The Union Army fought in the Battle of Opequon on September 19, 1864. This important battle happened near Winchester, Virginia. It is also known as the Third Battle of Winchester or the Battle of Opequon Creek.
This article lists the Union Army units and their commanders who took part in the battle. Knowing which units were there helps us understand how the battle was fought. The Confederate Army's units are listed separately.
Understanding Military Ranks and Terms
When you see names of commanders, you'll see abbreviations for their military ranks. Here's what they mean:
- MG = Major General (a very high-ranking officer)
- BG = Brigadier General (a high-ranking officer, usually commanding a brigade)
- Col = Colonel (commands a regiment)
- Ltc = Lieutenant Colonel (second-in-command of a regiment)
- Maj = Major (commands a battalion or is a staff officer)
- Cpt = Captain (commands a company)
- Lt = Lieutenant (a junior officer)
You might also see these letters next to a commander's name:
- w = wounded (injured during the battle)
- k = killed (died during the battle)
- c = captured (taken prisoner by the enemy)
Union Army of the Shenandoah
The main Union force was the Union Army of the Shenandoah, led by MG Philip Sheridan. He was the overall commander of all these troops.
VI Corps
The VI Corps (Union Army) was a large group of soldiers led by MG Horatio Wright. It was made up of several divisions, each with brigades and regiments.
| Division |
Brigade |
Regiments and Others |
|
First Division
BG David Allen Russell (k)
BG Emory Upton (w)
Col Oliver Edwards
|
1st Brigade
Ltc Edward L. Campbell
|
- 4th New Jersey
- 10th New Jersey
- 15th New Jersey
|
| 2nd Brigade
BG Emory Upton
Col Joseph Hamblin
|
- 2nd Connecticut Heavy Artillery
- 65th New York
- 121st New York
- 95th Pennsylvania
- 96th Pennsylvania Battalion
|
| 3rd Brigade
Col Oliver Edwards
Col Isaac C. Bassett
|
- 37th Massachusetts
- 49th Pennsylvania
- 82nd Pennsylvania
- 119th Pennsylvania
- 2nd Rhode Island (battalion)
- 5th Wisconsin (battalion)
|
|
Second Division
BG George W. Getty
|
1st Brigade
BG Frank Wheaton
|
- 62nd New York
- 93rd Pennsylvania
- 98th Pennsylvania
- 102nd Pennsylvania
- 139th Pennsylvania
|
| 2nd Brigade (also known as First Vermont Brigade)
Col James M. Warner
Ltc Amasa S. Tracy
|
|
| 3rd Brigade
BG Daniel D. Bidwell
|
- 1st Maine Veterans
- 43rd New York
- 49th New York (battalion)
- 77th New York
- 122nd New York
- 61st Pennsylvania (battalion)
|
|
Third Division
BG James Ricketts
|
1st Brigade
Col William Emerson
|
- 14th New Jersey
- 106th New York
- 151st New York
- 87th Pennsylvania
- 10th Vermont
|
| 2nd Brigade
Col J. Warren Keifer
|
- 6th Maryland
- 9th New York Heavy Artillery
- 110th Ohio
- 122nd Ohio
- 126th Ohio
- 67th Pennsylvania
- 138th Pennsylvania
|
| Artillery |
Artillery Brigade
Col Charles H. Tompkins
|
- 5th Maine Light Artillery
- 1st Massachusetts Light Artillery, Battery A
- 1st New York Light Artillery, Battery
- 1st Rhode Island Light Artillery, Battery C
- 1st Rhode Island Light Artillery, Battery G
- 5th U.S. Artillery, Battery M
|
Army of West Virginia
The Army of West Virginia was another group of Union soldiers, led by BG George Crook.
