United States Regiments & Batteries > New York > Cavalry


“1st Ira Harris’ Guard”

The 5th New York Volunteer Cavalry Regiment lost 8 officers and 93 enlisted men killed and mortally wounded, 21 officers and 244 enlisted men wounded, and 3 officers and 222 enlisted men to disease during the Civil War. It is honored by a monument at Gettysburg.

1861
Regiment recruited at New York City as Ira Harris Cavalry under Colonel De Forest Othneil.
August 15 Company A mustered in
August 21 Company B mustered in
September 3 Company C mustered in
September 21 Company F mustered in
October 1 Company D mustered in. James Davidson mustered in as Second Battalion major
October 2 Robert Johnstone mustered in as lieutenant colonel
October 7 Company E mustered in
October 9 Company H mustered in
October 16 Designated Ira Harris Guard
October 28 Companies I – L mustered in
October 31 Company M mustered in
November 14 Designated 5th New York Cavalry. George Gardner mustered in as Third Battalion major
November 18 Left State for Baltimore, Md. Attached to Dix’s Command for duty at Camp Harris, Baltimore, Md.
1862
March 31 Ordered to join Banks’ 5th Corps in the field
April Assigned to Hatch’s Cavalry Brigade, Department Of the Shenandoah
April 19 South Fork, Shenandoah River
April 29 New Market
May 2
Port Republic

The regiment lost 1 enlisted man missing

May 2 and 6 Conrad’s Store
May 3 Report to Gen. Hatch
May 4 Rockingham Furnace
May 6
Near Harrisonburg

The regiment lost 1 enlisted man killed, 1 wounded, and 1 officer and 1 enlisted man missing

May 7
New Market

The regiment lost 2 enlisted men killed

May 8 Columbia River Bridge
May 11 Bowling Green Road near Fredericksburg
May 15-June 17 Operations in the Shenandoah Valley
May 18
Woodstock

The regiment lost 1 officer wounded

May 23
Front Royal

(Companies B and D) One officer and two enlisted men were killed or mortally wounded

May 24
Strasburg, Middletown and Newtown

The regiment lost 2 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded, 14 enlisted men wounded, and 3 officers and 53 enlisted men captured

May 25 Winchester
May 28-30 Defense of Harper’s Ferry (4 Companies). Major Davidson resigns
June 15 Reconnaissance to New Market
June Assigned to Cavalry Brigade, 2nd Corps, Army of Virginia
July 6
Sperryville

The regiment lost 1 enlisted man wounded and 1 captured

July 12 Near Culpeper Court House
July 15
Orange Court House

The regiment lost 5 enlisted men captured

July 17
Liberty Mills

The regiment lost 3 enlisted men captured

July 18
Barnett’s Ford

The regiment lost 1 enlisted man wounded and 1 officer and 22 enlisted men captured

August 2
Near Orange Court House

The regiment lost 3 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded, 1 officer and 8 enlisted men wounded and 11 enlisted men captured

August 9-10
Cedar Mountain

The regiment lost 1 enlisted men killed

August 16-
September 2
Pope’s Campaign in Northern Virginia
August 17 Louisa Court House
August 20 Kelly’s Ford
August 23-24 Warrenton Springs
August 24 Waterloo Bridge
August 28 Centreville
August 29
Groveton

The regiment lost 1 enlisted man killed, 5 wounded and 5 captured

August 30 Lewis Ford and Bull Run
September 1 Chantilly
September Assigned to Wyndham’s Cavalry Brigade, Defenses of Washington
September 17-19 Antietam, Md.
September 22 Ashby’s Gap
September 26 Captain John Hammond of Company H promoted to major
October 16
Leesburg

The regiment lost 2 enlisted men captured

October 17
Upperville

The regiment lost 1 enlisted man captured

October 18
Thoroughfare Gap and Haymarket

The regiment lost 2 enlisted men wounded

November 1 Major Gardner resigns and Adjutant William Bacon promoted to major
November 5 New Baltimore and Cedar Hill
November 8
Hopewell Gap

The regiment lost 1 enlisted man captured

November 11 Thoroughfare Gap
November 12 Middleburg
November 16 Upperville
November 29 Aldie
November 30 Snicker’s Gap and Berryville
December 18
Aldie

