Anderson Troop

Anderson Troop was an independent cavalry company raised in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, during the opening months of the American Civil War. Organized in October and November 1861 and mustered into Union service on November 30, the company was created under the leadership of Captain William Jackson Palmer, a Philadelphia officer who later became colonel of the 15th Pennsylvania Cavalry. Its authorized strength was 110 officers and men, although its effective strength changed substantially during its short existence. The company was initially intended for headquarters and escort duty connected with General Robert Anderson in Kentucky. Instead, it served as a specially selected scouting and escort unit associated with the headquarters of Generals Don Carlos Buell and William S. Rosecrans, commanders of the Department and Army of the Ohio and later the Army of the Cumberland. The troop spent approximately eighteen months in this headquarters role and participated in major Union operations in Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, and Mississippi. Recruitment gave the unit an unusual character. Men were nominated by respected citizens of Pennsylvania and then individually selected. Palmer, a Quaker, recruited several fellow members of the Society of Friends. Enrollees also had to swear that they would abstain from liquor for the duration of their military service. These requirements reflected the organizers' preference for disciplined, reliable soldiers suitable for sensitive escort, courier, and scouting assignments. In July 1862, Palmer, First Lieutenant William Spencer, and twelve men were detailed to recruit three additional companies modeled on the Anderson Troop. Applications exceeded expectations, and the effort produced an entire regiment, the 15th Pennsylvania Volunteer Cavalry, also known as the 160th Pennsylvania Volunteers. Because Palmer and Spencer transferred to senior commands in that regiment, the Anderson Troop was sometimes described as the 15th Pennsylvania Cavalry or as the regiment's original company. It was not, however, incorporated into the regiment. The troop remained an independent organization under Second Lieutenant Thomas S. Maple. The separation created an awkward administrative and operational relationship. Eleven of the troop's seventeen officers and noncommissioned officers, together with twenty-one of its ninety privates, transferred to the new regiment. General Rosecrans subsequently judged that the two units could not operate alongside one another without friction. The remaining fifty-three members were therefore permitted to leave the service and were mustered out at Murfreesboro, Tennessee, on March 24, 1863. The troop's recorded losses were six men: one officer killed and five enlisted men who died from disease. Its service included the movement to Louisville, the advance to Nashville and Savannah, the Battle of Shiloh, the siege and capture of Corinth, Buell's operations in northern Alabama and middle Tennessee, the pursuit of Braxton Bragg into Kentucky, the Battle of Perryville, and the Stones River campaign. Although small and short-lived, Anderson Troop occupied a distinctive place in the Union Army's headquarters system and helped provide the nucleus and recruiting identity for one of Pennsylvania's major volunteer cavalry regiments.

Anderson Troop emerged from Pennsylvania's early Civil War mobilization. William Jackson Palmer organized the company at Carlisle in the autumn of 1861, recruiting men through personal nomination and review rather than relying solely on ordinary enlistment. The selection process, Palmer's Quaker connections, and the requirement that members abstain from liquor were intended to produce a dependable body suitable for sensitive military duties. The company was mustered into Union service on November 30, 1861. Although planned for escort and headquarters service connected with General Robert Anderson in Kentucky, it was instead assigned to the headquarters structure surrounding General Don Carlos Buell and subsequently General William S. Rosecrans. The troop moved to Louisville in December 1861 and then accompanied the Army of the Ohio toward Nashville and the Tennessee River. Its operational history included the reinforcement of the Union army at Savannah, the Battle of Shiloh, the advance and siege of Corinth, and the pursuit of Confederate forces under Braxton Bragg. During the summer of 1862, the company served as the foundation for an attempt to create a larger Anderson cavalry battalion. Palmer, William Spencer, and a detachment of the troop were assigned to recruit additional companies. The response was sufficiently strong to create the 15th Pennsylvania Volunteer Cavalry, a full regiment rather than the intended three-company battalion. Palmer became its colonel and Spencer its lieutenant colonel. The regiment was widely associated with the Anderson name, but the original company remained independent. The troop's personnel were divided by the recruiting campaign. Eleven of its seventeen officers and noncommissioned officers and twenty-one of its ninety privates joined the new regiment. Thomas S. Maple, formerly a second lieutenant, led the remaining organization. The troop continued with Union headquarters forces through operations in northern Alabama and middle Tennessee, the march to Louisville, the pursuit into Kentucky, the Battle of Perryville, the return to Nashville, and the Stones River campaign. By early 1863, the coexistence of the independent troop and the regiment formed from its recruiting effort had become difficult. Rosecrans concluded that the two organizations could not function effectively side by side and offered the remaining Anderson Troop personnel the option of leaving the service. They accepted that option and were mustered out at Murfreesboro on March 24, 1863. Maple later served as a major and assistant army quartermaster. The company's total recorded losses were one officer killed and five enlisted men who died from disease.

