NEW YORK FIFTH CAVALRY (Three Years)

Fifth Cavalry.-Cols., Othneil De Forest, John Hammond, Amos H. White; Lieut.-Cols., Robert Johnstone, John Hammond, William P. Bacon, Amos H. White, Theodore A. Boice; Majs., Philip G. Vaught, Washington Wheeler, John Hammond, Abram H. Krom, Elmer J. Barker, James Davidson, William P. Pratt, Amos H. White, Theodore A. Boice, George H. Gardner, William P. Bacon, James A. Penfield, Tiberly C. Abbott, Henry A. D. Merritt. Authority to recruit this regiment was received by Col. De Forest from the war department on July 26, 1861. The regiment, originally known as the "Ire Harris cavalry," rendezvoused at Camp Scott, Staten island, where it was mustered into the U. S. service from Aug. 15 to Oct 31, 1861. The companies of which it was composed were principally recruited in the counties of New York, Kings, Allegany, Cattaraugus, Wyoming, Tioga, Essex and Greene. A part of Co. D came from Springfield, Mass., and part of Co. I from Princeton, Passaic and Plainfield, N. J. The original members were mustered out by detachments in 1864 and the regiment, composed of veterans and recruits, continued in service until July 19, 1865, when it was mustered out and honorably discharged at Winchester, Va. The regiment left the state, nearly 1,200 strong, Nov. 18, 1861, and was stationed at Annapolis until the spring of 1862. That year it served in the 5th corps, Department of the Shenandoah; in the 2nd corps, Army of Virginia; and in Stahel's division in the defenses of Washington. It started on its first campaign down the Shenandoah Valley in April, 1862, and at Front Royal, Strasburg and Middletown, sustained a loss of 75 killed, wounded and missing. As Gen. Banks fell back before Gen. Jackson, the regiment was cut off at Strasburg, but saved Banks' wagon train and Hampton's battery, and escorted them in safety by a circuitous route through the mountains into Maryland. It lost 24 men at Barnett's ford, and 23 in an action near Orange Court House. In the latter engagement it distinguished itself by driving the 7th Va. cavalry and capturing 47 prisoners, including the commanding officer, Maj. Marshall. It took an active part in Gen. Pope's campaign, being selected as body-guard to that general. In 1863 the regiment served in the 3d brigade, 3d division, 22nd corps at Washington; in the 1st and 2nd brigades, 3d cavalry division, Army of the Potomac; and was repeatedly in action during the year, its heaviest losses being sustained at Little River turnpike, loss 42; at Hanover, Pa., loss 54; at Hagerstown, loss 91; at Brandy Station, loss 25; and in a second action there, loss 28; at Buckland mills, loss 22. It then served with the cavalry corps, Army of the Potomac, until Oct., 1864; in the Army of the Shenandoah until the opening of the final campaign in 1865; and in the Department of West Virginia from March, 1865. It participated in Kilpatrick's raid to Richmond in the spring of 1864, sustaining considerable loss, Maj. Merritt, being among the captured. It was heavily engaged at the battle of the Wilderness, where it opened the fight at Parker's store, and met with a loss of 63 killed, wounded and missing. Its losses at Spottsylvania Court House were 16; at North Anna 25; at Cold Harbor 43; in the raid to the South Side and Danville railroads in June 98; at Smithfield 19; and at the Opequan 17. The regiment returned home under command of Col. White, with only about 550 men out of a total enrollment of nearly 2,500. It had participated in nearly 175 battles and skirmishes and established a well-earned reputation for gallantry and high soldierly conduct. Its total losses by death were 5 officers and 62 men killed in action; 2 officers and 24 men died of wounds received in action, 4 officers and 222 men died of disease, accident and other causes, a total of 11 officers and 308 men, of whom 99 died in Confederate prisons, a larger loss from this source than was sustained by other cavalry regiment from the state. Medals of honor were conferred upon three of the regiment by the secretary of war for distinguished gallantry in action, viz.: Sergt. Thomas Burke, for capture of a battleflag at Hanover, Pa.; Sergt. David S. Scofield, for the capture of a flag at Cedar creek, Va.; and on Corp. John Walsh, for the capture of a flag at the same engagement. Source: The Union Army, Vol. 2, p. 185 New York FIFTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY (VETERAN). Ira Harris Cavalry; First Ira Harris Guard; De Forrest Cavalry. (Three Years) 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. Source: Phisterer, p. 822 Gettysburg after battle report: Report of Maj. John Hammond, Fifth New York Cavalry. -----, ------, 1863. BATTLE OF HANOVER, PA., JUNE 30. On the morning of June 30, this command left Littlestown, Pa., and took up the line of march, being fourth in column, the First Vermont, First West Virginia, and Elder's battery being in advance and the Eighteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry in rear. About noon, we entered the town of Hanover, and halted in the main street. While resting, an attack was made upon the ambulances and stragglers in rear of the Eighteenth Pennsylvania, driving them in upon the regiment, and completely breaking up the column, which ran in confusion up the street upon the rear of my regiment, which had faced about, and was trying to clear the streets of the fugitives preparatory to making a charge upon the advancing column of the enemy. They finally succeeded; and, without waiting for orders, immediately charged upon the enemy, driving them to the outside of town, where we found a large force drawn up in the road as a reserve, and received from them a severe fire, causing the men to halt for a moment. Gen. Farnsworth arriving at this time from the front, the men were reformed, and made another charge, driving the rebels in confusion along the road and through the fields. Private [Thomas] Burke, of Company A, captured a battle-flag from the enemy in this charge, and subsequently turned it over to Gen. Kilpatrick.