5th Regiment, New York Cavalry

HISTORICAL NOTES:

July 26, 1861, Col. Othneil De Forrest received authority from the War Department to recruit a brigade of cavalry for a service of three years. He recruited this regiment, as the Ira Harris Cavalry; after the organization had been turned over to the State, it was, October 16, 1861, designated the First Ira Harris Guard, and after its completion, November 14, 1861, the 5th Regiment of Cavalry. The Bliss Cavalry, an incomplete organization, recruited by Col. W. S. Bliss, was merged into the regiment, which was organized at Camp Scott, Staten Island, where its companies were mustered in the service of the United States: A on August 15, 1861; B on August 21, C on September 3, D on October 1, E on the 7th, and F on the 21st of September, G on the 9th, H on the 28th, and I, K, L and M, on the 31st of October, 1861. At the expiration of its term of service those entitled thereto were discharged and the regiment continued in the service.

The companies were recruited principally: A, B, K — Bliss Cavalry, M — Bliss Cavalry — at New York city; C at New York city, Troy and Kingston; D at Springfield, Mass., and New York city; E at Allegany, Kennedy, Richburgh, Belmont, East Rushford, Friendship, Ellicottsville, Cuba, Black Creek, Little Valley, Scio, Genesee, Farmersville, Great Valley and Wellsville; F at East Pike, East Gainesville, Castile, Attica, Oramel, Wellsville, China, Hume, Sardinia and Freedom; G, intended originally for a so-called Harlan's Cavalry, at Pike, Oswego and Elmira; H at Crown Point; I—Bliss Cavalry—.at Princeton, Passaic and Plainfield, N. J., and Brooklyn and Newburgh; and L at Hudson, Athens and Catskill.

The regiment left the State November 18, 1861, and served in the Department of Annapolis, Md., from November, 1861; in the 5th Corps and Department of the Shenandoah, from March, 1862; in the 2d Corps, Army of Virginia, from June, 1862; in Stahel's Division, defenses of Washington, from September, 1862; in the 3d Brigade, 3d Division, 22d Corps, Department Washington, from March, 1863; in the 1st Brigade, 3d Division, Cavalry, Army of the Potomac, from June 28, 1863; in the 2d Brigade, 3d Division, Cavalry, Army of the Potomac, from August, 1863; in the 1st Brigade, 3d Division, Cavalry, Army of the Potomac, from September, 1863; with the Army of the Potomac, detached in the 9th Corps, part of May, 1864; with the Cavalry Corps again from about end of May, 1864; in the Army of the Shenandoah, from October, 1864, and in the Department of West Virginia, from March, 1865, until July 19, 1865, when, commanded by Col. Amos H. White, it was mustered out and honorably discharged at Winchester, Va.

