Civil War Archive of Kia 1st Michigan Cavalry

A fantastic archive of an Officer of the 1st Michigan Cavalry named Captain Augustus F. Buhl Residence Detroit, MI; 19 years old. Enlisted on 7/26/1862 as a Priv. On 8/13/1862, he was commissioned into "B" Co. Michigan 1st Cavalry. He died on 9/15/1864 (Died of wound from action at Shepardstown, MD 8/25/64) He was listed as: Wounded 7/1/1863 Gettysburg, PA Promotions: 1st Lieut 12/13/1862 Capt 11/10/1863 (As of Co. C) Intra-regimental company transfers From company B to company C. The archive also includes a period photo of the slain Captain. There are a total of 50 letters, 10 are Pre war from when he was attending the Michigan University Department of Agriculture mostly to his brother while the balance are Wartime letters from him in the regiment including a letter telling his brother of wounds he received that ultimately took his life. Excellent. The First distinguished itself in many skirmishes while advancing up the valley and companies and detachments made a number of brilliant charges which attracted the attention of General Banks and received from him complimentary mention in orders. General Banks had too small a force to hold his advanced position and the confederates planned to get in his rear and overwhelm him in front and flank and capture his command. Banks fell back to Martinsburg and continued to Williamsport, fighting most of the way, as the confederates had succeeded in getting between him and Williamsport and at the same time pressed his rear guard with forces that outnumbered the Union troops. In this trying movement the First Cavalry did splendid work and only retired from the difficult position held when greatly outnumbered by the enemy. The First remained at Williamsport until June 12, when it took part in General Pope's Virginia campaign. It was in General Banks' command when he fought the battle of Cedar Mountain, July 16, where he was badly defeated. The First was engaged at Manassas Aug. 30, suffering severely in that battle, the brave and chivalrous Colonel Brodhead being among the mortally wounded. The regiment during the early months of 1863 was assigned to duty in front of the defenses at Washington and held a long line, making the work arduous and exacting and requiring the regiment to be alert night and day. During this period it had several skirmishes with the enemy, losing a number in killed and wounded. The First, in command of Colonel Town, was assigned to the famous Michigan Cavalry Brigade, consisting of the Fifth, Sixth and Seventh Cavalry, and served with the brigade until the close of the war. The brigade was in command of General Custer in June, 1863, during the Pennsylvania campaign and in July the First was with the brigade at Gettysburg and made a saber charge upon Hampton's brigade of confederate cavalry, one of the most desperate as well as brilliant charges of the war. The First drove a whole brigade in confusion from the field and turned what appeared to be a defeat of the Union forces into a complete victory. The regiment lost at Gettysburg 11 officers and 80 men killed, wounded or missing. On the fourth of July one squadron of the First, under Colonel Stagg, charged the enemy at Fairfield Gap, driving the confederates out and holding it until the entire column passed. Two officers were killed and 17 men were killed or wounded in this charge. The fourteenth of July the First took part in the severe engagement at Falling Waters, where the Cavalry brigade captured 500 prisoners, one gun, three battle flags and a large quantity of small arms. The First captured two of the battle flags, one major and 70 men, who surrendered to Sergeants Alfonso Chilson and James B. Lyon. The regiment returned to Virginia and was constantly on duty with the brigade, meeting the enemy at many places, and was at James City in October. Here Kilpatrick's division, of which the Michigan Brigade formed a part, was attacked by the enemy under Fitz Hugh Lee and a desperate battle ensued. Custer's brigade was surrounded and he determined to cut his way out with the saber. The First and Fifth regiments were formed in column of battalions, ordered to draw sabers and, while the band played "Yankee Doodle," went forward at a full gallop, scattering the foe in their front, and afterward secured a place of safety for the whole command. Nov. 19 the First met the enemy at Buckland's Mills in a severe engagement and at Morton's Ford on the 26th. In December 370 of the First Cavalry re-enlisted and went home to Michigan on a thirty-day furlough. In February, 1864, General Kilpatrick started on a raid to Richmond, taking with him the members of the First who did not re-enlist, and they shared all the vicissitudes, dangers and hardships of the raid, actually going over the first line of works at Richmond, but were unable to go further and returned to the army after severe fighting and many losses. The First, after the term of veteran furlough, reassembled at Camp Stoneman, D. C., March 1, 1864, and w