| After this engagement the wound in the leg gave Mr. Converse some trouble in regard to marching, and he enlisted in the First U. S. Cavalry, under an order from the War Department, for the term of three years. He was assigned to Company E. Soon he accompanied the company to the front where the 1st Cavalry was assigned to what is known as the Reserved Brigade of the Cavalry Corps of the Army of the Potomac, then commanded by General Stoneman. Their first engagement was at Kellysford, Va., on the 17th day of March, '63. This was at the beginning of General Stoneman's Raid. Their next engagement was at Beverly's Ford, June 10th, 1863; Goose Creek, June 19th; Upperville, June 21st; Gettysburg, July 3rd; Williamsport, Md., July 6th; Boonesville, July 8th; Falling Water, July 15th; Manassas Gap, July 21st; Brandy Station, Aug. 1st, and Aug. 3rd; at Mine Run, Va., Dec. 5th; on General Custer's Raid, Feb. 28th and 29th, '64; at Spottsylvania, May 7th; in the Wilderness, Va., May 8th; on General Sheridan's Raid, May 9th to 14th; at Beaver Dam, May 10th; Yellow Tavern, May 11th; Chickahominy River, May 12th, (here again he received another slight wound on his right arm just below the shoulder, which, however, did not lay him up from service); Horseshoe Shop, May 28th; at Cold Harbor, May 30th and 31st; at Trevilian Station, June 12th; at Deep Bottom, Va., July 28th; at Newtown, Aug. 12th; Shepherdstown, Aug. 29th; at Shepherdstown, Va., Sept. 1st; at Winchester, Sept. 19th; at Wilford, Sept. 23rd; Waynesboro, Sept. 28th; at Edinburgh, Oct. 8th and 9th; at Cedar Creek, Oct. 19th; on the Gordonsville Raid, Dec. 20th to 28th; on the Loudon Valley Raid, Jan. 5th to 8th, 1865; at Waynesburgh, Va., Mar. 21st; Dinwiddie Courthouse, March 30th; at Five Forks, Va., April 1st, April 2nd, 1865 and April 3rd; at Evergreen Station, April 8th; at the surrender of General Lee's army at Appomattox, Apr. 9, 1865. These engagements are copied from the back of his discharge, which discharge he received from Co. E, 1st U. S. Cavalry, signed and approved by Capt. George C. Sanford, commanding Co. E, 1st U. S. Cavalry, approved by A. G. Brackett, Col. commanding 1st U. S. Cavalry, also attested and approved by Major General Philip S. Sheridan, commanding Department of the Gulf. He was detailed in the spring of 1865, just before the surrender of Lee's Army, to report to General Sheridan's Headquarters, then being a sergeant of Co. E, to take command of orderlies; went from Washington to New Orleans with General Sheridan when he went down to take command of the Department of the Gulf. He was mustered out at New Orleans on the 17th day of December, 1865, by reason of expiration of term of service. This ended his military service. |