12th Cavalry Regiment
Civil War
Ira Harris Cavalry; Third Ira Harris Guard

History
The following is taken from New York in the War of the Rebellion, 3rd ed. Frederick Phisterer. Albany: J. B. Lyon Company, 1912.

Left the State by detachments: May to December 1863
Mustered out: July 19, 1865

October 4, 1862, Col, James W. Savage received authority from the State to recruit this regiment. It was organized at New York city to serve three years. A number of the men enlisted for the Abohbot Cavalry were transferred to its Company D, November 29, 1862, and in August, 1863, the men enlisted for the 21st Regiment Veteran Volunteers, reorganizing, were also transferred to the regiment. A number of the men enlisted by Capt. G. S. Coddington for the 20th Battery were transferred to this regiment. The companies were mustered in the United States service in New York city, A November 19, 1862, B March 31, 1863, C February 17, 1863, F April 28, 1863; at Buffalo, D and E February 14, and L February 16, 1863. May 20, 1863, the regiment was reorganized as follows: Company A was formed of parts of original Companies A and G; B of parts of original Companies A, B and I; C of original Company C and parts of original Companies D and I; D of original Company E and part of original Company G; E of parts of original Companies F, G and H; F of original Companies D and K; Company L retained its designation. Companies G, H and I were reorganized and mustered in United States service at New York city, Company G August 7th, Company I September 22d; at Buffalo, Company H August 27, 1863. Companies K (second) and M were mustered in at Buffalo, September 10, and at New York city, November 24, 1863, respectively. From September, 1863, to December, 1864, a howitzer section, manned by members of the regiment, formed part of the latter.

The companies were recruited principally: A, originally intended for the 5th Cavalry, at Fulton and Oswego; B at Ogdensburg, Cuba, Copake, Clifton Park, Charlton, Claver-ack, West Troy, Albany and Hudson; C at Austerlitz, Hudson, Hillsdale, Chatham and New York city; D, E, H, old and new, K and L at Buffalo; F at New York city, Platts-burgh, Fort Covington, Dickinson and Rouse's Point; G and I, old, at New York city; G new, at New York city, Syracuse, Oswego, Hudson and Troy; I, new, at New York city, Oswego, Troy and Syracuse; and M at Buffalo, New York city, Troy and Niagara.

The regiment left the State by detachments, the first in May, 1863, and was entirely in the field by December of that year; it served in the Department and District of North Carolina, l8th Corps; and from March, 1865, with the Provisional Corps; with the 23d Corps from April, 1865, and July 19, 1865, commanded by Lieut.-Col. Philip G. Vought, it was honorably discharged and mustered out at Raleigh, N. C.

During its service it lost by death, killed in action, 2 officers, 20 enlisted men; died of wounds received in action, I officer, 16 enlisted men; died of disease and other causes, 5 officers, 178 enlisted men; total, 8 officers, 214 enlisted men; aggregate, 222; of whom 1 officer and 84 enlisted men died in the hands of the enemy.

Battles and Casualties Table from Phisterer

Civil War Newspaper Clippings

12th Cavalry Flank Marker

Muster Roll

Unit Roster

Further Reading
This is meant to be a comprehensive list. If, however, you know of a resource that is not listed below, please send an email to ng.ny.nyarng.list.historians@mail.mil with the name of the resource and where it is located. This can include photographs, letters, articles and other non-book materials. Also, if you have any materials in your possession that you would like to donate, the museum is always looking for items specific to New York's military heritage. Thank you.

Budington, William Ives. A memorial of Giles F. Ward, Jr., late First Lieut. Twelfth N.Y. cavalry, by William Ives Budington. New York: Anson D. F. Randolph 1866.

Cooper, Alonzo. In and out of Rebel prisons, by Lieut. A. Cooper, 12th N.Y. cavalry. Oswego: R. J. Oliphant, printer, 1888.

Johnson, Crisfield. ... History of Oswego County, New York. : With illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers. Philadelphia: L.H. Everts & co, 1877, 1991.

Lane, Mrs. Charles H. "The Story of Lieut. A. Coopper ... Civil War Veteran, Author and Poet." Oswego County Historical Society Publication, 13 (1950) 62-71.
Thanks to Tom Ebert for finding this resource.

Savage, James Woodruff. The loyal element of North Carolina during the war, a paper read before the Nebraska commandery of the Military order of the loyal legion of the United States, May 5, 1886, by James W. Savage, late Colonel 12th N.Y. cavalry. Omaha: [Omaha Republican print] 1886.

Slosek, Anthony M. Oswego County, New York, in the Civil War. Oswego, N.Y. Oswego County Civil War Centennial Committee, 1964.

Snyder, Charles McCool. Oswego County, New York, in the Civil War. Oswego, NY: Oswego County Historical Society, 1962.

Items the museum holds are in bold.

Back to Civil War Cavalry Units