| Division |
Brigade |
Regiments and Others |
|
First Division
Col Joseph Thoburn
|
1st Brigade
Col George D. Wells
|
- 34th Massachusetts
- 5th New York Heavy Artillery, 2nd Battalion
- 116th Ohio
- 123rd Ohio
|
| 3rd Brigade
Col Thomas M. Harris
|
- 23rd Illinois (battalion)
- 54th Pennsylvania
- 10th West Virginia
- 11th West Virginia
- 15 Virginia
|
|
Second Division (Kanawha Division)
Col Isaac H. Duval (w)
Col Rutherford B. Hayes
|
1st Brigade
Col Rutherford B. Hayes
Col Hiram F. Devol
|
- 23rd Ohio
- 36th Ohio
- 5th West Virginia (battalion)
- 13th West Virginia
|
| 2nd Brigade
Col Daniel D. Johnson (w)
Ltc Benjamin F. Coates
|
- 34th Ohio (battalion)
- 91st Ohio
- 9th West Virginia
- 14th West Virginia
|
| Artillery |
Artillery Brigade
Cpt Henry A. du Pont
|
- 1st Ohio Light Artillery, Battery L
- 1st Pennsylvania Light Artillery, Battery D
- 5th U.S. Artillery, Battery B
|
XIX Corps
The XIX Corps (Union Army) was commanded by BG William H. Emory.
| Division |
Brigade |
Regiments and Others |
|
First Division
BG William Dwight
|
1st Brigade
Col George L. Beal
|
- 29th Maine
- 30th Massachusetts
- 114th New York
- 116th New York
- 153rd New York
|
| 2nd Brigade
BG James W. McMillan
|
|
| Division Artillery |
- New York Light Artillery, 5th Battery
|
|
Second Division
BG Cuvier Grover
|
1st Brigade
BG Henry W. Birge
|
- 9th Connecticut
- 12th Maine
- 14th Maine
- 26th Massachusetts
- 14th New Hampshire
- 75th New York
|
| 2nd Brigade
Col Edward L. Molineux
|
- 13th Connecticut
- 3rd Massachusetts Cavalry (dismounted)
- 11th Indiana
- 22nd Iowa
- 131st New York
- 159th New York
|
| 3rd Brigade
Col Jacob Sharpe (w)
Ltc Alfred Neafie
|
- 38th Massachusetts
- 128th New York
- 156th New York
- 175th New York (3 companies)
- 176th New York
|
| 4th Brigade
Col David Shunk
|
- 8th Indiana
- 18th Indiana
- 24th Iowa
- 28th Iowa
|
| Division Artillery |
- Maine Light Artillery, 1st Battery
|
| Artillery |
Reserve
Cpt Elijah D. Taft
|
- 1st Rhode Island Light Artillery, Battery D
- Indiana Light Artillery, 17th Battery
|
Cavalry Corps
The Cavalry Corps, made up of soldiers on horseback, was led by BG Alfred T. A. Torbert.
| Division |
Brigade |
Regiments and Others |
|
First Division
BG Wesley Merritt
|
1st Brigade
BG George Armstrong Custer
|
- 1st Michigan Cavalry
- 5th Michigan Cavalry
- 6th Michigan Cavalry
- 7th Michigan Cavalry
- 25th New York Cavalry
|
| 2nd Brigade
BG Thomas C. Devin
|
- 4th New York Cavalry
- 6th New York Cavalry
- 9th New York Cavalry
- 19th New York Cavalry (1st Dragoons)
- 17th Pennsylvania Cavalry
|
| Reserve Brigade
Col Charles Russell Lowell
|
|
|
Second Division
BG William W. Averell
|
1st Brigade
Col James M. Schoonmaker
|
- 22nd Pennsylvania Cavalry
- 8th Ohio Cavalry
- 14th Pennsylvania Cavalry
|
| 2nd Brigade
Col William H. Powell
|
- 1st New York Cavalry
- 1st West Virginia Cavalry
- 2nd West Virginia Cavalry
- 3rd West Virginia Cavalry
|
| Division Artillery |
- 5th U.S. Artillery, Battery L
|
|
Third Division
BG James H. Wilson
|
1st Brigade
BG John B. McIntosh (w)
Ltc George A. Purington
|
- 1st Connecticut Cavalry
- 3rd New Jersey Cavalry
- 2nd New York Cavalry
- 5th New York Cavalry
- 2nd Ohio Cavalry
- 18th Pennsylvania Cavalry
|
| 2nd Brigade
BG George H. Chapman (w)
Col William Wells
|
- 3rd Indiana Cavalry (2 companies)
- 1st New Hampshire Cavalry (battalion)
- 8th New York Cavalry
- 22nd New York Cavalry
- 1st Vermont Cavalry
|
| Horse Artillery |
Horse Artillery
Cpt La Rhett L. Livingston
|
- 1st United States, Batteries K and L
- 2nd United States, Batteries B and L
- 2nd United States, Battery D
- 3rd United States, Batteries C and F
- 4th United States, Battery C
|
