The 5th New York Cavalry Regiment, also known as the 5th Regiment New York Volunteer Cavalry and nicknamed the "1st Ira Harris Guards", was a cavalry regiment of the Union Army during the American Civil War. The regiment had a good fighting reputation, and had important roles in the Battle of Hanover and the Battle of the Wilderness. It was present at nearly 175 battles and skirmishes, including Gettysburg, Opequon, and Cedar Creek. A majority of its fighting was in Virginia.
The regiment was formed in New York City by Othniel De Forest. Training began in New York before the regiment moved to Annapolis, Maryland. The regiment was originally involved with the defense of Washington, and subsequently served in the Army of the Potomac and then the Army of the Shenandoah. John Hammond began as a captain and finished his military career as commander of the regiment, leading the regiment in battles such as Hanover, Williamsport, the Wilderness, Spotsylvania, and Cold Harbor.
The regiment had 8 officers and 93 men killed or mortally wounded. Disease killed 3 more officers and 222 more enlisted men. Among the prisons where captured members of the regiment were kept were Libby Prison in Richmond and Andersonville Prison in Georgia. The regiment was commanded by eight different men, although two were in command for only a few days. The Medal of Honor was awarded to six of the regiment's soldiers.
Formation and organization
Between December 20, 1860, and February 1, 1861, seven southern states seceded from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America. Fighting began on April 12, 1861, when American troops were attacked at Fort Sumter in South Carolina. This is considered the beginning of the American Civil War. Four additional states, including Virginia, seceded during the next three months.
Othniel De Forest, of New York City, began recruiting for a federal volunteer regiment of cavalry during July 1861. The regiment was originally called the Ira Harris Guard in honor of the senator from Albany, New York. It was named 5th New York Cavalry on November 14, 1861. The regiment's battle flag was blue with "painted inscriptions and a semi-elliptical red shield in the center" inscribed with "5th." Companies were mustered in from August through October 1861. Additional names used for regiment include Ira Harris Cavalry, First Ira Harris Guard, and De Forest Cavalry. Many of the men were from New York City, but Allegany, Essex, Orange, Tioga, and Wyoming counties also contributed. A few men were from Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New Jersey.
De Forest was the original colonel and regimental commander, and his October 1861 command included 50 officers and 1,064 enlisted men. Lieutenant Colonel Robert Johnstone was second in command. Major Philip G. Vought commanded the First Battalion, while Major James Davidson and Major George H. Gardner commanded the Second and Third Battalions, respectively. Training began at Camp Scott in Staten Island. Two of the regiment's three battalions received horses during October. On November 18, the regiment moved by train to Baltimore, where the Third Battalion received its horses and equipment. On November 25, the regiment marched to Annapolis. They established a winter quarters camp nearby (Camp Harris) where more drills were conducted.
Early action
On March 31, 1862, the regiment was ordered to join the V Corps under the command of General Nathaniel P. Banks. They were assigned to cavalry commanded by Brigadier General John Porter Hatch in the Department of the Shenandoah. On May 2, the regiment had its first fight and suffered its first loss of personnel. CompanyA was scouting between Harrisonburg and Port Republic when it found the camp of General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson. In the skirmish that followed, Private John Beaumont was captured.
By April, the regiment was well equipped. Captain John Hammond believed that they were one of the best–armed cavalry regiments in the field. Arms included Colt pistols, Ames sabers, and a single-shot cavalry rifle. Any poor–quality horses had been replaced, and saddles were McClellan saddles.
On May 3, the regiment reported to Hatch at Harrisonburg, Virginia. A few days later, they were sent to New Market, Virginia. On May 6, they encountered Confederate cavalry led by Colonel Turner Ashby. The 5th New York charged with sabers drawn and drove off their enemy while inflicting 8 killed or wounded and capturing 7. This success helped to establish the good reputation of the regiment. The press said that the regiment "made a good report of themselves" and quoted a prisoner as saying the regiment "fought like devils". The regiment had its first soldier killed in action—Private Asahel A. Spencer of CompanyE. An additional soldier was wounded.
Jackson's trap
On May 15, the regiment began operations in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley. After some skirmishes, Banks settled the VCorps (including the 5thNew York Cavalry) in Strasburg, Virginia. Banks also stationed about 1,000 infantry men east at Front Royal under the command of Colonel John R. Kenly. On May 23, Banks sent CompanyB and CompanyD from the 5th New York Cavalry to Front Royal to fulfill an overdue request from Kenly for cavalry. This small cavalry force numbered about 100, and was under the command of Major Vought. Banks was unaware that Kenly was about to be attacked by a force that outnumbered him by 20 to 1.
Vought's men arrived at Front Royal about one hour after Kenly was attacked by a division under the command of General Richard S. Ewell that was sent to reinforce Jackson's "Stonewall Brigade". Jackson was also nearby. After about two hours of fighting and the approach of enemy cavalry, Kenly and Vought began a retreat north, with Vought's cavalry as the rear guard. Vought's men were outnumbered, nearly surrounded, and suffered numerous casualties in the retreat. Kenly and Vought retreated north just past Cedarville, attempting to fight off the 6th Virginia Cavalry. Fewer than 100 of Kenly's original force escaped, and Kenly was wounded and captured. The result of the fighting at Front Royal and Cedarville was lopsided: Kenly's force had an estimated 904 casualties, while the Confederates had 56.
