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Grouping of Rare Confederate Reunion Medals Owned and Worn by E.C. Powell, Surgeon of the 3^rd Va. Cavalry – This rather complete grouping of Surgeon Powell’s reunion medals spans his lengthy activity in Confederate veteran organizations and includes several very rare medals and ribbons. In addition to the grouping of reunion items, the collection is accompanied by Dr. Powell’s war period Chloroform vial, as labeled, as well as a framed certificate certifying Powell as a delegate, in good standing, of the A.P. Hill Chapter of Confederate Veterans (from Petersburg, Va.), to a reunion and convention in Birmingham, Alabama, in 1916. Also included in the grouping is a Tiffany designed and marked, large bronze medal, with Dr. Powell’s name on the medal, commemorating the 300^th Anniversary of the founding of the colony at Jamestown, in 1607. This is a superior grouping of many rarely encountered Confederate reunion medals and ribbons, all identified to a Virginia cavalry surgeon.

Eugene Cole Powell

Dr Eugene Cole Powell, Sr

Enlisted July 1861 – Surgeon Co.I – 3rd Virginia Cavalry – Fitzhugh Lee Division. – CSA

His obituary states he died on the 18th.

The son of William Cole Powell, he attended Randolph-Macon College. In 1861, he earned his Medical degree from The University of the city of New York. In 1861 he also enlisted with the 3rd Virginia Cavalry CSA. Early in 1862, he was appointed as a Hospital Steward by the Secretary of War. In 1863, he was sent to Georgia to serve as a steward in an Atlanta military hospital. By 1864, he was at the Blind School Hospital in Macon, Georgia. On January 5, 1865, he married Mary Duke. During the 1880s and 1890s, he practiced medicine in at Dinwiddie County, Virginia. An honorary member of the Medical Society of Virginia, he was county superintendent of schools for Dinwiddie for twenty-seven years, as well as for fourteen years, the president of the Bank of Dinwiddie.

Thank you to F. Terry Hambrecht, M.D. Senior Technical Advisor to the National Museum of Civil War Medicine for the information.

3rd Virginia Cavalry

The 3rd Virginia Volunteer Cavalry Regiment was a cavalry regiment raised in Virginia for service in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. It fought mostly with the Army of Northern Virginia.

The Virginia 3rd Cavalry was organized with independent companies and entered Confederate service on July 1, 1861. The regiment was formed with eleven companies, later reduced to ten. It was also called 2nd Regiment until October.

Its members were raised in the counties of Mecklenburg, Elizabeth City, New Kent, Halifax, Nottoway, Cumberland, Dinwiddie, and Prince Edward.

For a time six companies served in the Department of the Peninsula and four in the Valley District. Later the unit was assigned to General F. Lee’s, Wickham’s, and Munford’s Brigade, Army of Northern Virginia. It fought in many conflicts from Williamsburg to Fredericksburg, then was involved in the engagements at Kelly’s Ford, Chancellorsville, Brandy Station, Upperville, Gettysburg, Bristoe, Mine Run, The Wilderness, Todd’s Tavern, Spotsylvania, Haw’s Shop, and Cold Harbor. The 3rd went on to participate in Early’s operations in the Shenandoah Valley and the Appomattox Campaign.

It took 210 effectives to Gettysburg, but only 3 surrendered on April 9, 1865. Its commanders were Colonels Thomas F. Goode, Robert Johnston, and Thomas H. Owen; Lieutenant Colonels William R. Carter, William M. Feild, and John T. Thornton; and Majors Henry Carrington and Jefferson C. Phillips. During his time with the regiment Carter kept a field diary, parts of which were published in 1998 under the title Sabres, Saddles, and Spurs.^[1]

Future Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates and justice of the Virginia Supreme Court of Virginia Benjamin W. Lacy commanded a company in the 3rd Virginia.

Confederate surgeon and Civil War diarist Dr. Richard Eppes initially served with the 3rd Virginia, before furnishing a substitute to complete his term of service.

3rd Regiment, Virginia Cavalry (Confederate)

3rd Regiment, Virginia Cavalry (Confederate)

Brief History

The 3rd Regiment, Virginia Cavalry was organized with independent companies and entered Confederate service on July 1, 1861. The regiment was formed with eleven companies, later reduced to ten. It was also called 2nd Regiment until October 1861. It surrendered on April 9, 1865. The commanders were Colonels Thomas F. Goode, Robert Johnston, and Thomas H. Owen; Lieutenant Colonels William R. Carter, William M. Feild, and John I Thornton; and Majors Henry Carrington and Jefferson C. Phillips.^[

Companies in this Regiment with the Counties of Origin

Men often enlisted in a company recruited in the counties where they lived though not always. After many battles, companies might be combined because so many men were killed or wounded. However if you are unsure which company your ancestor was in, try the company recruited in his county first.

Its members were raised in the counties of Mecklenburg, Elizabeth City, New Kent, Halifax, Nottoway, Cumberland, Dinwiddie, and Prince Edward.

Company A (Boydton Cavalry or Mecklenburg Dragoons) – many men from Mecklenburg County

Company B (Old Dominion Dragoons) – many men from Elizabeth City County

Company C (Black Walnut Dragoons or Light Dragoons) – many men from Halifax County

Company D (Charles City Troop or Light Dragoons) – many men from Charles City County

Company E (Nottaway Troup) – many men from Nottoway County

Company F (New Kent Cavalry or Light Dragoons) – many men from New Kent County

Company G (Cumberland Light Dragoons) – many men from Cumberland County

Company H (Catawba Troop) – many men from Halifax County

Company I 1st (James City Troop or Calvary) – many men from James City County

Company I (2nd) (Dinwiddie Calvary) – many men from Dinwiddie County

Company K (Prince Edward Dragoons) – many men from Prince Edward County

The information above is form 3rd Virginia Cavalry, by Thomas P. Nanzig.