Thomas saw a lot of action in the short six months with the 9th.
11 05 1862 Federal reconnaissance to Manassas Gap, VA, and skirmish. 11/5-6/1862
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No. 3.
Report of Colonel David McM. Gregg, Eighth Pennsylvania Cavalry, of operations October 26 - November 22.
HDQRS. CAVALRY DIVISION, LEFT GRAND DIVISION,
January 2, 1863.
CAPTAIN: I have the honor to submit the following report of the operations of the Eighth Pennsylvania Cavalry, and of other troops under my command, from the 26th of October, when the Second Brigade of Cavalry crossed the Potomac into Virginia, until the 22nd of November, when it arrived at Falmouth:
At Purcellville, Va., the Eighth Regiment Pennsylvania Cavalry was employed with the other regiments in picketing, and from here several reconnaissances were made by squadrons of the regiment toward Aldie and Middleburg, which were successful. Upon the arrival of the brigade at Philomont, one squadron was, by the direction of the brigadier-general commanding, sent to reconnoiter the road leading to Union. This squadron having met the enemy's cavalry in considerable force, engaged them, but were compelled to retire. By direction of Brigadier-General Pleasonton, I at once proceeded, with the Third Regiment of Indiana Cavalry and the Eighth Pennsylvania Cavalry, to the support of the squadron engaged; with dismounted skirmishers from both regiments, the enemy were handsomely driven from a wood which they occupied. This wood, in our possession, was subjected to such a fire of grape and canister from the enemy that I withdrew my skirmishers, and sent to Brigadier-General Pleasonton for a piece of artillery, which quickly arrived, and, from a disadvantageous position, opened a well-directed fire of grape upon the enemy. The contest was then continued, the enemy directing the fire of four pieces of artillery upon my command. The enemy's mounted and dismounted men having retired behind his artillery, I returned with my command to camp at Philomont. Whilst I was engaged with the enemy, the firing from Pennington's battery, at Philomont, did good execution, drawing, in some degree, the fire of the enemy from my command, and later entirely compelling the withdrawal of their artillery. In this affair our loss was 2 men killed and 1 commissioned officer and 12 men wounded. The enemy's loss was greater, including 5 commissioned officers wounded. On the 3d, the brigade being engaged with the enemy at Union, two squadrons of the Eighth Pennsylvania Cavalry, under Lieutenant-Colonel Griffiths, entered the town of Bloomfield, drove out a strong picket of the enemy, captured 3 prisoners, and recaptured Major O'Neill, a United States officer on General Meagher's staff, that morning captured by the enemy. The reamining squadrons were employed supporting sections of artillery, &c. At the close of this day, having been ordered forward by General Pleasonton, the regiment charged the enemy under a raking fire of grape from a battery in position near Carter's house.
At the engagement at Upperville, the regiment, although present, was not actually engaged, it on that day being in rear. After the 3rd my command consisted of the Eighth Pennsylvania Cavalry and the Sixth U. S. Regiment of Regular Cavalry, Captain W. P. Sanders commanding the latter. On the at Markham, I was detached with my command and ordered forward by the general commanding to support Brigadier-General Averell in his engagement with the enemy at Markham. Upon my arrival there the enemy had fled, leaving General Averell's brigade in possession of the town. On the following morning I rejoined the brigade with my regiments, and on the column of march brought up the rear. Upon this day the advance of the brigade attacked two brigades of rebel cavalry, commanded by General J. E. B. Stuart. Stuart's forces were in position at Barbee's Cross-Roads. The attack having been made, I received orders from Brigadier-General Pleasonton to move up my command, and drive the enemy on the left. The regiments, moving up at a gallop, were advanced to the front and to the extreme left of the line. The appearance of the regiments on the left at once drew the fire of all the enemy's artillery upon them, and more particularly that of a section posted upon a commanding hill surrounded by a dense wood. This wood was held by the enemy's dismounted cavalry i strong force. My dispositions were quickly made, and three squadrons-two of the Eighth Pennsylvania and one of the