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8th New York
Cavalry
Online Books:
8th New York Cavalry Soldier
Roster - Annual Report of the Adjutant General of the State of New York For the Year
1893, Volume 2 View the Entire Book
| Regimental History |
| Eighth New York Cavalry. — Cols., Samuel J. Crooks, Alfred Gibbs, Benjamin F.
Davis, William L. Markell, William H. Benjamin, Edmund M. Pope; Lieut.-Cols., Charles R.
Babbitt, William L. Markell, William H. Benjamin, Edmund M. Pope, James Bliss; Majs.,
Edmund M. Pope, William L. Markell, Caleb Moore, William Downey, William H. Benjamin,
James McNair, James Bliss, Harmon P. Burroughs, Albert L. Ford, Hartwell B. Compson. The
8th, known as the Rochester regiment, was recruited by Col. Crooks, and was organized in
Rochester on Nov. 14, 1861. It is one of the famous three hundred fighting regiments
enumerated by Col. Fox in his Regimental Losses in the Civil War. The members were
principally recruited from the counties of Monroe, Ontario, Seneca, Wayne, Orleans,
Niagara, Chenango and Oneida. Only ten companies were organized in 1861, and these were
mustered into the U. S. service at Rochester, Nov. 23 and 28, 1861, for three years. The
original Co. K was transferred to other organizations and a new Co. K was formed in 1862,
as were the additional Cos., L and M, which were mustered into the U. S. service at
Rochester from Sept. 29 to Oct. 14, for three years. The original members, who had not
reenlisted, were ordered to return to Rochester on Oct. 29, 1864, and were there mustered
out and discharged. The veterans and recruits were consolidated into a battalion of eight
companies on Nov. 1, 1864, and remained in service. Four new companies, I, K, L and M,
formed of recruits mustered in for one and two years' service, in April, 1865, at the
close of the war, increased the organization to the regimental standard once more. It was
finally mustered out and honorably discharged on June 27, 1865, at Alexandria, Va., under
command of Col. Pope. The regiment left the state, Nov. 29, 1861; was assigned to Banks'
corps upon its arrival in Washington; served through the winter in the defenses of the
capital; in 1862 it was in the Department of the Shenandoah; the Middle Department with
the 8th corps; and from August to December in the 5th brigade of Pleasonton's cavalry
division, Army of the Potomac. In Dec, 1862, it was assigned to the 1st brigade, same
division; in Feb., 1863, to the 1st brigade, 1st division; in March, 1864, to the 2nd
brigade, 3d division; joined the Army of the Shenandoah in Oct., 1864, and returned to the
Army of the Potomac in March, 1865. The regiment first came under fire at Winchester in
May, 1862, where five dismounted companies were engaged. It distinguished itself during
the siege of Harper's Ferry in September by escaping through the besieging lines at night,
capturing some of the enemy's trains while on the way. It fought under Pleasonton in the
famous cavalry battle of Beverly ford in June, 1863, where it sustained the heaviest loss
of any regiment in the field — 12 killed, 31 wounded and 7 missing. The gallant Col.
Davis was here killed in a personal encounter. At Gettysburg it fought in Gamble's
brigade, Buford's division, which opened that historic battle. Its casualties at
Gettysburg amounted to 40 killed, wounded and missing. In the subsequent campaigns in
Virginia it saw constant hard service, its list of casualties in Oct., 1863, amounting to
48 killed, wounded and missing. In Sheridan's raids and the Shenandoah campaign in 1864,
it served in Wilson's division. It was with Wilson in the raid on the Weldon railroad in
June, 1864, in which its losses were 117, of whom 101 were reported missing. In the final
Appomattox campaign it sustained a loss of 31 in killed, wounded and missing, fighting
under Gen. Custer. Altogether the 8th participated in over 130 battles and skirmishes and
lost by death 13 officers and 92 men, killed in action and mortally wounded; 6 officers
and 213 men died of disease, accident and other causes, a total of 19 officers and 305
men, of whom 3 officers and 70 men died in prison. Medals of honor were awarded for
distinguished gallantry to Henry H. Bickford, corporal; Hartwell B. Compson, major;
Charles A. Goheen, sergeant; William E. Hart, private; Daniel Kelly, sergeant; Andrew
Kuder, 2nd lieutenant; John Miller, private; Robert Nevers, 2nd lieutenant; Mortimer A.
Read, lieutenant; and Joseph E. Sova, saddler. |
Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing
Company, 1908 - Volume 2
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