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20th New
York Cavalry
Online Books:
20th New York Cavalry Soldier
Roster - Annual Report of the Adjutant General of the State of New York For the Year
1893, Volume 5 View the Entire Book
| Regimental History |
| Twentieth New York Cavalry. — Cols., Newton B. Lord, David M. Evans;
Lieut.-Cols., David M. Evans, Jacob S. Gates; Majs., Charles F. Smith, John G. Cudworth,
John Bower Preston, Hiram H. Carpenter, Jacob S. Gates, John O'Hara, Patrick Fitzpatrick.
The 20th, called the McClellan cavalry, was organized in the summer of 1863 at Sacket's
Harbor, and was there mustered into the U. S. service during the month of September for
three years. The companies of which it was composed were recruited in the counties of
Jefferson, Lewis, St. Lawrence, Oswego, Onondaga and Albany. Col. Lord, who had been
authorized on June 19, 1863, by Gov. Seymour to recruit this regiment, had previously
commanded the 35th infantry throughout the bloody series of battles of 1862, and many of
his men reenlisted in the 20th cavalry. The regiment left the state on Sept. 30, about
1,200 strong, and was stationed at Portsmouth, Va., as part of the 22nd corps until Jan.,
1864, when it was assigned to Heckman's division, 18th corps, remaining at Portsmouth
until April, when it was transferred to the District of East Virginia, Department of
Virginia and North Carolina. In Dec, 1864, it joined the 1st brigade, Gen. Kautz's cavalry
division, Army of the James, with which it remained until the close of the war. Part of
this time, Co. D was on detached service at Fort Pocahontas; Co. F at Fort Powhatan; Co. G
in the 1st brigade, Mackenzie's division; and Co. I with the provisional and 10th corps.
The heaviest casualties sustained by the 20th were at Smithfield, Va., in Feb., 1864, when
it lost 21 men captured. It was active at Suffolk, Currituck, Chuckatuck, Wood's mills,
South Quay, Winton, N. C, Guiam's ford, N. C., Jamestown island, Murfree's depot, siege of
Petersburg, Darbytown road, campaign of the Carolinas, and in the Appomattox campaign. Its
losses were not heavy, owing to the fact that it was largely employed in garrison duty and
siege operations. It was mustered out on July 31, 1865, Cos. E and H at Fortress Monroe,
and the other companies at Manchester, Va. The regiment lost while in service 7 enlisted
men killed and died of wounds; 2 officers and 121 men died of disease, accidents, in
prison, etc., a total of 130. |
Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing
Company, 1908 - Volume 2
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