Sixth Regulars-of men dismounted and deployed as skirmishers and gallantly advanced, ascending a slope od clear ground to attack the enemy in the wood, and, if possible, capture the section. This section, at a distance of 300 yards, poured load after load upon the line, but without checking it. The enemy's skirmishers were forced to retire, and the left of my line was advanced rapidly to secure the wood in rear of the section. The right of the line, close upon the section, compelled it to retire too soon, the left of the line not having quite reached the wood. Cut off from their horses by the dense wood, these squadrons still pressed on, and only desisted in the pursuit when completely exhausted. Having reached a point in front of the enemy's batteries, and much advanced beyond the center and left of our line, we saw to our right, and somewhat to the rear, a column of two regiments charging the left of the line. This charge was handsomely repulsed by the Eighth New York Cavalry. An attempt was made by a regiment to charge my line of skirmishers, but a well directed fire from our carbines made it prudent for the enemy to change his plans. After this my command joined the remainder of the brigade in the pursuit of the enemy, driven in confusion from all his positions and fairly beaten. In this affair I had 1 man, Eighth Pennsylvania Cavalry, killed, and 2 or 3 wounded. my command took prisoners a commissioned officer, wounded, of the Ninth Virginia [Cavalry], and 6 privates, 1 wounded. At Amissville the regiments were frequently engaged with Stuart's cavalry. A reconnaissance in force made by the enemy at Amissville was first met by the Eighth New York and Eighth Pennsylvania Cavalry and a section of Pennington's battery; these under my command. These regiments of cavalry, deployed as skirmishers, handsomely resisted the advance of infantry and cavalry, and, when joined by the other regiments of the brigade, still occupied the front line, and successfully held their position against the superior force of the enemy. After leaving Amissville, the Eighth Pennsylvania and Sixth Regular Cavalry were employed with the other regiments of the brigade in covering the march of the army upon Falmouth. In closing this report of the operations of my command, I would do justice to the officers and enlisted men of it by mentioning that whenever engaged they displayed the greatest gallantry and highest soldierly qualities.
The daily successes of the brigade, in its engagements with Stuart's cavalry, inspired such feelings of enthusiastic soldierly confidence that the enemy had only to be pointed out to be defeated.
Major P. Keenan, Eighth Pennsylvania Cavalry, Captain Sanders, commanding Sixth U. S. Cavalry, and Lieutenant Frank A. Baker, acting regimental adjutant Eighth Pennsylvania Cavalry, rendered especial good service.
I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
D. MCM. GREGG,
Colonel Eighth Pennsylvania Cavalry.
OFFICIAL RECORDS: Series 1, vol 19, Part 2 (Antietam)
pp. 129/31 Chapter XXXI. OPERATIONS IN LOUDOUN COUNTY, ETC.
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Regimental Casualty Analysis 9th VA Cavalry
05/01/62 Fredericksburg, VA
05/05/62 Fredericksburg, VA
05/05/62 Rappahannock River, VA
05/05/62 Williamsburg, VA
05/15/62 Gaines' Cross Roads, VA
05/24/62 Seven Pines, VA
05/31/62 Seven Pines, VA
06/08/62 Cross Keys, VA
06/15/62
06/25/62 Ashland, VA
06/26/62 Mechanicsville, VA
06/27/62 Gaines' Mill, VA
06/28/62
06/30/62 Frayser's Farm, VA
06/30/62 Frazier's Farm, VA
06/30/62 Malvern Hill, VA
07/15/62
07/15/62 Richmond, VA
07/23/62 Anderson Station, VA
08/01/62
08/09/62 Cedar Mountain, VA
08/09/62 Cedar Run, VA
08/11/62
08/21/62 Catlett's Station, VA
08/22/62 Beverly Ford, VA
08/28/62 Centreville, VA
08/29/62 2nd Manassas, VA
08/31/62 Fairfax County, VA
09/09/62
09/09/62 Barnesville, MD
09/09/62 Poolesville, MD
09/10/62 Monocacy, MD
09/10/62 Sugar Loaf Mountain, MD
09/12/62
09/14/62 Boonsboro, MD
09/15/62
09/15/62 Boonsboro, MD
09/15/62 Williamsport, MD
09/16/62 Boonsboro, MD
10/01/62
10/01/62 Shepherdstown, VA
10/11/62 Near Gettysburg, PA
10/13/62 New Market, VA
10/19/62 Buckland's Mills, VA
10/29/62 Hardy County, WV
10/29/62 Petersburg, VA
10/31/62
11/02/62
11/02/62 Barbour's Cross Roads, VA
11/03/62
11/05/62 Bailey's Cross Roads, VA
11/05/62 Barbee's Cross Roads, VA
11/05/62 Markham Station, VA 1 wounded
11/05/62 Markham, VA 1 killed Thomas B. Malone
http://www.civilwardata.com/active/hdsquery.dll?RegimentCasualty?653&C&1&61&20