During its service, the regiment lost by death killed in action, 4 officers, 62 enlisted men; died of wounds received in action, 4 officers, 20 enlisted men; died of disease and other causes, 5 officers, 222 enlisted men; total, 13 officers, 307 enlisted men; aggregate, 320, of whom 104 enlisted men died in the hands of the enemy. ASSIGNMENTS:
Regiment recruited at New York City as Ira Harris Cavalry. Designated Ira Harris Guard October 16,1861, and 5th New York Cavalry November 14, 1861. Companies mustered in as follows: "A" August 15, "B" August 21, "C" September 3, "D" October 1, "E" October 7, "F" September 21, "G" October 9, "H" October 28, "I," "K," "L" and "M" October 31, 1861. Left State for Baltimore, Md., November 18, 1861. Attached to Dix's Command to March, 1862. Banks' 5th Corps March and April, 1862. Hatch's Cavalry Brigade, Department Of the Shenandoah, to June, 1862. Cavalry Brigade, 2nd Corps, Army of Virginia, to September, 1862. Wyndham's Cavalry Brigade, Defenses of Washington, to February, 1863. Price's Independent Cavalry Brigade, 22nd Army Corps, Dept. of Washington, to April, 1863. 3rd Brigade, Stahel's Cavalry Division, 22nd Army Corps, to June 28, 1863. 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, Cavalry Corps, Army of the Potomac, and Army of the Shenandoah, Middle Military Division, to March, 1865. Cavalry, Army of the Shenandoah, to July, 1865. SERVICE:
Duty at Camp Harris, Baltimore, Md., November 18, 1861, to March 31, 1862. Ordered to join Banks in the field March 31. South Fork, Shenandoah River, April 19. New Market April 29. Port Republic May 2. Conrad's Store May 2 and 6. Report to Gen. Hatch May 3. Rockingham Furnace May 4. Near Harrisonburg May 6. New Market May 7. Columbia River Bridge May 8. Bowling Green Road near Fredericksburg May 11. Operations in the Shenandoah Valley May 15-June 17. Woodstock May 18. Front Royal May 23 (Cos. "B" and "D"). Strasburg, Middletown and Newtown May 24. Winchester May 25. Defense of Harper's Ferry May 28-30 (4 Cos.). Reconnaissance to New Market June 15. Near Culpeper Court House July 12. Liberty Mills July 17. Near Orange Court House August 2. Cedar Mountain August 9-10. Pope's Campaign in Northern Virginia August 16-September 2. Louisa Court House August 17. Kelly's Ford August 20. Warrenton Springs August 23-24. Waterloo Bridge August 24. Centreville August 28. Groveton August 29. Lewis Ford and Bull Run August 30. Chanuntily September 1. Antietam, Md., September 17-19. Ashby's Gap September 22. Leesburg October 16. Upperville October 17. Thoroughfare Gap and Haymarket October 18. New Baltimore November 5. Cedar Hill November 5. Hopewell Gap November 8. Thoroughfare Gap November 11. Middleburg November 12. Upperville November 16. Aldie November 29. Snicker's Gap and Berryville November 30. Aldie December 18. Cub Run December 31. Frying Pan January 5, 1863. Cub Run January 5. Middleburg January 26. New Baltimore February 9. Warrenton February 10. Aldie March 4. Fairfax Court House March 9. Little River Turnpike and Chanuntily March 23. Broad Run April 1. White Plains April 28. Warrenton Junction May 3. Flemming and Shannon Cross Roads May 4. Near Fairfax Court House May 8. Marsteller's Place May 14. Greenwich May 30. Snicker's Gap June 1. Middleburg June 10. Warrenton June 19. Hanover, Pa., June 30. Hunterstown July 2. Gettysburg, Pa., July 3. Monterey Pass July 4. Smithsburg July 5. Hagerstown and Williamsport July 6. Boonsboro July 8. Hagerstown July 11-13. Falling Waters July 14. Hagerstown July 15. Ashby's Gap July 26. Expedition to Port Conway September 1-3. Lamb's Creek September 1. Advance from the Rappahannock to the Rapidan September 13-17. Culpeper Court House September 13. Rapidan Station September 13-14. Somerville Ford September 14. Raccoon Ford September 14-16. Kelly's Ford September 18. Madison Court House September 21. Reconnaissance across the Rapidan September 21-23. White's Ford September 21-22. Brookin's Ford September 22. Hazel River Bridge September 25. Creigerville October 8. Bristoe Campaign October 9-22. Russell's Ford, James City and Bethesda Church October 10. Sperryville Pike, Brandy Station and near Culpeper October 11. Gainesville October 14. New Market October 16. Groveton October 17-18. Haymarket, Gainesville and Buckland's Mills October 19. Advance to line of the Rappahannock November 7-8. Stevensburg November 8. Germania Ford November 18. Mine Run Campaign November 26-December 2. Morton's Ford November 26. Raccoon Ford November 26-27. Ely's Ford January 19 and 22, 1864. Demonstration on the Rapidan February 6-7. Kilpatrick's Raid to Richmond February 28-March 4. Ely's Ford February 28. Beaver Dam Station and South Anna Bridge February 29. Defenses of Richmond March 1. Hanovertown March 2. Aylett's and Stevensville March 2. King's and Queen's Court House March 3. Ely's Ford March 4. Field's Ford March 8. Southard's Cross Roads March 11. Rapidan Campaign May-June. Parker's Store May 5. Todd's Tavern May 5-6. Wilderness May 6-7. Germania Ford, Brock Road and the Furnaces May 7. Todd's Tavern May 7-8. Spottsylvania May 8-18. Downer's Bridge and Milford Station May 20. Mattapony River and Bowling Green May 21. North Anna River May 24. Mt. Carmel Church May 25. On line of the Pamunky May 26-28. Totopotomoy May 28-31. Hanover Court House May 29. Mechump's Creek May 30. Signal Hill May 31. Ashland Station June 1. Cold Harbor June 1-12. Gaines' Mill, Totopotomoy and Salem Church June 2. Haw's Shop June 3. Old Church June 10 Shady Grove and Bethesda Church June 11. Riddell's Shop and Long Bridge June 12. White Oak Swamp June 13. Malvern Hill June 14. Smith's Store near St. Mary's Church June 15. White House Landing June 19. Wilson's Raid on South Side & Danville Railroad. June 22-30. Black and white and Nottaway Court House June 23. Staunton Bridge June 24. Roanoke Bridge June 25. Sappony Church or Stony Creek June 28. Ream's Station June 29. Before Petersburg until July 30. (A detachment of Regiment left at Dismounted Camp, participated in actions at Maryland Heights July 6-7. Rockville, Md., July 10. Tell Gate July 12. Poolesville July 15. Snicker's Ferry July 18, and Kernstown July 24.) Sheridan's Shenandoah Valley Campaign August 7-November 28. Winchester and Halltown August 17. Opequan August 19. Summit Point August 21. Charlestown August 22. Duffield Station August 23. Near Kearneysville August 25. Berryville September 2-4. Duffield Station September 3. Darkenville September 3. Opequan September 7-13-15 and 17. Abraham's Creek near Winchester September 13. Battle of Winchester September 19. Near Cedarville and Crooked Run September 20. Front Royal Pike and Fisher's Hill September 21. Milford September 22. New Market September 23-24. Mt. Crawford September 24. Waynesboro September 26. Port Republic September 26-27. Mr. Meridian September 27. Waynesboro and Railroad Bridge September 29. Bridgewater October 2. Brock's Gap October 6. Forestville October 7. Near Columbia Furnace October 7. Tom's Brook, "Woodstock Races," October 8-9. Back Road Cedar Creek October 13. Lebanon Church October 14. Cedar Run October 18. Battle of Cedar Creek October 19. Newtown and Nineyah November 12. Mr. Jackson November 22. Expedition to Lacy Springs December 19-22. Lacy Springs December 21. Woodstock January 10, 1865. Edenburg January 22. Sheridan's Raid February 27-March 3. Waynesboro March 2. Capture of Gen. Early's Command. Detached from Division to guard prisoners from Waynesboro to Winchester. Mr. Sidney and Lacy Springs March 5. New Market March 6 Rood's Hill March 7. (A portion of Regiment at Dinwiddie Court House March 30-31. Five Forks April 1. Fall of Petersburg April 2. Sweet House Creek April 3. Harper's Farm April 6. Appomattox Station April 8. Appomattox Court House April 9. Surrender of Lee and his army.) Regiment on duty at Headquarters Middle Military Division and in vicinity of Winchester until July. Mustered out July 19, 1865, and honorably discharged from service. ROSTERS:
The composite rosters of this unit contains the names of 2562 men. BIBLIOGRAPHY: