13th Cavalry Regiment
Civil War
Seymour Light Cavalry

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

Formed by consolidation of the Dames light cavalry, the Horatio Seymour cavalry and the Tompkins cavalry, June 20, 1863.
Consolidated with the 16th regiment of cavalry and designated 3rd provisional regiment of cavalry: August 17, 1865

October 9, 1862, Maj. Henry E. Davies Jr., 2d Cavalry, received authority to recruit a regiment of cavalry and was appointed Colonel thereof; November 12, 1862, Lieut.-Col. Nathaniel Coles received orders to recruit the regiment, the Davies Light Cavalry, until Colonel Davies would report from the field. January 16, 1863, Col. David Webb, succeeded, on his death, by Col. Alfred W. Taylor, and he by Col. Henry S. Gansevoort, was authorized to recruit the Horatio Seymour Cavalry. January 28, 1863, Col. G. W. B. Tompkins received authority to recruit the Tompkins Cavalry. These . organizations were, June 20, 1863, consolidated, and the I3th Regiment of Cavalry formed of them, with H. S. Gansevoort as Lieutenant-Colonel, and N. Coles, as Major. The companies were mustered in the service of the United States for three years; at Staten Island, A February 25, B May 25, C and D June 18, E June 19, F June 20, G July 10, H August 7, and I November 23, 1863; at Riker's Island, K and L, and at Hart's Island M, in March, 1864.

They were recruited principally: A, B, C, D and E, at New York city; F at New York city, Rome and Utica; G at New York city, Potsdam, Oswegatchie, Malone, Saratoga and Albany; H, Halleck Guards, at New York city, Ogdensburgh, Malone, Water-town, Albany and Potsdam; I at Albany, Buffalo and Watertown; K, L and M, at New York city and Brooklyn.

Six companies, A, B, C, D, E and F, left the State June 23, 1863; Companies G and H, August 14, 1863; the others in winter, 1863, and spring, 1864; the regiment served in the Pennsylvania Campaign in June and July, 1863 (six companies), and after that in the 22d Corps, Department and Defenses of Washington, D. C.

August 17, 1865, the regiment, commanded by Col. Henry S. Gansevoort, was consolidated at Washington with the 16th N. Y. Volunteer Cavalry, the consolidated force receiving the designation, 3d Provisional Regiment, N. Y. Volunteer Cavalry; the companies of the I3th becoming parts of the companies of the new organizations, as follows: A of G, B of M, C of H, D of D, E of L, F of A, G of B, H of F, I of E, K of K, L of C, M of I.

During its service, the regiment lost by death, killed in action, 12 enlisted men; of wounds received in action, 19 enlisted men; of disease and other causes, 2 officers, 98 enlisted men; total, 2 officers, 129 enlisted men; aggregate, 131; of whom 27 enlisted men died in the hands of the enemy.

Battles and Casualties Table from Phisterer

Civil War Newspaper Clippings

13th Cavalry Guidon

13th Cavalry Flank Markers

13th Cavalry Standard

13th Cavalry Standard

13th Cavalry Standard

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 int-historians@ng.army.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.

Hernbaker, Henry. True history. Jefferson Davis answered. The horrors of Andersonville prison pen. The personal experience of Henry Hernbaker, Jr. and John Lynch. Philadelphia: Merihew & Son, printers, 1876.

Hoadley, John Chipman. Memorial of Henry Gansevoort, Captain Fifth artillery, and Lieutenant-Colonel by brevet, U.S.A.; Colonel Thirteenth New York state volunteer cavalry, and Brigadier-General of volunteers by brevet. Edited by J. C. Hoadley. Printed for private distribution. Boston: Franklin press: Rand, Avery & co., 1875.

Hoadley, John Chipman. Memorial of Henry Gansevoort. [Second edition] Boston: Franklin press: Rand, Avery & Co., 1875 i.e. 1882.

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