20th Pennsylvania Cavalry Regiment

The 20th Pennsylvania Cavalry (181st Volunteers) was a cavalry regiment of the Union Army in the American Civil War. They were raised in Harrisburg and Philadelphia in 1863 and were commissioned for six months service. Most companies were sent to do guard duty. Soldiers such as Daniel Ernest were recruited in areas such as Perry County. Ernest would later join the 208th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry and would suffer a slight wound at the Battle of Petersburg. They followed up Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia after the Battle of Gettysburg. They managed to capture a few soldiers, horses, and supplies. The regiment fought in the Battle of Berkeley Springs and suffered a loss of 20 prisoners. They fought and lost at the Battle of Lynchburg. By January 7, 1864, they were formally discharged. In February the regiment was reorganized and mustered in for three years service. It was assigned to the Department of West Virginia and later to the Army of the Shenandoah, participating in the Valley Campaigns. The 20th joined the Army of the Potomac in time for the Appomattox Campaign and afterwards marched in the Grand Review of the Armies. In June 1865 it was consolidated with the 2nd Pennsylvania Cavalry to form the 1st Pennsylvania Provisional Cavalry; the new unit being mustered out a month later.