The Fourth Alabama Painting by Don Troiani

Army of the Potomac

Private D F Hicks, Goochland Light Dragoons

Private D F Hicks, Goochland Light Dragoons

Harrison's Battalion Cavalry

Goochland Light Dragoons and Governor's Mounted Guards arrived at Manassas Junction, Prince William County, Virginia, 27 May, 1861, and Hanover Light Dragoons and the Chesterfield Light Dragoons, Company B, 28 May, 1861. Mustered in Confederate service for one year dated 1 July, 1861

MAJOR J HARRISON
Captain J Harrison, Goochland Light Dragoons, was appointed major, Virginia Volunteers, at Camp Ashland, Slash Cottage, on the Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac Railroad, west of Ashland, Hanover County, Virginia, on 23 May, 1861, and was assigned to the Second Brigade, First Corps, Army of the Potomac, under the command of Brigadier General R S Ewell, Confederate States Army, at Fairfax Station, Fairfax County, Virginia, by Special Orders No.102, Headquarters, Army of the Potomac, Camp Pickens, Manassas Junction, Prince William County, Virginia, on 9 July, 1861 (See Jenifer's Battalion Cavalry).

Unlettered Company Goochland Light Dragoons: CAPT. G F HARRISON
The company was assigned to Harrison's Battalion Cavalry at Camp Ashland, Slash Cottage, on the Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac Railroad, west of Ashland, Hanover County, Virginia, by Special Orders No.127, Headquarters, Virginia Forces, Richmond, Henrico County, Virginia, on 27 May, 1861.

Assignment: Jenifer's Battalion Cavalry, Second Brigade, First Corps, Army of the Potomac, Lieutenant Colonel W H Jenifer, Virginia Volunteers (See Jenifer's Battalion Cavalry).

Unlettered Company Governor's Mounted Guards: CAPT. J G CABELL
The company was assigned to Harrison's Battalion Cavalry at Camp Ashland, Slash Cottage, on the Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac Railroad, west of Ashland, Hanover County, Virginia, by Special Orders No.127, Headquarters, Virginia Forces, Richmond, Henrico County, Virginia, on 27 May, 1861.

Assignment: Jenifer's Battalion Cavalry, Second Brigade, First Corps, Army of the Potomac, Lieutenant Colonel W H Jenifer, Virginia Volunteers (See Jenifer's Battalion Cavalry).

Unlettered Company Hanover Light Dragoons: CAPT. W C WICKHAM
The company was assigned to Harrison's Battalion Cavalry at Camp Ashland, Slash Cottage, on the Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac Railroad, west of Ashland, Hanover County, Virginia, by Special Orders No.127, Headquarters, Virginia Forces, Richmond, Henrico County, Virginia, on 27 May, 1861.

Assignment: Wickham's Squadron Cavalry, First Brigade, First Corps, Army of the Potomac, Captain W C Wickham, Hanover Light Dragoons (See Wickham's Squadron Cavalry).

Unlettered Company Chesterfield Light Dragoons, Company B: CAPT. W B BALL
The company was assigned to Harrison's Battalion Cavalry at Camp Ashland, Slash Cottage, on the Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac Railroad, west of Ashland, Hanover County, Virginia, by Special Orders No.127, Headquarters, Virginia Forces, Richmond, Henrico County, Virginia, on 27 May, 1861.

Assignment: Munford's Squadron Cavalry, First Brigade, First Corps, Army of the Potomac, Lieutenant Colonel T T Munford, 30th Virginia Cavalry (See the Munford's Squadron Cavalry).

Sources

"The Governor's Mounted Guard, Captain Cabell, numbering about 75 uniformed members and 50 recruits, who had been on a tour of duty, also returned yesterday."

Richmond Daily Dispatch (Richmond, Henrico County, Virginia), 23 April, 1861 - Return of military

"The Governor's Mounted Guard, some 65 men, Captain J. G. Cabell, commanding, were mustered into the service of the State yesterday, by the Inspector General and his aids, at the Custom-House."

Richmond Daily Dispatch (Richmond, Henrico County, Virginia), 9 May, 1861 - Mustered into service

"Last evening the Governor's Guard arrived at this Camp, and are quartered in the Methodist Church."

