"He was promoted, in spite of his unassuming modesty, by the speedy recognition of his military genius, his unflinching courage and his unselfish devotion to the cause he had espoused. He was the idol of his Command, and especially of the companions of his youth, who knew him best. Ever solicitous for, and watchful of the welfare of his men, he was gentle, kind and courteous to the humblest of them, proud of his battalion and mindful of the traditions of "The Old Maryland Line." There are those who can never forget his favorite and characteristic appeal when the storm of leaden hail decimated his line of battle, as his clarion voice rang out, "Steady Men; Remember who you are; Remember who you are!"
The above passage was written by F. May Sellman in 1945. She was the daughter of John Poole Sellman of Montgomery County and the corresponding secretary and historian of the Ridgely Brown Chapter of The U.D.C since its beginning in 1911. In 1945, she recorded the above passage in a paper written based on information she collect from her father and other surviving members of the 1st Maryland Cavalry regarding Colonel Brown.
Welcome to the 1st Maryland Cavalry's website. We are a group of living historians that strive to accurately and authentically portray the men of the 1st Maryland Cavalry. This is a new site and under construction. Keep checking back for updates and upcoming events.
Events for 2010
We have just updated our list of events for 2010. We are very happy to be part of the living history event at Monocacy Battlefield. It is a rare occasion to be able to ride on an original battlefield. We are very glad to participate and support one of the battlefields in Maryland. Please see our schedule page to view the events we will attend, and if there are any questions about our upcoming events and locations, please contact us with questions.
Here are just a few of the commanders under which the 1st MD served. Bradley Johnson commanded the Maryland Line at Hanover Junction and eventually commanded a brigade of cavalry. When the 1st MD was official organized into a battalion, it was assigned to Grumble Jones's brigade in the valley. Late in the '64 Valley Campaign, the regiment was assigned to Lunsford Lomax. The regiment and its officers were often mentioned in JEB Stuart's reports especially in its defense of Richmond in the Spring of '64. When the 1st MD was just an individual company, it was assigned to T. Munford's 2nd Virginia Cav and became well respected by Munford for the rest of the war.
Here is an excerpt from the farewell letter written by T. Munford:
"Three years ago the chivalric Brown joined my old regiment with twenty-three Maryland volunteers with light hearts and full of fight. I soon learned to admire, respect, and love them for all those qualities which endear soldiers to their officers. They recruited rapidly, and as they increased in numbers, so did their reputation and friends increase, and they were soon able to form a command and take a position of their own. Need I say when I see that position so high and almost alone among soldiers, that my heart swells with pride to think that a record so bright and glorious is in some part linked with mine? Would that I could see the mothers and sisters of every member of your battalion that I might tell them how nobly you have represented your State and maintained our cause. But you will not be forgotten. The fame you have won will be guarded by Virginia with all the pride she feels in her own true sons, and the ties which have linked us together memory will preserve. You who struck the first blow in Baltimore, and the last in Virginia, have done all that could be asked of you and had the rest of our officers and men adhered to our cause with the same devotion, today we would have been free from Yankee thraldom." Thomas T. Munford, Brigadier-General Commanding Division
Tributes to Ridgely Brown and Gus Dorsey
The two plaques pictured here are located in a church in Olney MD. The plaques are dedicated to the Lt. Col Ridgely Brown and Lt. Col Gus Dorsey, the two Colonels of the 1st Maryland Cavalry. According to F. May Sellman, these plaques were originally placed in the Rockville Courthouse in 1924 by the Ridgely Brown Chapter of the UDC. When the new courthouse was built, the rooms of the old courthouse were made into smaller offices. The plaques were then moved to the church in Olney. There are several members of Co. A 1st Maryland Cavalry buried at this church. Montgomery County sent a large number of men to the 1st Maryland Cavalry.
A Prominent Howard County MD Citizen
Across from the courthouse building in Ellicott City, there is a row of small wood structures. These small structures are were originally law offices for Howard County attorneys. These are very modest offices located very close to the courthouse. The street leading up to these offices is still basically a one lane road that wind up to the top of the hill where the courthouse is located. One of the offices was built and used by Henry Edgar Wooten. Wooten was a member of Co. A of the 1st Maryland Cavalry. A graduate of Yale Law School, he served as a private from 9/15/62 till 7/26/65 when he took the oath in Winchester. He was capture near Hanover Court house on June 1, 1864 on the same day Col Brown was killed. He was later paroled and continued to serve till the end of the war. We was the States Attorney of Howard County for nearly 20 years.
