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1st New York
Dragoons
Online Books:
1st New York
Dragoons Soldier
Roster - Annual Report of the Adjutant General of the State of New York For the Year
1893, Volume 7 View the Entire Book
| Regimental History |
| First New York Dragoons. — Cols., Alfred Gibbs, Thomas J. Thorp;
Lieut.- Cols., Thomas J. Thorp, Rufus Scott; Majs., Rufus Scott, Jacob W. Knapp, Howard M.
Smith. This regiment was organized in the summer of 1862 at Portage, as the 130th infantry
and served as such at Suffolk, Va., and in Keyes' corps on the Peninsula. The companies of
which it was composed were recruited in the counties of Allegany, Livingston and Wyoming.
It was mustered into the U. S. service at Portage, Sept. 2, 1862, for three years. On July
28, 1863, it was transferred to the mounted service, and designated the 19th cavalry on
Aug. 11, but this designation was changed on Sept. 10, to 1st regiment of dragoons. The
regiment — ten companies — left the state on Sept. 6, 1862, and served as above
noted. During its entire mounted service it was in the 1st cavalry division, Army of the
Potomac. It was drilled in its new duties by Col. Gibbs, who belonged to the U. S. cavalry
service, and as a regiment of dragoons made its first fight near Manassas Junction in
Oct., 1863, sustaining a loss of 10 killed, wounded and missing. The regiment moved on
Grant's campaign of 1864 with about 400 carbines and fought desperately in the Wilderness
(at Todd's tavern), dismounted, sustaining a loss of 20 killed, 36 wounded and 35 missing,
the heaviest loss of any cavalry regiment in any one action during the war. It took part
with loss in Gen. Sheridan's raid to the James river in May; at Cold Harbor the tired
troopers were aroused from their sleep on the ground and ordered into the breastworks,
which they gallantly defended throughout the night, inspired by the music of their band.
The losses at Cold Harbor aggregated 35 killed, wounded and missing. Sadly reduced in
numbers, the gallant dragoons moved with Sheridan on the raid to Trevilian Station, where
they were warmly engaged, their casualties in that action amounting to 16 killed, 61
wounded, and 8 missing. The regiment fought with Sheridan in the Shenandoah Valley and
shared in the glories of the final Appomattox campaign. It gained a high reputation among
brigade and division generals for discipline and efficiency. Under command of Col. Thorp,
it was mustered out and discharged on June 30, 1865, at Cloud's mills, Va., having
participated in about 65 battles and skirmishes. It lost 4 officers and 127 men killed and
mortally wounded; 1 officer and 142 men by disease, accident, in prison, etc.; a total of
274. Its loss in killed and mortally wounded was exceeded by only five cavalry regiments
in the service. Corp. Chester B. Bowen; Com.-Sergt. Andrew J. Lorish and Lieut. William M.
Winegar were awarded medals of honor for gallantry in action. |
Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing
Company, 1908 - Volume 2
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