THADEUS WILKINSON -- 16th and 3rd PROVISIONAL CAVALRYIN THE ARMY FROM MARCH TO SEPTEMBER 1865 - Thadeus Wilkenson enlisted inthe 16th Cavalry on March 20, 1865, under the name F. E. Wilkenson orWilkinson. By the time he got to the field in Virginia, the war wasover. All that was left was the relief of men whose 3-year terms were upand provost, guard and clean-up duties such as making sure the horseswere returned to Clinton County or were left with the Army.The 16th Cavalry, which was formed in the late summer and early fallof 1863, remained in the northern Virginia counties on the south side ofthe Potomac and was considered part of the Defenses of Washington.Thadeus remained with the 16th until August 17, 1865, when, due toconsolidation of forces, the 13th and the 16th Cavalries werecombined and renamed the 3rd Provisional Cavalry remaining with the22nd Corps of the Department of Washington DC.Thadeus was mustered out with his company on September 21, 1865, at CampBarry in the District of Columbia. The former temporary artillery campwas used for the dispersal of home-bound troops.On April 3, 1865, when Richmond, Virginia, was captured by the UnionArmy. The Secretary of War, Edwin Stanton, received a telegraphinforming him of the news. The news spreads all over Washington, DC, andBattery H of the 14th PA Artillery, which was stationed there at thetime, started firing one hundred guns at the camp.
