The Missouri in the Civil War Message Board

Re: James Columbus Harvey
In Response To: James Columbus Harvey ()

Like many Missourians, Harvey has a very confusing service record.

There is a Capt J. C. Harvey in command of Co. D, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Division, Missouri State Guard. This unit, commanded by Col John Q. Burbridge, was organized for the Guard in the late summer and early fall of 1861. It fought at the seige of Lexington. Harvey is shown as being elected captain on 8 Aug 1861. Whether this is your man is problematic.

A provisional cavalry regiment was recruited by Caleb Dorsey for the 2nd Division, Missouri State Guard, in Nov and Dec 1861 in several northeast Missouri counties. The UDC card you reference is undoubtedly referring to this regiment. The records of this outfit are very incomplete, but apparently James Columbus Harvey commanded a company in this regiment. On 28 Dec 1861 this unit was effectively destroyed at the engagement of Mount Zion Church in Boone County.

In the Confederate service, Caleb Dorsey commanded a cavalry squadron from late 1862 until sometime in 1863 in northwest Arkansas. In the fall of 1864, Dorsey was dispatched to northeast Missouri to recruit. He recruited several hundred men in Lincoln, Pike, and St. Charles counties and led them south to Texas. Once in Texas the remnant that made it through was consolidated with Col. Alonzo Slayback's battalion, as companies A, C, and E, to create Slayback's Missouri Cavalry Regiment. The organizational structure of Dorsey's command is very incomplete, and I cannot determine if Harvey served in this unit or not.

Maybe this information will provide some avenues of research for you.

Messages In This Thread

James Columbus Harvey
Col. Caleb Dorsey
Dorsey--amended link
Re: Dorsey--amended link
Re: Dorsey--amended link
The two Caleb Dorseys
Re: James Columbus Harvey
Re: James Columbus Harvey