The regiment lost 1 enlisted man killed and 1 captured

December 31
Cub Run

The regiment lost 2 enlisted men captured

1863
January 5
Frying Pan and Cub Run

The regiment lost 1 enlisted man wounded and 11 captured

January 26
Middleburg

The regiment lost 1 enlisted men captured

February Assigned to Price’s Independent Cavalry Brigade, 22nd Army Corps, Dept. of Washington
February 7 Captain Amos White of Company d promoted to major
February 9
New Baltimore

The regiment lost 4 enlisted men captured

February 10
Warrenton

The regiment lost 2 enlisted men captured

March 4
Aldie

The regiment lost 1 enlisted man wpunded and 3 captured

March 9 Fairfax Court House
March 23
Little River Turnpike and Chantilly

The regiment lost 3 enlisted men killed, 1 officer and 2 enlisted men wounded, and Lieutenant Henry Merritt and 35 enlisted men captured

April Assigned to 3rd Brigade, Stahel’s Cavalry Division, 22nd Army Corps
April 1 Broad Run
April 28
White Plains

The regiment lost 1 enlisted man captured

May 3
Warrenton Junction

The regiment lost 1 enlisted man mortally wounded and Captain Abram Krom, 2 other officer and 9 enlited men wounded

May 4 Flemming and Shannon Cross Roads
May 8
Near Fairfax Court House

The regiment lost 1 enlisted man captured

May 14
Marsteller’s Place

The regiment lost 3 enlisted men wounded

May 30
Greenwich

The regiment lost 3 enlisted men killed, 1 officer and 6 enlisted men wounded, and 3 enlisted men captured

June 1 Snicker’s Gap
June 10 Middleburg
June 19 Warrenton
June 28 Assigned to 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, Cavalry Corps, Army of the Potomac
June 30
Hanover, Pennsylvania

The regiment engaged in hand to hand fighting with Stuart’s Cavalry in the streets of Hanover. The fighting is referenced on a wayside marker on Frederick Street in Hanover, which has a photo of Major White.

Two officers and four enlisted men were killed or mortally wounded, Major White and 29 enlisted men were wounded, and 18 enlisted men captured or missing. Adjutant Gall was killed by a bullet to the eye. The 5th New York captured Lieutenant Colonel Paine and 75 Confederate troopers.

July 2
Battle of Hunterstown

The regiment attacked Stuart’s Cavalry at Hunterstown, and afterwards made a flank movement to Gettysburg.

July 3
Battle of Gettysburg

The regiment was posted south of town on Bushman Hill at the site of its monument. It lost 1 enlisted men killed, 1 wounded, and 4 captured

From the monument at Gettysburg:

July 2nd 1863. This July 3, 1863, this regiment under command of Maj. John Hammond supported Battery E, 4th U.S. Horse Artillery, Lieut. S. S. Elder losing 6 men.

July 4 Monterey Pass
July 5 Smithsburg
July 6
Hagerstown and Williamsport

The regiment lost 3 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded, 2 officers and 7 enlisted men wounded, and 4 officers and 75 enlisted men captured

July 8
Boonsboro

The regiment lost 1 enlisted man wounded and 1 captured

July 11-13 Hagerstown
July 14 Falling Waters
July 15 Hagerstown
July 26 Ashby’s Gap
September 1-3 Expedition to Port Conway
September 1 Lamb’s Creek
September 13-17 Advance from the Rappahannock to the Rapidan
September 13 Culpeper Court House
September 13-14
Rapidan Station, Somerville Ford

The regiment lost 1 officer and 2 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded, 1 officer and 7 enlisted men wounded, and 14 enlisted men captured

September 14-16 Raccoon Ford
September 18
Kelly’s Ford

The regiment lost 1 enlisted man wounded

September 21 Madison Court House
September 21-23
Reconnaissance across the Rapidan

The regiment lost 1 officer

September 21-22 White’s Ford
September 22 Brookin’s Ford
September 25 Hazel River Bridge
October 8 Creigerville
October 9-22 Bristoe Campaign
October 10 Russell’s Ford, James City and Bethesda Church
October 11
Sperryville Pike, Brandy Station and near Culpeper

