First Cavalry
Alternate Designations: None.
Commander: Col. Charles H. Town (1828-May 7, 1865).
Numbers: 502; 10 killed, 43 wounded, 20 missing.
Raised: Wayne, Lapeer, and Oakland.
Fifth Cavalry
Alternate Designations: None.
Commander: Col. Russell A. Alger (1836-1907).
Numbers: 770; 8 killed, 30 wounded, 18 missing.
Raised: Wayne, Kalamazoo, Allegan, Branch, and Oakland.
Sixth Cavalry
Alternate Designations: None.
Commander: Col. George Gray (1824-1892).
Numbers: 611; 1 killed, 26 wounded, 1 missing.
Raised: Kent, Ionia, Barry, and Shiawassee
Seventh Cavalry
Alternate Designations: None.
Commander: Col. William D. Mann (1839-1920)
Numbers:461; 13 killed, 48 wounded, 39 missing.
Raised: Saginaw, Eaton, Lenaweee, and Kalamazoo.
Dedicated: June 12, 1889.
Location: Located on the south side of Gregg Avenue (Custer Avenue) at East Cavalry Field. Indicates general field of battle for Custer’s Michigan Cavalry Regiments, the 1st, 5th, 6th, and 7th Michigan Regiments.
Description: A standing portrait of George A. Custer with his proper right hand on his chests is installed atop an elaborate base adorned with columns, horse heads, and bronze plaques. The front of the base features a circular niche with a bronze bust of George A. Custer and a rectangular bronze relief depicting a cavalry battle. Monument is a three-part columned granite shaft topped by a statue of a cavalryman and set on a 11.5 foot square, four-part base of which the first two parts are rough cut with tooled edges and the last two parts are smooth cut. The shaft has bronze medallions, incised inscriptions, and horse head capitals on top of the columns. Overall height is 31.6 feet.
The First Michigan Cavalry regiment, with one exception, sustained the heaviest loss in action of any cavalry regiment in the war.
Army of the Potomac > Cavalry Corps > Third Division > Second Brigade