 18, 1864.

The arrival of another army under General Early, at Lynchburg, compelled General
Hunter's command to retreat from Lynchburg by .the Kanawha Valley. General
Early's Confederate Army promptly moved up the Shenandoah Valley; in the mean
time the balance of the regiment, still dismounted, moved out from Martinsburg
with the column of troops who, at Leetown, Va., July 3, 1864, repulsed the advance
guard of Early's army.

A detachment of the dismounted command was mounted and rendered good ser-
vice to the Union armies during the raid into Maryland by Early's Army and his
attempt to capture Washington, capturing men, provisions, etc.

After the battle of Monocacy, July 9, 1864, the repulse of Early's Army in front
of Washington, July 12, 1864, and its pursuit by the 6th and 19th Army Corps, with
the Army of West Virginia, "Cole's Cavalry" participated in the engagements that ensued,
more especially at Ashby's Gap, Va., July 19, 1864.

"Cole's Cavalry" (mounted men) remained with the Army of West Virginia at
Winchester, Va., after the 6th and 19th Army Corps returned towards Washington,
where they were attacked by Early's army again, July 25, 1864, and compelled to
retreat beyond the Potomac with this army.

"Cole's Cavalry" was attacked July 26, 1864, by a column of Confederates, who
attempted to cross the Potomac River at that point, but promptly repulsed the enemy.
After the burning of Chambersburg, Pa., in July, 1864, by a raiding party of Confeder-
ate Cavalry, "Cole's Cavalry" assisted in driving the enemy out of Maryland.

On the 5th day of August, 1864, a large part of General Early's Army, consisting of
infantry, cavalry and artillery, again recrossed the Potomac river, near Sharpsburg,
Md., and advanced through Sharpsburg toward the National turnpike, at Boonsboro.

The advance brigade of the column was met at Keedyville by the regiment, under
the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Vernon, promptly and vigorously attacked and
driven back beyond the Antietam, where they were checkedjyy the artillery and infantry
of the Confederate Army, who, in turn, compelled "Cole's Cavalry" to retreat slowly into
the mountain gaps of the Blue Ridge Mountains; the enemy being satisfied with shelling
the command, made no further attempt to dislodge the regiment. In this spirited
engagement, lasting several hours, the command suffered severely in killed and wounded,
but inflicted greater loss upon the enemy, and only retired before an overwhelming force.

The advance of General Sheridan's Army up the Shenandoah Valley, by the way of
Harper's Ferry, caused Early's Army to retire to Winchester, Va.