21st New York Cavalry in the American Civil War

Overview

The 21st New York Cavalry (Griswold Light Cavalry) was a Union cavalry regiment organized in New York State during the American Civil War. Recruitment took place in the summer of 1863, drawing men from Rensselaer, Albany, Tioga, and Monroe counties. The companies rendezvoused at Troy, New York, and were mustered into United States service between August 28, 1863, and January 1864. The regiment served primarily in the Department of Washington, the Army of West Virginia, and the Army of the Shenandoah, participating in numerous campaigns and engagements in Virginia and the Shenandoah Valley.

Organization & Service

The 21st New York Cavalry was organized at Troy, New York, with companies mustered in from late August 1863 through January 1864. Five companies left the state on September 4, 1863; one on September 19; three on October 19; one in November; and the remaining companies in February 1864. The advance elements of the regiment initially served in the Department of Washington until January 1864, after which the unit was assigned to the 1st Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, Army of West Virginia.

From August to late October 1864, the regiment was stationed at Remount Camp, Maryland. It subsequently joined the Army of the Shenandoah and was assigned to the 1st Brigade, 2nd Cavalry Division. In March 1865, the regiment’s last active service was in the Department of West Virginia. Throughout 1864, the 21st New York Cavalry was engaged in continuous cavalry operations, including scouting, skirmishing, and major actions. The regiment was mustered out by detachments, with a consolidation into a battalion of seven companies on September 9, 1865. The final detachments were mustered out at Denver, Colorado, and Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, between June 23 and August 31, 1866.

Engagements & Campaigns

• Department of Washington operations (1863–1864)
• Army of West Virginia campaigns (1864)
• Shenandoah Valley operations (1864–1865)
• Action at Lynchburg
• Buckton
• Purcellville
• Snicker’s Gap
• Ashby’s Gap
• Winchester
• Cedarville
• White Post, Virginia
• Engagements near Paris, Loudoun County, Virginia
• Action near Berryville (1865)

Casualties

• Killed and died of wounds: 3 officers, 63 enlisted men
• Died of disease, accidents, in prison, etc.: 1 officer, 78 enlisted men
• Total deaths: 145

Field Officers & Commanders

• Colonel William B. Tibbits
• Colonel Charles Fitz Simmons
• Lieutenant Colonel Charles Fitz Simmons
• Major Charles G. Otis
• Major George V. Boutelle
• Major John S. Jennings
• Captain William H. Mitchell (killed in action at New Market, Va.)
• First Lieutenant Nelson B. Holcomb (died of wounds received at White Post)
• Second Lieutenant Charles H. Cone (killed in action at Ashby’s Gap)

Regimental Roster

The full roster of the 21st New York Cavalry, including officers and enlisted men, is available for genealogical and historical research. The roster provides details on enlistment, service, and fates of the regiment’s members.

To view the complete roster, visit the 21st New York Cavalry Regimental Roster page.

Sources & References

• Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, various volumes and parts (Army of West Virginia, Army of the Shenandoah reports)
• New York State Adjutant General’s Report
• 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