"Good candidates for first Union cavalry unit in Eastern NC?" Topic

So I'm hazing together my Union army for a Longstreet campaign, and while it's not going to be a strict re-creation of any particular brigade, I am trying to go with a mix of units that were present in the Outer Banks and eastern North Carolina for my included regiments (as well as some of the NC Union Volunteers).

But as a newcomer to ACW gaming and honestly, ACW history in anything beyond the broadest strokes, I am having trouble figuring out what Union cavalry units would have been seen first in the area. Right now my two main contenders are the 3rd NY Cavalry – I have one source showing them in NC in April 1862:
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and the 1st NC Cavalry (formally Company L, 1st NC Union Volunteers) – the earliest I see them in action is December 1862:
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So can anyone tell me if there's a regiment-sized unit of cavalry that would be in this neck of the woods any earlier than that? I do (vaguely) understand that early in the war a lot of Union cavalry was attached out to infantry units, and maybe the 3rd NY Cav in early-mid 1862 is the earliest around here. But I'm thinking if there was any unit before that you folks could probably tell me.

Thanks for any help you can offer!

Have you seen this book, Potter's Raid: The Union Cavalry's Boldest Expedition in Eastern North Carolina?

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It might give you some help.

Jim

Well, any Union cavalry in Eastern NC would have had to come from ships. Cavalry takes way more room than infantry. I don't know if Burnside's expedition had a full regiment.

The OB's online for Roanoke Island and New Bern show no cavalry at all.

ColCampbell, thanks for that – the Potter Raid is one of the first mentions of cavalry in eastern NC I've found myself (Potter's initial attempt to raid Plymouth, NC with 'five companies of cavalry', in that second link I posted), but I don't have a good reference on it so this might help. Thanks!

vtsaogames, I agree – that's why I'm thinking that mid-62 might be the first time large amounts of Union cavalry would be in that neck of the woods. For Longstreet purposes this isn't a huge problem, we'll all just sort of squint a bit and pretend it's ok when they show up in that single 1861 Grand Campaign game. Still, I figure if there's something out there I've missed someone here might know! Thanks again.

The 3rd NY Cavalry was the first Federal cavalry unit assigned to the Department of North Carolina. After service in the Defences of Washington and the Upper Potomac it arrived in NC in April of 1862. The next cavalry unit in eastern NC was the 12th NY, arriving in May 1863 along with two companies of the 23rd NY. The 23rd never was more than two companies strong.

The 3rd NY Cavalry is listed as being armed with 192 Sharps and 48 Burnside carbines in December 1862 as well as sabres and Colt and Whitney revolvers.

The 3rd NY Cavalry carried a blue regimental standard. On on both sides of flag were the arms of the City of New York as can be seen here:

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The designation of Co. L, 1st NC Volunteers as the 1st NC Cavalry was unofficial.

Ryan, thanks for all that info, especially the flags! That's a huge help.

Glad to help. Note though that I changed the flag info from my original post.

Ahh, I see that! Gonna download that one too. Also I meant to say thanks for info on the 12th NY showing up – I'm sure that before the end of the campaign my mismanagement will necessitate recruiting a replacement cavalry brigade….

If you want to also do the 12th NY they are listed as being armed with 352 Burnside and 50 Starr carbines as of 30 September 1863. They also had sabres and Colt or Starr revolvers.

The 12th NY Cavalry standard can be seen here:

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Based on the shape of the lower banner the flag probably would have appeared identical to the standard of the 2nd Maine Cavalry at the bottom of this page:

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The 3rd New York was the main Union cavalry regiment in eastern NC during the Civil War. If you were looking for a unit to select I would pick that one for sure.