Richmond Daily Dispatch (Richmond, Henrico County, Virginia), 15 May, 1861 - From the camp at Ashland, Camp Ashland, Hanover County, 14 May, 1861

"This fine body of horsemen, whose presence has occasionally enlivened our city, is now in the service of the State, under the command of Capt. Williams C. Wickham, at Camp Ashland. The company numbers between 80 and 100 men.."

Richmond Daily Dispatch (Richmond, Henrico County, Virginia), 13 May, 1861 - Hanover Dragoons, & c.

"Among the troops encamped here are the following companies: Cavalry - Governor's Guard; Chesterfield, Company B; Hanover Troop; Henrico Troop; Amelia Light Dragoons."

Richmond Daily Dispatch (Richmond, Henrico County, Virginia), 14 May, 1861 - Camp Ashland, Hanover co., Va., 12 May, 1861

"The First Regiment of Virginia Volunteer Cavalry has been made up as follows: 1. Chesterfield Troop, Capt. Wm. B. Ball. 2. Gov.'s Mounted Guard, Richmond, Capt. J. G. Cabell. 3. Hanover Troop, Capt. Wms. C. Wickham. Henrico Troop, Capt. Z. S. McGruder. 5. Amelia Troop, Capt. S. S. Weisiger. 6. Goochland Troop, Capt. Julian Harrison. 7. Meckenburg Troop, Capt. Thomas F. Goode. 8. Pittsylvania Troop, Capt. C. E. Flourney. 9. Cumberland Troop, Capt. Henry R. Johnson. 10. Charlotte Troop, Capt. John G. Smith. This regiment goes at once into a camp of instruction, at Ashland, under the command of Lieut. Col. R. S. Ewell, late of the U. S. Army."

Richmond Enquirer, Semi-weekley edition (Richmond, Henrico County, Virginia), 17 May, 1861 - Cavalry Regiment

"The Goochland troop, and another from an adjoining county, the two numbering about 160 men, rode into town yesterday evening. They were fully armed and equipped."

Richmond Examiner (Richmond, Henrico County, Virginia), 20 May, 1861 - Arrival of troops at Richmond

"Tuesday evening two companies were transported with their horses and provisions, on the Central Railroad. This evening the Governor's Guard and the Chesterfield Troop will leave in the evening the same way, and to the same destination."

Richmond Daily Dispatch (Richmond, Henrico County, Virginia), 31 May, 1861 - Camp Ashland, Hanover County, 30 May, 1861

"The Goochland Light Dragoons, with the Governor's Guard, and two infantry companies, are stationed at Fairfax county, in the neighbourhood of the Black Republican forces."

Richmond Enquirer (Richmond, Henrico County, Virginia), 11 June, 1861 - Camp of the Goochland Cavalry, 9 June, 1861

"Four companies of the First Regiment of Virginia Volunteers were at Fairfax Court-House on Monday evening, besides the Warrenton Rifles and five Cavalry Companies, viz.; Ball's, Chesterfield corps; Wickham's, (Hanover,) Prince William, Rappahannock and Black Horse Cavalry, of Fauquier. It was thought probable that Col. Maxcy Gregg's South Carolinians would take the place of the Richmond companies, and permit them to rejoin their Regiment at Manassas Junction."

Richmond Daily Dispatch (Richmond, Henrico County, Virginia), 19 June, 1861 - Military

Books/ Manuscripts

"Fontaine offered his services to the Confederacy and received an assignment as assistant surgeon to the 5th Virginia Regiment of Volunteers om May 21, 1861. This order was almost immediately countermanded, and on May 29 he reported to Major Harrison's cavalry command at Manassas. The month of June saw Fontaine attached to Lt. Col. Walter H. Jenifer's cavalry stationed at Sangsters Crossroads."

They followed the plume: The story of J. E. B. Stuart and his staff, by Robert J Trout

"By May 27, Bonham's command was estimated at 7,000, including a new cavalry battalion of four companies."

Battle at Bull Run, by William C Davis

"The commanding officer of the cavalry camp at Ashland will select the four companies of his command best prepared for actual service in the field, and prepare them to move by railroad to Manassas Junction. Two of these companies will take the cars on Wednesday, at such hour and place as the railroad officers may appoint with the Quartermaster's Department, and will be followed on the next day by the two remaining companies. The four companies will be placed under the command of Maj. Julian Harrison Virginia volunteers, who will report to Brigadier-General Bonham on their arrival at Manassas Junction. They will be provided with at least one day's cooked rations for the journey."

