The Fourth Alabama Painting by Don Troiani

Sixth Brigade, Army of the Potomac

Scott's Squadron Cavalry

MAJOR J SCOTT

Company K Albemarle Light Horse, Thirtieth Virginia Cavalry: CAPT. E DAVIS
The company was temporarily under the command of Brigadier General T H Holmes, at Camp Wigfall, on 21 July, 1861 (See 30th Virginia Cavalry).
Unlettered Company Prince William Cavalry: CAPT. W W THORNTON
The company was organised at Brentsville, Virginia, on 23 April, 1861, and was ordered to Occoquan, Virginia, the same day. The company was assigned to the 4th Virginia Cavalry, Company A, on 4 September, 1861, and joined on 19 September, 1861.

Sources

"It was uniformed with grey cloth made at Kelly's Mills, in Culpepper County. The uniform consisted of a frock coat with one row of buttons up the front and one each side, connecting at the top with a gold lave V. Pants with yellow stripes, black hats with black plumes on the left side held up with crossed sabres, and a shield with the letters 'P.W.C.' in front – a plain neat uniform in which the most insignificant must look his best; and as they trotted off by fours with the fine-looking, genial captain and his kinsman at their head, there were none but admiring eyes and but few dry ones in the old town which had known and loved most of them from childhood to manhood."

The Confederate Veteran, Volume 15: History of the Prince William Cavalry, pp353–54, by Mrs M R Barlow, Manassas, Virginia

"It was my duty to watch the right of our line, and the two companies of cavalry on that flank, Eugene Davis' and W. W. Thornton's companies of Virginia cavalry, were placed under my command, and Captain John Scott was assigned to the immediate command of them."

"Captain W. W. Thornton's company of cavalry had been again attached to my command and subsequently, in the month of September, a battery of Virginia artillery under Captain Holman reported to me. In the latter part of August, General Longstreet, who had command of the advanced forces at Fairfax Court-House, threw forward a small force of infantry and cavalry and established strong pickets at Mason's and Munson's Hills, in close proximity to the enemy's main line on the south of the Potomac."

Lieutenant General Jubal Anderson Early C.S.A., autobiographical sketch and narrative of the War Between the States, with notes by Jubal Anderson Early

"On July 18, Major John Scott, commanding the post at Davis' House, received orders to have his command, Davis' and Adams' companies, fed, saddled and extra rations issued by 8 o'clock. Private Minor wrote, We left Occoquan Thursday evening (I mean by we, our troop and the Prince William), and were very nearly cut off by 400 of the enemy. One of the Wise dragoons informed us that they were on our road about a mile in front of us; we turned off, went around them and got here safely … The Prince William (troop) were left to guard Davis' Ford and we came on to Camp Wigfall."

The Virginia Regimental Histories Series: Second Virginia Cavalry, First Edition, No.990 of 1000, by R J Driver, Jr. & H E Howard

Supplement to the Official Records: Part II, Record of Events, Volume 69, Serial No.81: Record of events for Fourth Virginia Cavalry, April 1861–November 1864, edited by James B Hewett

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

A guide to Virginia military organisations 1861–1865, Revised Second Edition by I A Wallace, Jr.

Notes

The Albermarle Light Horse arrived at Camp Pickens, Manassas Junction, on 11 May, 1861, and was ordered to relieve the Wise Dragoons, under the command of Captain J A Adams, on the courier line between Aquia Creek and Dumfries, Virginia, in June 1861. The Albermarle Light Horse and the Prince William Cavalry were assigned to Scotts Squadron Cavalry, under the command of Major J Scott. The Prince William Cavalry was ordered into service on 17 April, 1861, and was stationed at Saffords, near Occoquan, Virginia. The company reported to Colonel D Ruggles and returned to Brentsville, Virginia, on 15 May, 1861. The Prince William Cavalry was watching the landings on the Potomac river and guarding roads near Occoquan, Virginia, on 20 May, 1861, and was ordered to burn the bridge over the Occoquan river and proceed to Camp Pickens, Manassas Junction, on 24 May, 1861. The company arrived at Camp Pickens, Manassas Junction, on 25 May, 1861, and was ordered to Bacon Race Church, Virginia, the same day. The Prince William Cavalry returned to remained Camp Pickens, Manassas Junction, on 28 May, 1861, and was detailed as escort to Brigadier General M L Bonham. The company was stationed at Fairfax Courthouse, Virginia, during the skirmish on 1 June, 1861, and was pursued by a detachment of the 2nd United States Cavalry, Company B, for three quarters of a mile (See the Skirmish at Fairfax courthouse). The Albermarle Light Horse was ordered to Payne's Store, via Bacon Race Church, Virginia, on 15 June, 1861. The Prince William Cavalry and the Albermarle Light Horse encamped at Camp Scott, near Occoquan, Virginia, under the command of Major J Scott, on 9 July, 1861, and guarded the Potomac River between Occoquan and Dumfries, Virginia. The two companies were supported by the 24th Virginia Infantry (See the 24th Virginia Infantry). Major J Scott was ordered to Camp Pickens, Manassas Junction, at 8 PM on 18 July, 1861, and the Prince William Cavalry was detached at to guard Davis' Ford, Virginia, and the Albermarle Light Horse, under the command of Major J Scott, proceeded to Camp Wigfall, a reserve position behind Brigadier General R S Ewell's brigade at Union Mill's, Virginia, in the morning on 20 July, 1861. The Albermarle Light Horse was under the command of Brigadier General T H Holmes on 21 July, 1861 (See the Reserve Brigade, Army of the Potomac).

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 Prince William Cavalry joined on 19 September, 1861.

On 25 July, 1861, the Army of the Potomac was reorganised and the companies of cavalry remained with the First Corps, Army of the Potomac. Four companies, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel T T Munford, of the 30th Virginia Cavalry were assigned to the Fourth Brigade, First Corps, Army of the Potomac, under the command of Brigadier General J Longstreet and six companies, under the command of Colonel R C W Radford, to the First Brigade, First Corps, Army of the Potomac, under the command of Brigadier General M L Bonham.