* The enemy, finding himself repulsed, opened upon the town with artillery. Skirmishers were immediately sent forward, and a reserve force placed at the outer edge of town. On returning to the other side, where the rest of the brigade were drawn up in line, I was ordered to act as a support to Elder's battery. Finding that our position endangered the town, we moved around to the eastern side, when, the Second Brigade having returned, I was ordered by Gen. Kilpatrick to flank the enemy's position, and capture the battery, if possible, and to order an advance of the skirmishers on the right, which was done. The enemy, finding what our intentions were, retreated, and we immediately started in pursuit, but failed to come up with him. We were then ordered back, and went into bivouac outside the town. I regret to state that, in the first charge, Adjutant Gall was killed and Maj. White severely wounded. The officers and men behaved nobly. Our loss was 2 officers killed, 2 enlisted men killed, 25 wounded, and 10 missing. BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG, PA., JULY 3. At about 7 o'clock on the morning of July 3, the command was ordered to move, and marched toward the left of our line of battle. On arriving upon the field, we were ordered into position as supports for Elder's battery. Soon after taking position in the edge of some timber, the enemy obtained the range so exactly as to throw their shells into our midst, doing considerable damage. Gen. Farnsworth then ordered me to get under cover of a ridge a little more to the left, which was done. Shortly after, I was ordered to divide my command into two sections, and send Maj. Bacon with one on the right, while I took the other on the left, of the Eighteenth Pennsylvania, and, in connection with them, make a charge upon one of the enemy's guns, which was very troublesome. We moved forward some distance, when the enemy removed the piece, and we were ordered back, and took up a position in rear of our battery, and stood to horse during the remainder of the fight. At night we withdrew a short distance to the rear, and did picket duty upon the field. BATTLE OF SMITHSBURG, MD., JULY 5. As the command was in line awaiting the order to march, the artillery of the enemy opened to the right of the town, when I was ordered with Elder's battery to take position in rear of the town. I posted the regiment in a corn-field on the left of the battery, and for a short time was exposed to the enemy's shells, which did no damage, however. After a time I was ordered to take position upon a high ridge to the left about half a mile, and the first squadron, under Capt. McGuine, was sent forward to reconnoiter, as there were evidences of a flank movement by the enemy; but at dusk the reconnaissance, being completed, reported the enemy retreating. We then took up our line of march, and arrived at Boonsborough at 12 p. m., where we went into bivouac. BATTLE OF HAGERSTOWN, MD., JULY 6. At 8 a. m. orders were received for the command to march, and we moved on toward Hagerstown. Arrived within a mile and a half of the town, and took position in rear of Elder's battery. A few rebel cavalry only being reported in town, we were again ordered on. Our advance having been repulsed by a force of concealed sharpshooters in the town, and the enemy's artillery opening to our right, skirmishers were thrown out in that direction. I was ordered to dismount my carbineers and send them forward into town as a check upon the sharpshooters, and to take position with the rest of my command near the seminary, in support of the battery. After awhile the enemy's sharpshooters became annoying to the artillerists, and a change of position was ordered, the First Vermont, First West Virginia and Fifth New York alternately supporting the battery during the change of position toward the left of the town. The enemy closely followed and kept up a sharp cannonade, which did no damage beyond wounding and killing a few horses. The enemy being in superior numbers, we were ordered to fall back, and I was ordered to bring up the rear with my regiment. Finally a stand was made about 2 miles from town, on the Williamsport road. One gun was placed in the road, with the First Vermont on the right and my regiment on the left in an open field. I was ordered to throw out one squadron as skirmishers, which was done under a severe fire of the enemy, who followed us closely. They swarmed in the woods on both flanks, and poured in their fire, which was so severe as to throw my men into some confusion. Hearing that the enemy were coming down a small by-road in our rear, I detached Lieut. Dimmick with a small command to drive them back. In a few minutes they were driven back with loss, the lieutenant being severely wounded. I then sent Capt. Penfield with more men to hold the way at all hazards, since which time I have not seen him. He and several others had their horses killed under them, and were probably captured. After being subjected to a very severe fire in an exposed position, and aiding in repelling several charges of the enemy, I received orders to fall back, which I did, though not without loss. The pursuit of the enemy being checked, we retired with the rest of the command, and went into bivouac. Next day reached Boonsborough, and encamped. Our loss was 5 officers and about 100 enlisted men wounded and missing. Of the number killed, nothing definite is known. BATTLE OF BOONSBOROUGH, MD., JULY 8. The enemy having advanced from Hagerstown and made an attack upon our forces, I received orders to move down to the field and support Capt. Elder's battery. I put the column in motion, and moved over the hill, and took position on a ridge outside the town, on the left of the pike leading to Hagerstown. The battery opened upon the skirmishers of the enemy, and our skirmishers being ordered forward, drove those of the enemy. They, being re-enforced, in turn drove ours nearly back to the guns. I was ordered to send forward my carbineers to re-enforce them, which was done, and the enemy was gradually forced to retire. By sundown the enemy was in full retreat, and I was ordered to return to the camp I had left in the morning. Although the enemy's shells fell fast about us during the fight, I am happy to state we met with no loss in men and but few losses in horses. Very respectfully submitted. JOHN HAMMOND, Maj., Comdg.

Source: Official Records: Series I. Vol. 27. Part I. Reports. Serial No. 43

New York 5th Cavalry (Union)

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