Organized at Smithland, Ky., December 9, 1861, by consolidation of Thielman's and Marx's Independent Cavalry Companies. Attached to District of Paducah, Ky., to March, 1862. 5th Division, Army of the Tennessee, to July, 1862. 5th Division, District of Memphis, Tenn., to November, 1862. 3rd Brigade, Cavalry, Right Wing 13th Army Corps (Old), Dept. of the Tennessee, to December, 1862. Cavalry, 2nd Division Sherman's Yazoo Expedition, to January, 1863. 2nd Division, 15th Army Corps, Army of the Tennessee, to May, 1863. Headquarters 15th Army Corps to December, 1863. Cumberland Gap, Dept. of the Ohio, to January, 1864.

SERVICE - Duty at Paducah and Smithland, Ky., until March, 1862. Demonstration from Paducah to Columbus, Ky., November 7-9, 1861. Expedition to Camp Beauregard and Viola, Ky., December 28-31. Moved to Savannah, Tenn., March 6-10, 1862. Expedition to Yellow Creek and Occupation of Pittsburg Landing March 14-17. Battle of Shiloh, Tenn., April 6-7. Reconnaissance on Corinth and Purdy Roads April 13. Advance on and Siege of Corinth, Miss., April 29-May 30. March to Memphis, Tenn., June 3-July 21. Duty at Memphis until November. Grant's Central Mississippi Campaign, "Tallahatchie March," November 26-December 12. Sherman's expedition and operations against Vicksburg, Miss., December 20, 1862, to January 3, 1863. Chickasaw Bayou December 26-28. Chickasaw Bluff December 29. Expedition to Arkansas Post, Ark., January 3-10, 1863. Assault and capture of Fort Hindman, Arkansas Post, January 10-11. Moved to Young's Point, La., January 17, and duty there until April. Demonstrations on Haines' and Drumgould's Bluffs April 29-May 2. Movement to Join army in rear of Vicksburg, Miss., May 2-14. Jackson May 14. Champion's Hill May 16. Siege of Vicksburg, Miss., May 18-July 4. Advance on Jackson, Miss., July 4-10. Siege of Jackson July 10-17. At Big Black River until September 26. Moved to Memphis, Tenn., thence to Chattanooga, Tenn., September 26-November 23. Operations on Memphis and Charleston R. R. in Alabama October 20-29. Chattanooga-Ringgold Campaign November 23-27. Battles of Chattanooga November 23-25. March to relief of Knoxville, Tenn., November 28-December 8. Joined Regiment at Cumberland Gap January, 1864. Battalion assigned to 16th Illinois Cavalry as Companies "A" and "B," January 1863, but served detached until January, 1864. Ordered to Mt. Sterling, Ky., February, 1864. Duty at Lexington, Paris and Cynthiana, Ky.