Overview
The 15th New York Cavalry (Three Years’ Service) was a Union regiment organized at Syracuse, New York, between August 8, 1863, and January 24, 1864. The regiment served in the cavalry branch and was composed primarily of men from Syracuse and surrounding counties, including Onondaga, Ontario, Oneida, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, Genesee, Tompkins, and Erie. The unit participated in operations in the Department of Washington, West Virginia, the Shenandoah Valley, and the closing campaigns of the Army of the Potomac.
This regiment was consolidated with the 6th New York Cavalry on June 17, 1865, forming the 2nd Provisional Regiment, New York Volunteer Cavalry.
Organization & Service
In the spring of 1863, Colonel Robert M. Richardson was authorized to reorganize the recently discharged 12th New York Infantry as a cavalry regiment. The 15th New York Cavalry was mustered in for three years’ service at Syracuse, with Companies L and M mustered at Elmira and Company I at the cavalry depot in Washington, D.C. The regiment left New York by detachments from September 2, 1863, to January 1864.
Initially assigned to the 22nd Corps, Department of Washington, the regiment performed duty in the defenses of the capital until January 1864. It was then attached to the 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, Cavalry of West Virginia, participating in numerous engagements including Hillsboro, Strasburg, Upperville, Franklin, Romney, Moorefield, Luray Gap, Mt. Jackson, New Market, Front Royal, Newtown, Woodstock, Piedmont, Staunton, Waynesboro, Lexington, New London, Diamond Hill, Lynchburg, Salem, Bunker Hill, Bolivar Heights, Leetown, Martinsburg, Snicker’s Gap, Ashby’s Gap, Kernstown, Winchester, and Charlestown.
From August 25 to October 1864, the regiment was stationed at the remount camp in Cumberland, Maryland. During this period, it was assigned to the 2nd Brigade, 3rd Cavalry Division, Army of the Potomac, and soon after joined the Army of the Shenandoah. It saw action at Green Springs, Lacy Springs, and near Harrisonburg. In early 1865, the regiment participated in the Appomattox Campaign, fighting at Dinwiddie Court House, Five Forks, Petersburg, Deep Creek, Jetersville, Sailor’s Creek, and Appomattox Station. The regiment was consolidated with the 6th New York Cavalry on June 17, 1865.
Research This Regiment Further
If you’d like to explore this unit’s history in more depth, regimental histories and Civil War reference works offer valuable detail.
Engagements & Campaigns
- Hillsboro
- Strasburg
- Upperville
- Franklin
- Romney
- Moorefield
- Luray Gap
- Mt. Jackson
- New Market
- Front Royal
- Newtown
- Woodstock
- Piedmont
- Staunton
- Waynesboro
- Lexington
- New London
- Diamond Hill
- Lynchburg
- Salem
- Bunker Hill
- Bolivar Heights
- Leetown
- Martinsburg
- Snicker’s Gap
- Ashby’s Gap
- Kernstown
- Winchester
- Charlestown
- Green Springs
- Lacy Springs
- Harrisonburg
- Dinwiddie Court House
- Five Forks
- Petersburg
- Deep Creek
- Jetersville
- Sailor’s Creek
- Appomattox Station
Casualties
- Killed or mortally wounded: 3 officers, 37 enlisted men
- Died of disease, accidents, in prison, etc.: 4 officers, 126 enlisted men
- Total deaths: 7 officers, 163 enlisted men
- Died as prisoners: 44 enlisted men (included in totals above)
Casualty figures are based on official reports and regimental returns.
Field Officers & Commanders
- Colonel Robert M. Richardson
- Colonel John P. Coppinger
- Lieutenant Colonel Augustus J. Root (killed at Appomattox Court House, April 8, 1865)
- Lieutenant Colonel Henry Roessle
- Major Joseph H. Wood
- Major Henry Roessle
- Major Jefferson C. Bigelow
- Major Robert H. S. Hyde
- Major Michael Auer
- Major George M. Elicot
- First Lieutenant William P. Shearer (killed in action)
- Second Lieutenant Lorenzo W. Hatch (killed at Green Springs)
Regimental Roster
The complete roster of the 15th New York Cavalry (Three Years’ Service), including officers and enlisted men, is available for genealogical and historical research. The roster provides names, ranks, and service details for members of the regiment.
To view the full roster, visit the 15th New York Cavalry (Three Years’ Service) Roster page.
Sources & References
- Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volumes 33, 37, 40, 46
- New York State Adjutant General’s Report, Annual Reports for 1863–1865
- Dyer, Frederick H., A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion
- Fox, William F., Regimental Losses in the American Civil War
- Contemporary regimental and state histories