History of Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-5; prepared in compliance with acts of the legislature, by Samuel P. Bates.

SIXTIETH REGIMENT,
THIRD CAVALRY.
HE Third Cavalry was recruited during the spring and summer of 1861,
under the direction of Colonel William H. Young, and for a time was
known as Young's Light Kentucky Cavalry. Many of the companies were the
first, of this arm of service, organized for the long term. Companies A, C, F,
K and M were recruited in Philadelphia, B in Philadelphia and in Chester
county, E in Clinton, D in the city of Washington, D. C., G in Allegheny, I
in Philadelphia and in Delaware county, and L in Schuylkill. As a majority
of the companies were from Pennsylvania the regiment was assigned to its
quota; but, in consequence of its being at first known as the Light Kentucky
Cavalry, it lost its precedence in number, and was designated the Third Cavalry, Sixtieth of the line.
The regiment assembled at Washington during the month bf August, and
on the 31st Governor Curtin appointed William W. Averill, a graduate of
West Point, and at the time an officer in the Fifth United States Cavalry, to
command it. UIntil its organization was completed under Colonel Averill,
drill and discipline had been neglected; but upon his assumption of command
the most stringent measures were adopted. The severity of his discipline was
at first distasteful, but when the results of his careful instruction, and minute
and patient drill, were recognized, an esprit du corps sprang up which was never
lost to the end of its term of service, and made it one of the most efficient and
reliable of regiments.
The first winter was passed at Camp Marcy, south of the Potomac, and three
miles from Chain Bridge. It was a trying time to the whole army. The Third
patiently endured all the hardships of a military life in the field, relieved by
none of its excitements. The muddy condition of the roads rendered even
drilling almost impossible. Picket duty was performed in the direction of Ilnson's Hill, and there was some scouting, in which, owing to their inexperience,
several men were taken prisoners. In the advance of M'Ciellan, which commenced on the 10th of March, 1862, the Third had the post of honor-the advance guard. Marching through Fairfax Court House and Centreville, it was
the first to enter the celebrated works at Manassas, which the enemy had been
permitted quietly to occupy during the winter. It found, unexpectedly, no
opposition, and captured all the quaker guns which the rebels had left to deceive MIClellan. A few days afterwards it returned to its old winter quarters,
and on the 22d marched to Alexandria, where it embarked for the Peninsula,
arriving at Hampton, near Fortress Monroe, on the 30th. A week later it
moved forward with the army and was frequently engaged during the siege of
Yorktown.