The regiment lost 2 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded, 8 wounded, and 1 officer and 17 enlisted men captured

October 14 Gainesville
October 16 New Market
October 17-18 Groveton
October 19 Haymarket, Gainesville and Buckland’s Mills
November 7-8 Advance to line of the Rappahannock
November 8
Stevensburg

The regiment lost 1 enlisted man mortally wounded, 4 wounded, and 17 captured

November 18 Germania Ford
November 26-December 2
Mine Run Campaign

The regiment lost 1 enlisted man wounded

November 26 Morton’s Ford
November 26-27 Raccoon Ford
December 3 Lieutenant Colonel Johnstone cashiered
1864
January 19
Ely’s Ford

The regiment lost 1 enlisted man killed, 2 wounded and 2 captured

January 22
Ely’s Ford

The regiment lost 1 enlisted man killed, 6 wounded and 6 captured

February 6-7 Demonstration on the Rapidan
February 28-
March 4
Kilpatrick’s Raid to Richmond
February 28 Ely’s Ford
February 29 Beaver Dam Station and South Anna Bridge
March 1 Defenses of Richmond

The regiment lost 1 officer and 4 enlisted men wounded, and 18 enlisted men captured

March 2 Hanovertown, Aylett’s and Stevensville

Lieutenant Henry Merritt was wounded and he and 7 enlisted men were captured

March 3
King’s and Queen’s Court House

The regiment lost 1 officer and 13 enlisted men captured

March 4
Ely’s Ford

The regiment lost 1 enlisted man killed, 1 mortally wounded, 1 wounded, and 5 captured

March 8 Field’s Ford
March 11
Southard’s Cross Roads

The regiment lost 1 enlisted man wounded and 1 captured

March 24 Colonel Othneil dismissed. Major Hammond promoted to lieutenant colonel and Captain Abram Krom of Company G to major
May-June Rapidan Campaign
May 5 Parker’s Store
May 5-6 Todd’s Tavern
May 6-7
Wilderness

The regiment lost 1 officer and 17 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded, 1 officer and 20 enlisted men wounded, and 24 enlisted men captured

May 7 Germania Ford, Brock Road and the Furnaces
May 7-8 Todd’s Tavern
May 8-18
Spotsylvania

The regiment lost 1 officer and 5 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded, 4 enlisted men wounded, and 6 captured

May 20 Downer’s Bridge and Milford Station
May 21 Mattapony River and Bowling Green
May 22-26
North Anna

The regiment lost 2 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded, 1 officer and 12 enlisted men wounded, and 10 enlisted men captured

May 25 Mt. Carmel Church
May 26-28 On line of the Pamunky
May 28-31 Totopotomoy
May 29 Hanover Court House
May 30 Mechump’s Creek
May 31 Signal Hill
June 1 Ashland Station
June 1-12
Cold Harbor

The regiment lost 2 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded, 2 officers and 18 enlisted men wounded, Major Amos White wounded and caprtured and 2 other officers and 18 enlisted men captured

June 2 Gaines’ Mill, Totopotomoy and Salem Church
June 3 Haw’s Shop
June 10 Old Church
June 11 Shady Grove and Bethesda Church
June 12 Riddell’s Shop and Long Bridge
June 13 White Oak Swamp
June 14 Malvern Hill
June 15
Smith’s Store near St. Mary’s Church

The regiment lost 2 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded, 8 wounded, and 4 captured

June 19 White House Landing
June 22-30 Wilson’s Raid on South Side & Danville Railroad
June 23 Black and white and Nottaway Court House
June 24 Staunton Bridge
June 25 Roanoke Bridge
June 28 Sappony Church or Stony Creek
June 29
Ream’s Station

The regiment lost 1 officer and 3 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded and 3 officers and 91 enlisted men captured

