ALBERT PERRY -- 5th CAVALRYSEVEN MONTHS IN THE 5TH CAVALRY - When Albert Perry enlisted in the5th Cavalry in Black Brook on February 24, 1864, he was living withhis father, Moses, and his stepmother on their farm. He was twenty yearsold when he left to go to the Shenandoah Valley.Many of the regiment re-enlisted during January 1864, after theirinitial 3-year terms, and were mustered in as veterans. A thirty days\'furlough was promised them but not given until General Kilpatrickreturned from his raid on Richmond, in March. Albert was present at themuster of Company L on March 2, 1864, so some men could go home.On April 22, 1864, the Army of the Potomac was reviewed by LieutenantGeneral Grant, on the plains near Stevensburg, VA, just outsideCulpeper, and General Sheridan was placed in command of the CavalryCorps. On May 4th, they crossed the Rapidan at Germanna Ford andopened up the Battle of the Wilderness where they had 16 men killed inaction. During this campaign, engagements occurred daily and theirlosses at Parker\'s Store, The Wilderness, Milford Station, Ashland, andon the Wilson Raid at White Oak Swamp, Stony Creek, and Reams\' Station,were very heavy -- over 200 casualties.On August 5th, they took transports at City Point near Petersburg forWashington, DC, and arrived at Geisboro Point on the 7th. After a sixdays\' rest, the regiment was detailed to escort a dispatch bearer fromWashington to General Sheridan in the Shenandoah Valley, making a75-mile march in twenty-two hours. After the march, the regimentcontinued its active participation in Sheridan\'s campaign in theValley.On September 19, 1864, somewhere along the15-mile stretch between Opequan and Winchester, Albert was killed inaction during the Third Battle of Winchester. He was buried in thefield, and his gravesite is unknown. The 23-year-old AssistantRegimental Surgeon, Orlando Armstrong, recorded he died of a gunshotwound.
