The Fourth Alabama Painting by Don Troiani

Fifth Brigade, Army of the Potomac

Independent companies cavalry

The Loudoun Cavalry and the Madison Invincibes arrived at Manassas Junction on 19 July, 1861

COLONEL R C W RADFORD, Thirtieth Virginia Cavalry, commanding the cavalry of the Army of the Potomac

Loudoun Cavalry: CAPT. W W MEAD
The company was organised at Leesburg, Virginia, in June 1858, under the command of Captain D T Shreve. Captain D T Shreve resigned in June, 1861, and First Lieutenant W W Mead was appointed captain. After the first battle of Manassas the company was assigned to Seventh Brigade, First Corps, Army of the Potomac, under the command of Colonel W H Jenifer, on 11 August, 1861. The company was was assigned to the 6th Virginia Cavalry, Company K, on 11 September 1861, and joined the 6th Virginia Cavalry at Centreville, Virginia, on 5 December, 1861.
Madison Cavalry or Invincibles: CAPT. W THOMAS
The company was organised at Madison County, Virginia, and was ordered to proceed to Culpeper Courthouse, Virginia, on 24 April, 1861. The company was mustered in Confederate service for twelve months by Brigadier General P St G Cocke. After the first battle of Manassas the company was assigned to Seventh Brigade, First Corps, Army of the Potomac, under the command of Colonel W H Jenifer, on 11 August, 1861. The company was assigned to the 4th Virginia Cavalry, Company C, on 4 September 1861, and joined the 4th Virginia Cavalry at Sangster's Crossroads, Virginia, on 19 September, 1861.

Paxson's Troop

Captain T Paxson

The company was organised at Waterford, Virginia, on 24 April, 1861, and was ordered to guard the Potomac River between Berlin and Loudoun, Virginia. The company was on detached duty, under the command of Major General K Harper, Virginia militia, commanding the post at Harpers Ferry, Virginia. Captain T Paxson was assigned to the Loudoun Cavalry as a private.

Sources

"In support of the 5th Brigade were five companies of cavalry, the battery of Capt. H Gray Latham, and Capt. A L Rogers' Loudoun Artillery, in positions selected by David B Harris, now assigned to Beauregard's staff, while retaining his commission in the Virginia Corps of Engineers."

"Hunton's regiment was quickly ordered back to Leesburg, however, along with the three companies of cavalry that had accompanied it to Manassas. Departing on July 24, they took two full days to reach Camp Berkeley at Ball's Mill in southern Loudoun County."

Confederate engineer: Training and campaigning with John Morris Wampler, by George G Kundahl

"Besides my own regiment I had in my command at Leesburg the Loudoun Cavalry, commanded first by Captain Shreve, and afterward by Captain Meade; and a Loudoun battery commanded by Captain Rogers."

"I was stationed near the Lewis House, where I at once lost my cavalry and arillery, which were placed in other portions of Beauregard's army."

Autobiography of Eppa Hunton

"On Saturday, July 20th, I had occasion to ride over into Prince William, and met the 8th Virginia, commanded by Colonel Eppa Hunton, who had been ordered to the next day’s battlefield. We were then old friends, and are such still. He had the Loudoun Cavalry with him."

Southern Historical Society Papers Volume 32: General Eppa Hunton at the battle of Bull Run, 21 July, 1861, statement that he saved the Confederate army from defeat

Virginia valley records: Genealogical and historical materials of Rockingham County, Virginia, and related regions, with map, by John Walter Wayland and David A Heatwole

The Virginia Regimental Histories Series: Fourth Virginia Cavalry, Second Edition, by K L Stiles

The Virginia Regimental Histories Series: Sixth Virginia Cavalry, Second Edition, by M Musick

A guide to Virginia military organisations, Revised Second Edition by I A Wallace, Jr.

Notes

The Loudoun Cavalry was organised at Leesburg, Virginia, and was ordered to Alexandria, Virginia, with the Loudoun Guard on 8 May, 1861 (See the 17th Virginia Infantry). Colonel E Hunton was assigned to command the post at Loudoun County and the Potomac River from Harpers Ferry to Drainesville, Virginia, and included the Loudoun Cavalry and the Madison Invincibles. The Loudoun Cavalry was ordered to report to Captain T Ashby commanding the post at Point of Rocks, Maryland, on 23 May, 1861 (See the 7th Virginia Cavalry). The Madison Invincibles was stationed at Loudoun County during July 1861. The Loudoun Cavalry and the Madison Invincibles, under the command of Colonel E Hunton, were ordered to proceed to Camp Pickens, Manassas Junction, on 18 July, 1861, and arrived on 19 July, 1861 (See the 8th Virginia Infantry). The companies were ordered to report to Colonel P St G Cocke, commanding the Fifth Brigade, Army of the Potomac (See the Fifth Brigade, Army of the Potomac). The Loudoun Cavalry and the Madison Invincibles were ordered to return to Leesburg, Loudoun County, Virginia, on 24 July 1861, and were assigned to the Seventh Brigade, First Corps, Army of the Potomac, under the command of Colonel W H Jenifer, on 11 August, 1861.

The 4th Virginia Cavalry was organised, under the command of Colonel B H Robertson, by Special Order No.248 on 4 September, 1861, and the Madison Cavalry joined on 19 September, 1861.

The 6th Virginia Cavalry was organised, under the command of Colonel C W Field, by Special Order No.276 on 11 September, 1861, and the Loudoun Cavalry joined on 5 December, 1861.