June 30 Main body of regiment before Petersburg
July 3 Lieutenant Colonel Hammond promoted to colonel, Major Bacon to lieutenant colonel
July 6-7 Action at Maryland Heights (detachment left at Dismounted Camp)
July 10 Action at Rockville, Md. (detachment left at Dismounted Camp)
July 12 Action at Tell Gate (detachment left at Dismounted Camp)
July 15 Action at Poolesville (detachment left at Dismounted Camp)
July 18 Action at Snicker’s Ferry (detachment left at Dismounted Camp)
July 24 Action at Kernstown (detachment left at Dismounted Camp)
August 7-
November 28
Sheridan’s Shenandoah Valley Campaign. Attached to Army of the Shenandoah, Middle Military Division
August 17 Winchester and Halltown
August 19 Opequan
August 21
Summit Point

The regiment lost 3 enlisted men wounded and 5 captured

August 22 Charlestown
August 23 Duffield Station
August 25
Near Kearneysville

The regiment lost 1 officer and 4 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded and 3 officers and 11 enlisted men wounded

September 2-4 Berryville
September 3
Duffield Station, Darkenville

The regiment lost 1 enlisted man killed, 1 wounded, and 1 officer captured

Colonel Hammond mustered out at the end of his term of service

September 7 Opequan
September 12 Lt. Colonel Bacon resigned
September 13 Abraham’s Creek near Winchester
September 15 Opequan
September 17 Opequan
September 19
Third Battle of Winchester

The regiment lost 2 enlisted men killed, 1 officer and 12 enlisted men wounded, and 1 officer and 1 enlisted man captured

September 20 Near Cedarville and Crooked Run
September 21 Front Royal Pike and Fisher’s Hill
September 22 Milford
September 23-24 New Market
September 24 Mt. Crawford
September 26 Waynesboro
September 26-27 Port Republic
September 27
Mr. Meridian

The regiment lost 1 enlisted man killed, 5 wounded and 9 captured

September 29
Waynesboro and Railroad Bridge

The regiment lost 3 enlisted men captured

October 2 Bridgewater
October 6 Brock’s Gap

The regiment lost 2 enlisted men captured

October 7
Forestville, Near Columbia Furnace

The regiment lost 1 enlisted man killed, 4 wunded and 4 captured

October 8-9
Tom’s Brook, “Woodstock Races”

The regiment lost 4 enisted men wounded and 1 captured

October 13
Back Road Cedar Creek

The regiment lost 2 enlisted men wounded

October 14 Lebanon Church
October 18
Cedar Run

The regiment lost 2 enlisted men wounded and 4 captured

October 19
Battle of Cedar Creek

The regiment lost 2 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded and 1 wounded

October 21 Major Krom mustered out at the end of his terms of service
November 12
Newtown and Ninevah

The regiment lost 2 enlisted men wounded, 1 mortally and 3 missing

November 14 Captain Elmer Barker of Company H promoted to major
November 22
Mount Jackson

The regiment lost 4 enlisted men wounded

December 19-22 Expedition to Lacy Springs
December 19 Major White promoted to colonel
December 21 Lacy Springs
1865
January 10
Woodstock

The regiment lost 3 enlisted men captured

January 22
Edenburg

The regiment lost 9 enlisted men captured

February 27-
March 3
Sheridan’s Raid
February 28 Captain Henry Merritt of Company K promoted to major
March 2 Waynesboro. Capture of Gen. Early’s Command. Detached from Division to guard prisoners from Waynesboro to Winchester.
March 5
Mt. Sidney and Lacy Springs

The regiment lost 2 enlisted men wounded

March 6 New Market
March 7
Rood’s Hill

The regiment lost 2 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded, 1 wounded and 3 missing

March 30-31 Dinwiddie Court House (detachment with Army of the Potomac)
April 1 Five Forks (detachment with Army of the Potomac)
April 2 Fall of Petersburg (detachment with Army of the Potomac)
April 3 Sweet House Creek (detachment with Army of the Potomac)
April 6 Harper’s Farm (detachment with Army of the Potomac)
April 8 Appomattox Station (detachment with Army of the Potomac)
April 9 Appomattox Court House. Surrender of Lee and his army. (detachment with Army of the Potomac)
April – July Regiment on duty at Headquarters Middle Military Division and in vicinity of Winchester
May 29 Captain Liberty Abbott of Company E promoted to major
June 30 Captain Theodore Boice of Company B promoted to lieutenant colonel
July 19 Mustered out and honorably discharged from service under Colonel White, Lieutenant Colonel Boice and Majors Barker and Merritt