4th New York Cavalry Regiment

United States Regiments & Batteries > New York > 4th New York Cavalry Regiment

 “Dickel’s Mounted Rifles”

The 4th New York Cavalry Regiment lost 5 officers and 39 enlisted men killed and mortally wounded. Three officers and 54 enlisted men died of disease, including 1 officer and 14 enlisted men who died in Connfederate prisons. It is honored by a monument at Gettysburg.

1861
July 26-August 10 Organized at New York City under the authority of Colonel Christian F. Dickel as “Dickel’s Mounter Rifles.”

  • Companies A, D, E, F, G, I and K were primarily recruited at New York city
  • Companies B and C at Yonkers
  • Company H at Cleveland, Ohio, and New York City
  • Company L at New York city, Brooklyn, Stuyvesant, Kinderhook and Poughkeepsie
  • Company M at New York city and Brooklyn
  • A company recruited by Captain John McDonnell and consolidated with other companies in Philadelphia
  • A company recruited by Captain de Rosecrantz and consolidated with other companies in New York City.
August 10-November 15 The 4th New York Cavalry Regiment mustered in at New York City
August 29 Eight companies left New York for Washington, D.C. Attached to Blenker’s Brigade, Army of the Potomac for duty in the Defenses of Washington, D.C.
October Attached to Blenker’s Brigade, Hooker’s Division, Army of the Potomac
November 1 Colonel Christian F. Dickel was mustered in as colonel, Ferrier Nazer as lieutenant colonel
November 15 Company K mustered in
December Attached to Blenker’s Brigade, Hooker’s Division, Army of the Potomac, then Blenker’s Division, Army of the Potomac. Company L mustered in.
1862
January 1 Baron Anton Von Puechelstein mustered in as major
March Assigned to Blenker’s Division, 2nd Corps, Army of the Potomac
April Moved to Winchester, Virginia, and operations in the Shenandoah Valley assigned to Blenker’s Division, Mountain Department
May Assigned to Advance Brigade, Mountain Department
June 1-2 Strasburg and Staunton Road
June 2 Woodstock
June 3 Edenburg and Mr. Jackson
June 6

Harrisonburg

Captain Luis Ahrens was wounded
June 8

Cross Keys
June 9

Near Port Republic

Major Von Puechelstein was captured
June 13 New Market
June Assigned to Buford’s Cavalry Brigade, 1st Corps, Army of Virginia
July 8 Near Middletown
July 22 White House Ford
July 29 Near Luray
August 9

Cedar Mountain
August 16 – September 2

Pope’s Campaign in Northern Virginia
August 20-23 Fords of the Rappahannock
August 24-25 Waterloo Bridge
August 29

Groveton (Brawner Farm)
August 30

Second Battle of Bull Run (Second Manassas)

The regiment, along with the Second Michigan Cavalry, made the only cavalry charge of the battle, slowing the Confederate attack.
September Duty in the Defenses of Washington assigned to Cavalry Brigade, 11th Corps, Army of the Potomac
September 10-11 Colonel Dickel resigned. Louis Pama Di Cesnola mustered in as Colonel.
September 22 Ashby’s Gap
November 16 Near New Baltimore
November 28-30 Reconnaissance from Chantilly to Snicker’s Gap and Berryville.
November 29 Berryville
November 30 Snicker’s Ferry
December 21-23 Reconnaissance to Kellysville
1863
January 24-26 Scouts in Faquier County
January 26 Grove Church, near Morrisville
January 28 Augusus Pruyn mustered in as major
February 9 Somerville
February 13 Assigned to 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, Cavalry Corps, Army of the Potomac
February 25 Hartwood Church
March 17 Kelly’s Ford
April 23 Lieutenant Colonel Nazer died of disease at Washington. Major Pruyn was promoted to lieutenant colonel.
April 29-May 8 Stoneman’s Raid
May 25 Captain W. R. Parnell of Company B was promoted to major, with rank effective to April 23.
June Assigned to 1st Brigade. 3rd Division, Cavalry Corps, thenransferred to 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, Cavalry Corps
June 17

Aldie

Brigadier General Judson Kilpatrick presented Colonel Di Cesnola with his sword in honor of his intrepid charge. On his third charge Di Cesnola’s horse was killed and he was captured.
June 19

Middleburg
June 20 Captain W. R. Parnell captured at Upperville
June 21

Upperville
July 1-3

Gettysburg

The 4th New York Cavalry Regiment was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Augustus Pruyn and mustered 298 men during the campaign. The regiment was not at Gettysburg but played an important part during the battle, and has a monument on the battlefield along with several other regiments in similar circumstances.