• 1863

  Muster-out at Murfreesboro

  [1]Anderson Troopen.wikipedia.org

  The remaining members were mustered out on March 24 after the troop's personnel losses and its difficult relationship with the 15th Pennsylvania Cavalry.

• 1862

  Shiloh and Corinth operations

  [1]Anderson Troopen.wikipedia.org

  The troop supported Union headquarters during the Shiloh campaign and the advance, siege, and pursuit associated with Corinth.

• 1862

  Creation of the 15th Pennsylvania Cavalry

  [1]Anderson Troopen.wikipedia.org

  An expansion effort associated with the troop produced the 15th Pennsylvania Volunteer Cavalry, although the original company stayed independent.

• 1862

  Perryville and Stones River campaigns

  [1]Anderson Troopen.wikipedia.org

  The company accompanied Union operations in Kentucky and Tennessee, including Perryville and Stones River.

• 1861

  Organization at Carlisle

  [1]Anderson Troopen.wikipedia.org

  William Jackson Palmer organized the independent cavalry company in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, during October and November.

• 1861

  Muster into Union service

  [1]Anderson Troopen.wikipedia.org

  The company entered federal service on November 30 with an authorized strength of 110 officers and men.

A disciplined, independently organized Union cavalry company used primarily for headquarters escort, scouting, courier, and related field-support duties.

• 1862Shiloh and Corinth campaign

  Tennessee · Mississippi

  The troop moved with Union headquarters forces to Savannah, participated in the Battle of Shiloh on April 7, and supported the advance and siege of Corinth from late April through May.

  Outcome. The company continued with the Army of the Ohio after the capture of Corinth and the subsequent pursuit toward Booneville.

  Source
• 1862Buell's campaign in northern Alabama and middle Tennessee

  Alabama · Tennessee

  Anderson Troop performed headquarters and escort-related service during Union movements across northern Alabama and middle Tennessee.

  Outcome. The unit remained attached to Union headquarters operations before marching north in response to Bragg's advance.

  Source
• 1862Kentucky campaign and Perryville

  Kentucky

  The company marched from Louisville in pursuit of Confederate forces and took part in the operations culminating in the Battle of Perryville on October 8.

  Outcome. The troop returned toward Nashville and continued headquarters duty.

  Source
• 1862Stones River campaign

  Tennessee

  The troop advanced from Nashville toward Murfreesboro and was present during the engagements around La Vergne, Wilkinson's Cross Roads, Stones River, and related actions.

  Outcome. The company remained at Murfreesboro until its final muster-out in March 1863.

  Source

• 1863

  Muster out the remaining companyOther

  Background

  After personnel transfers and General Rosecrans's view that the troop and the 15th Pennsylvania Cavalry could not serve alongside one another without friction, the remaining members were offered release from service.

  Action taken

  The remaining fifty-three men were mustered out at Murfreesboro on March 24.

  Aftermath

  Anderson Troop ceased to exist as an active Union cavalry company. Thomas Maple continued military service in another capacity as a major and assistant army quartermaster.

  Source

• 1862

  Remain independent from the 15th Pennsylvania CavalryStrategy

  Background

  The recruiting campaign led by Palmer and Spencer created a full regiment, and many Anderson Troop personnel transferred to it. The original company nevertheless retained its separate organization.

  Action taken

  The remaining troop members continued under Thomas S. Maple rather than being incorporated into the new regiment.

  Aftermath

  The independent and regimental organizations later came into operational conflict, contributing to the troop's eventual dissolution.

  Source

1. 1Anderson Troopen.wikipedia.org
2. 2History of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Volunteer Cavalryarchive.org
3. 3A Compendium of the War of the Rebellionarchive.org