Special Orders No. 127, Headquarters Virginia Forces, Richmond, Henrico County, Virginia, 27 May, 1861

"My company, Goochland Light Dragoons (afterward Company F, Fourth Virginia cavalry), was at Fairfax Station, three miles off, and we were on the ground soon after the affair occurred."

First Confederate killed: The Confederate Veteran Magazine, Volume VI, Nashville, Tenn., January 1898-December 1898, p320, by W. R. Hall, Richmond, Henrico County, Virginia

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 1861-1865, Revised Second Edition by I A Wallace, Jr.

Notes

The Goochland Light Dragoons, the Governor's Mounted Guards, the Hanover Light Dragoons, and the Chesterfield Light Dragoons, Company B, were assigned to Harrison's Battalion Cavalry, under the command of Major J Harrison, Virginia Volunteers, at Camp Ashland, Slash Cottage, on the Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac Railroad, west of Ashland, Hanover County, Virginia, by Special Orders No.127, Headquarters, Virginia Forces, Richmond, Henrico County, Virginia, on 27 May, 1861.

Camp Ashland, Slash Cottage, on the Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac Railroad, west of Ashland, Hanover County, to Manassas Junction, Prince William County, Virginia, Goochland Light Dragoons & Hanover Light Dragoons, 28-29 May, 1861: The Goochland Light Dragoons and the Hanover Light Dragoons were ordered to proceed by the Virginia Central Railroad to Manassas Junction, Prince William County, Virginia, in the evening on 28 May, 1861, and arrived by the Orange & Alexandria Railroad at Camp Pickens, Manassas Junction, Prince William County, Virginia, on 29 May, 1861.

Camp Ashland, Slash Cottage, on the Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac Railroad, west of Ashland, Hanover County, to Manassas Junction, Prince William County, Virginia, Governor's Mounted Guards & Chesterfield Light Dragoons, Company B, 30-31 May, 1861: The Governor's Mounted Guards and the Chesterfield Light Dragoons, Company B, were ordered to proceed by the Virginia Central Railroad to Manassas Junction, Prince William County, Virginia, in the evening on 30 May, 1861, and arrived by the Orange & Alexandria Railroad at Camp Pickens, Manassas Junction, Prince William County, Virginia, on 31 May, 1861.

Harrison's Battalion Cavalry, under the command of Major J Harrison, Virginia Volunteers, was ordered to Fairfax Station, Fairfax County, Virginia, on 31 May, 1861.

Major J Harrison, Virginia Volunteers, Harrison's Battalion Cavalry, 23 May, 1861: Captain J Harrison, Goochland Light Dragoons, was appointed major, Virginia Volunteers, at Camp Ashland, Slash Cottage, on the Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac Railroad, west of Ashland, Hanover County, Virginia, on 23 May, 1861, and was assigned to command the Goochland Light Dragoons, the Governor's Mounted Guards, the Hanover Light Dragoons, and the Chesterfield Light Dragoons, Company B, by Special Orders No.127, Headquarters, Virginia Forces, Richmond, Henrico County, Virginia, on 27 May, 1861. Major J Harrison, Virginia Volunteers, was assigned to the Second Brigade, First Corps, Army of the Potomac, under the command of Brigadier General R S Ewell, Confederate States Army, at Fairfax Station, Fairfax County, Virginia, by Special Orders No.102, Headquarters, Army of the Potomac, Camp Pickens, Manassas Junction, Prince William County, Virginia, on 9 July, 1861, and was appointed lieutenant colonel, Virginia Volunteers, on 11 September, 1861. Lieutenant Colonel J Harrison, Virginia Volunteers, was assigned to the 4th Virginia Cavalry, by Special Orders No.276, Paragraph XI, Adjutant & Inspector General's Office, Richmond, Henrico County, Virginia, on 12 September 1861, and to the 6th Virginia Cavalry on 15 September, 1861 (See Jenifer's Battalion Cavalry).

Orders of Battle

The above painting, 'The Fourth Alabama', is by Don Troiani, modern America's finest historical artist.