The number of Union soldiers with the detachment varied of the three regiments Gen. Ord sent between 500-800 men, being mostly made up of the 123rd Ohio Infantry and 54th Pennsylvania Infantry.   They were supported by a squadron of 13 officers and 67 enlisted men of the 4th Mass Cavalry.

The number of Confederate soldiers may have varied between 1500-2500 men, including Confederate Cavalry, Confederate Reserves and Artillery. 

Confederate Cavalry as with many members of the other branches of service, were dispersed or detailed along the retreat route at various points.  They became more so especially as the Confederate columns became separated at Sailors Creek.  In their haste and confusion there was very little time to make a detailed accountability of those who were there. Which makes it difficult in identifying soldiers of regiments that were or were not present actually in the battle and not somewhere else.  Without documentation it leaves a lot to question. 

For example the 35th VA Battalion Cavalry history "The Comanches" by Frank Myers, states that they had about 40 men engaged in the battle.  Where as the 24th VA  Cav, was dispersed with some of the regiment being dismounted who fought at Sailors Creek. Meanwhile others were detailed along the Confederate column.  The majority of mounted men were with Gen. Martin Gary's brigade as they went ahead to reinforce Gen. Rosser. 

Of the overall 100 or so estimated casualties, those who were present relate that the Confederate casualties outnumbered the Union casualties nearly two to one. 

There were only three regiments represented in the Union Detachment from the Army of the James 24th CORPS.  These included the:

4th Massachusetts Cavalry,

123rd Ohio Infantry,

54th Pennsylvania Infantry. 

Confederate units involved in the action included local reserves, artillery and cavalry of the Army of Northern Virginia some other cavalry regiments involved in the campaign may also have been present but are not listed pending further research those participants who are positively known are as follows. 

Col. Richard Booker

3rd Virginia Reserve Infantry,

Maj. Victor Maurin

Louisiana Donaldsonville Artillery

Army of Northern Virginia Cavalry:

Gen. Thomas L. Rosser's Division:

Brig. Gen. James Dearing

Laurel Brigade:

7th Virginia Cavalry, 11th Virginia Cavalry, 12th Virginia Cavalry,

35th Battalion Virginia Cavalry

Brig. Gen. John McCausland's

Brigade:

16th Virginia Cavalry, 17th Virginia Cavalry, 21st Virginia Cavalry,

22nd Battalion Virginia Cavalry  

Gen. Fitz Lee's Division commanded by

Col. Thomas T. Munford:

1st Virginia Cavalry, 2nd Virginia Cavalry, 3rd Virginia, 4th Virginia Cavalry

Capt. John D. B. Goddard

CO L, 4th Mass Cavalry

KIA

CPL. Gabriel Strang

CO L, 4th Mass Cavalry

KIA

He was only 21 years old, one of four brothers who enlisted in the 1st Massachusetts Cavalry Regiment.  He was a company bugler and had been promoted to Corporal in February of 1865.  

He is buried at Polar Grove National Cemetery 

Asst. Adjt. Bvt. Gen. Theodore Read

  24th Army Corps

KIA

buried Madison Wisconsin

Brvt. Gen. Francis Washburn

4th Mass Cavalry 24th Army Corps

MWIA

buried Worcester Mass.

Headstone of Col. Francis Washburn and his brother Edward

Capt. William T. Hodges

CO I, 4th Mass Cavalry

KIA

Capt. William Townsend Hodges, lead the third and final charge of the 4th Mass Cavalry at High Bridge.  During the melee he confronted Maj. James Breathed of the Stuart Horse Artillery in duello.   As they engaged in a mounted saber duel, Capt. Hodges caught Maj. Breathed at a disadvantage, knocking him from his horse.  As Breathed hit the ground he fired his pistol at the Captain,   nearby compatriots came to his aid firing their pistols at Capt. Hodges who was shot in the chest.  His body was later recovered by his family and taken home to Massachusetts.

    Pvt Josiah P. Dry

123rd Ohio Inf.

POW

Images:

Capt. John D. B. Goddard and Col. Washburn's images donated courtesy of Mr. Chris Nelson

Col. Washburn's grave image donated courtesy of Mr. John Schumacher-Hardy.

Michael C. Lucas, "The Battle of High Bridge", High Bridge Battlefield Museum Archives

Maj. John Locher Knott

12th VA Cavalry

was killed early in the battle April 6, 1865

Maj. James Thompson

VMI ALUMNI

Stuart Horse Artillery

KIA April 6, 1865

Grave of Maj. James Thomson Stuart Horse Artillery   Winchester National Cemetery

 Maj. Gen. James Dearing

Rosser's Division

Laurel Brigade

MWIA

Born at Otterburn in Campbell County Virgina.  James Dearing attended West Point and would likely have graduated in 1862 had the war not divided the country.  Like most of the Southern Cadets he resigned from the Academy.  His allegiance to his family and state he became a junior officer with the Washington Artillery along with Thomas Rosser.   His leadership skills  gave him  notable recognition as he moved up in rank from 2nd Lieutenant, Captain and to Major.  He married Roxanna Birchett, of Dinwiddie Va., they would have one daughter Mary Lucretia Dearing.

Leading the charge of the Laurel Brigade at High Bridge he is believed to have engaged in duello with Gen. Theodore Read.  After Gen. Read fell wounded from his horse, Dearing was shot  in the chest the ball passing through both lungs.  Gen. Dearing was taken from the battlefield to the home of James Watson,"Chatham."   After the fight Col. Elijah Viers White went to see him, as White entered the room where Dearing rested. Gen. Dearing who could hardly speak, took Gen. Rosser's hand,  pointing to his collar insignia to jesture that Col White be promoted in his stead.

Mortally wounded  he was taken to the Ladies Aid Hospital, in Lynchburg where he passed away April 23, 1865.

At 25 years old he was the last Confederate General to die of wounds received in battle during the war.

 Gen. James Dearing and Roxanna's Graves

Springhill Cemetery Lynchburg Virginia

Col. Thomas T. Munford

Fitz Lee's Division

Image Courtesy VMI Col. Munford rose through the ranks elected to Col. of the 2nd Virginia Cavalry he served in that capacity early in the war eventually gaining a Staff position by April 6th 1865 he had risen to command Fitz Lee's Division.  Gen. Fitz Lee recommended him for field promotion to Brigadier General on April 6, 1865.

Col. (Gen.) Thomas T. Munford is buried in Spring Hill Cemetery Lynchburg VA,  only yards from the grave of Gen. James Dearing.

Images:

Maj. Locher Knott and Maj. James Thomson; McDonald, William N. ; “A History of The Laurel Brigade/ Ashby’s Cavalry” Copyright Kate S. McDonald Sun Job Printing Office Baltimore M.D. 1907.  Reprint R.W. Beatty LTD, Arlington VA, 1969.

Michael C. Lucas, "The Battle of High Bridge", High Bridge Battlefield Museum Archives