From the monument at Gettysburg:

This regiment participated in the Gettysburg Campaign until reaching Hanover Junction June 30th, when with the Brigade it was detached and moved to Manchester where it picketed the surrounding country until July 3rd, when it proceeded to Westminster. On the 4th it joined Kilpatrick’s Division in pursuit of the enemy and with it participated at Monterey Pass that night, and in the many other cavalry engagements until the enemy recrossed the Potomac.
July 4

Monterey Gap
July 5 Smithburg
July 6

Hagerstown and Williamsport
July 8 Boonsboro
July 10-13

Jones’ Cross Reads and Hagerstown
July 14

Falling Waters
August Assigned to 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, Cavalry Corps, Army of the Potomac
August 30-
September 2		 Expedition from Leesburg
September 13-17 Advance from the Rappahannock to the Rapidan
September 13 Culpeper Court House
September 14-16

Raccoon Ford

Captain William Hardt was killed
September 21-23 Reconnaissance across the Rapidan
September 22 Jack’s Shop, Madison Court House
October 9-22

Bristoe Campaign
October 10 Raccoon and Morton’s Fords
October 11 Stevensburg and Kelly’s Ford
October 12 Brandy Station, Culpeper and Stevensburg
October 15 Oak Hill
October 24-25 Bealton Station
October 28 Augustus Harland mustered in as major
November 7-8 Advance to line of the Rappahannock
November 26-
December 2

Mine Run Campaign
November 27 Robertsoh’s Tavern
November 29 Parker’s Store
November 30

Mine Run
December 1 Ely’s Ford
December 12 Lieutenant Colonel Pruyn resigned
December 13 Major Parnell was promoted to lieutenant colonel
December 23 Near Culpeper Court House
January 29 Barnett’s Ford
1864
February 6-7 Barnett’s Ford
February 28-
March 4

Kilpatrick’s Raid on Richmond
February 29 Beaver Dam Station
March 1

Defenses of Richmond

Captain Edward Schwartz of Company F was promoted to major
March 2 Aylett’s
March. 3 New Kent Court House
March 28 Culpeper
May-June

Rapidan Campaign
May 5-6 Todd’s Tavern
May 6 Brock Road and the Furnaces
May 6-7

Wilderness
May 7-8

Todd’s Tavern
May 8 Piney Grove Church
May 8-21

Spottsylvania Court House
May 12 Colonel Di Cesnola returned from Confederate prison
May 23-26

North Anna River
May 26-28 Pamunkey River
May 27 Crump’s Creek
May 28 Haw’s Shop
May 22-31

Totopotomoy
May 30 Old Church and Mattadequin Creek
May 31-June 1

Cold Harbor
June 2 Gaines Mills
June 7-24

Sheridan’s Trevillian Raid
June 11-12

Trevillian Station

Captain John Hall was wounded, losing his leg
June 21

White House

Captain William H. Allen wounded
June 23 Jones’ Bridge, Chickahominy River
June 25 Prince George Court House
June 26-July 30

First Assault on Petersburg
July 18 Lee’s Mills
July 28-29 Deep Bottom
July 29 Charles City Cross Roads
August 6-
November 28

Sheridan’s Shenandoah Valley Campaign

Attached to Army of the Shenandoah, Cavalry Corps, 1st Cavalry Division, Second Brigade

Men whose three year enlistments mustered out from August to November. Recruits and veterans transferred to Companies F, K, L and M, which remained in service under the command of Major Edward Schwartz.
August 10 Millwood
August 11 White Post
August 13 Crooked Run
August 15

Front Royal

Captain Nehemiah Mann was killed at Chester Gap. The regiment lost 25 men killed, wounded and missing.

Medal of Honor from the Civil War eraSeargent Harry J. Mandy of Company B was awarded the Medal of Honor for “Capturing the flag of 3d Virginia Infantry”.

Private Frank Leslie of Company B was awarded the Medal of Honor for the “Capture of colors of 3d Virginia Infantry.”
August 21 Charlestown
August 24 Halltown
August 25 Near Kearneysville
August 28 Smithfield and Leetown
September 4 Colonel Di Cesnola was discharged at Harpers Ferry
September 13 Bunker Hill
September 15 Sevler’s Ford
September 19

Third Battle of Winchester (Opequon)

Major Augustus Harland captured
September 20 Middletown and Strasburg
September 21

Fisher’s Hill

Captain William H. Allen was captured
September 23-24

Mt. Jackson
September 26-27 Fort Republic
October 1 Mr. Crawford
October 2 Newtown
October 9

Tom’s Brook
October 14 Near Strasburg
October 17 and 19

Cedar Creek
October 20 Woodstock
November 12 Nineveh
November 22 Rude’s Hill
November 28-
December 3		 Expedition from Winchester
December 15 Lieutenant Colonel Parnell mustered out
December 19-28 Expedition to Gordonsville
December 21 Liberty Mills
December 22 Jack’s Shop, near Gordonsville
1865
February 27 The battalion under Major Edward Schwartz became part of the 9th New York Cavalry Regiment as Companies “B,” “E” and “L.”