Although many European nations had large numbers of lancer units, only a few can be found in the American Civil War. Most Civil War historians have heard of Rush's Lancers, 6th Pennsylvania Cavalry, but there were some other units armed with lances. Texas seemed to lead in this arm with no less than five Texas Calvary regiments being armed in whole or in part with lances. Perhaps Texans were impressed with the Mexican Lances they had seen. Other states both North and South fielded lancer units.
Confederate Lancers: Joe Shelby's 5th Missouri Calvary Brigade were armed with lances early in the war. One company of the 1st Arkansas Mounter Rifles carried lances. Tennessee contributed the Longwood's Lancers. Virginia had a few scattered lancer units, notably the Shield Lancers who carried lances with red and white pennons. The 2nd Battalion of the 5th Virginia Cavalry helped Jeb Stuart defeat the Union Carvery at Cartler's Station were armed with lances during the battle on 22 August 1862.
Union Lancer: The 1st Regiment U.S. Lancers of Michigan never fully formed and were disbanded due to too many of the men being Canadians. The United States Lancers were raised in New York, but never completed its organization. Company C probably took their lances with them when the joined the 9th new York Cavalry. West Virgina contributed Kelly's Lancers of the 1st West Virginia Calvary which became part of the 4th Iowa Cavalry. Pleyel's Regiment of Lancers were recruited from Germans immigrants but it failed to complete its organization. Fremont Hussars were a well known lancer regiment that merged with the 4th Missouri Cavalry. Sobollaski's Independent Company of St. Louis carried lances early in the war.
Most of this information is taken from Ron Field's article 'American Civil War' American Lancers 'Militia lancer units 1835-65.