After receiving dispatches from Vought, Banks realized that Jackson was trying to position his army between Banks and Winchester, which would isolate Banks and cut his supply line. Thus, both forces raced to Winchester—Banks to escape and Jackson to trap Banks. Colonel De Forest and six companies were assigned rear guard duty plus the additional task of destroying any supplies that could not be salvaged. After De Forest began moving north, he discovered that his command and additional soldiers had their route on the Shenandoah Pike blocked by Confederate troops, which caused them to be separated from Banks' main force. De Forest used mountain roads west of the pike to evade the Confederates, and eventually reunited a battery and 32 wagons of supplies with Banks at Williamsport—a retreat of that ended in the relative safety of Maryland.
While De Forest moved north on the mountain roads, Banks was attacked several times on the Valley Pike while hurrying to Winchester. His outnumbered army was soundly defeated at Winchester on May 25, and he escaped across the Potomac River mostly because Jackson's men and horses were exhausted from the chase. During the three days from May23 through May25, the 5th New York Cavalry suffered 38 casualties at Front Royal, 6 at Middletown, 7 at Newtown-Crossroads, and 10 at Winchester. One major resigned a few days later. Eventually it was discovered that Confederate spy Belle Boyd played an important role in Banks' defeat by providing information to her side from inside Union lines.
Back to Virginia
By the end of May, the regiment was back in Virginia, and during June it became part of the II Corps, Army of Virginia. On July 1, another major resigned. The regiment's most prominent actions of July and August in terms of casualties were at Barnett's Ford and Orange Court House. On July 18, CompanyA had 1 officer and 22 enlisted men captured, plus 1 wounded, while on picket at Barnett's Ford. At Orange Court House, brigade commander General Samuel W. Crawford sent the regiment at a slow pace into a seemingly empty town—only to have it ambushed by Confederates under cover. Colonel De Forest was harassed by a dozen Confederates, but was saved by bugler Conrad Bohrer of CompanyI who fell and died from a saber wound after his horse was shot. A flanking party of three companies commanded by Captain Hammond charged into town from the opposite end and drove the Confederates away. The regiment captured 47 men from the 7th Virginia Cavalry, including its commanding officer. Casualties for the regiment were 1 officer wounded, 2 enlisted men killed, 9 enlisted men wounded, and 11 enlisted men captured.
On August 24 and 25, the regiment was involved in the First Battle of Rappahannock Station. Private John Tribe of CompanyG was later awarded the Medal of Honor for extraordinary heroism in this battle at Waterloo Bridge where he helped destroy the bridge while under enemy fire. On August 27, three companies were detached as the escort of General Samuel P. Heintzelman, while the remaining portion of the regiment became the escort of General John Pope, commander of the Army of Virginia. On the next day, one of the companies was made escort for General Banks. As Pope's escort, seven companies of the regiment were present at the Second Battle of Bull Run (also known as the Battle of Second Manassas). Casualties were low for the regiment—onekilled and onecaptured.
Defense of Washington
In September 1862, the regiment was assigned to the defenses of Washington, D.C., as part of Wyndham's Cavalry Brigade. This corresponds closely to the time Colonel De Forest was relieved of command of the regiment. Lieutenant Colonel Johnstone is listed as taking command of the regiment on September 10, 1862. Major Washington Wheeler, who had received his commission as major in July, resigned on September 26. Captain Hammond replaced Wheeler, receiving his commission as major on October 10 effective September 26.
Much of the regiment's time in the autumn of 1862 was spent scouting or on picket duty between Washington, D.C., and the Blue Ridge Mountains. Although Johnstone led an October 8 expedition that did not meet any opposition, the regiment was often led in the field by Major Hammond or Captain Abram Krom. One of the more successful endeavors happened on November 29 at Snicker's Ferry when Krom led the regiment as it drove away Confederate snipers harassing the regiment as it attempted to cross the Shenandoah River. After a pursuit of , Krom discovered Confederate camps. With the assistance of reinforcements, the Confederates were defeated and numerous men and supplies were captured—including 3 officers, 32 enlisted men, 60 horses, 50 head of cattle, wagons, and ambulances.
Turnover continued with the regiment's top officers. Major Gardner resigned November 1—the last of the three original battalion commanders to leave the regiment. First Lieutenant (and battalion adjutant) William P. Bacon was commissioned major on November 25 to rank from November 1. Another major, William Pratt (who had replaced Major Davidson less than a year earlier), resigned January 30, 1863. He was replaced by Captain Amos White who was promoted to major on February 5 to rank from February 2. In February, the regiment became part of Price's Independent Cavalry Brigade, XXII Army Corps, Department of Washington.
Mosby