Union 3rd New Jersey Cavalry

By Crusader1307

Formed in The Capital of The State of New Jersey (Trenton), The 3rd New Jersey Cavalry was created to fight for The Union – during The American Civil War. Consisting of (5) Companies of regular Cavalry, The Regiment served from 1861 until 1865. The Regiment found in The Eastern Theater of War, fighting in several key battles of that War. The Regiment number 800 Officers and Men. Assigned to The Army of The Potomac, The 3rd New Jersey would be present at The Siege of Petersburg (1864), as well as fighting in the last major Cavalry battle of The War (Five Forks, Virginia). They were also present when Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered his Army at Appomattox (1865). The Regiment fare well for The War, suffering only 110 combat related deaths.

The Regiment was noted as being one of the few Federal Army Cavalry Units that modeled it's Uniform after a European Army motif, that being The Hussars. They favored a Pillbox Hat and embellished Shako Jacket similar to those Cavalry Regiments in both France and England.