Henry A. Cole

Henry was born on July 25, 1838 at Frederick, Maryland as the son of George Alexander Cole and Ann F. Hilton.[1] He enlisted in the Union Army on August 10, 1861 and was appointed captain of Company A of the 1st Maryland Cavalry Battalion, Potomac Home Brigade on November 27, 1861 which would later go on to be known as "Cole's Cavalry".[2][3][4] He was promoted to major in August 1, 1862 after Companies A, B, C, and D merged within the 1st Maryland.[5][6] He would begin active combat by participating in the First Battle of Kernstown and the Battle of Mile Hill. Cole would go on to participate at the Battle of Harpers Ferry of the Maryland campaign during a cavalry breakout at the final stages of the battle.[2][7] He also delivered the dispatch from a beleaguered garrison to George B. McClellan, receiving a personal thanks for the retrieval.[7] After the Battle of Harpers Ferry, Cole would remain at Northern Virginia as they were facing John S. Mosby's Operations in Northern Virginia and would go on to participate at the Battle of Loudoun Heights and was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel for his victory at the battle on March 15, 1864.[2][8] He was then fully promoted to colonel April 20, 1864.[2] Cole was then mustered out along with his men on June 28, 1865 at Harpers Ferry, West Virginia.[2][7]