1st Veteran Cavalry Regiment

Left the State in detachments: July to November 19, 1863
Mustered out: July 20,1865

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

July 20, 1863, Col. Robert F. Taylor received authority to recruit this regiment. It was organized at Geneva, and September 17, 1863, the men enlisted for the I7th Cavalry, Col. H. D. Townsend, were transferred to it. The companies were mustered in the service of the United States for three years; at Elmira, A and B July 31, and September 8, 1863, respectively; at Geneva, C, D, E, F, G, H, I and K October 10; L and M November 7 and 19, 1863, respectively. October 7, 1864, Company M was consolidated with Company A, and the former replaced by a new Company M, mustered in at Elmira, for a service of one year.

The companies were recruited principally: A and B, 17th Cavalry, at Elmira, Adams and Ellisburgh; C at Geneva, Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse; D at Geneva, Rochester, Nunda, Prattsburgh, Warsaw, Amity and Pike; E at Geneva, Lima, Canan-daigua and Rochester; F at Binghamton, Elmira, Adams and Rochester; G at Geneva, Buffalo, Olean, Cuba, Rochester and Elmira; H at Deposit, Franklin, Hancock, Elmira, Geneva and Tompkins; I at Geneva, Bushnell's Station, Palmyra, Pittsford and Rochester; K at Waterloo, Seneca Falls and Rochester; L at Elmira, Adams, Geneva, Almond, Hornellsville, Seneca and Ellisburgh; and M at Geneva, Syracuse, Rochester, Oswego, Geneseo and Palmyra; second Company M at Binghamton.

Company A left the State in July, 1863; B in September, 1863; C to K in October, 1863; and L and M November 7 and 19, 1863, respectively, and served in the Department of Washington, 22d Corps; in the 1st Brigade, 1st Division, Cavalry, Army of West Virginia, from February, 1864; from August, 1864, in the 2d Cavalry Division, Army of West Virginia; in Remount Camp, Maryland, from latter part of August, to close of October, 1864; in the Army of the Shenandoah from October, 1864; and from March, 1865, in the Cavalry Division, Army of West Virginia.

Commanded by Col. John S. Platner, the regiment was honorably discharged and mustered out, July 20, 1865, at Camp Piatt, W. Va., having, during its service, lost by death killed in action, 4 officers, 32 enlisted men; of wounds received in action, 15 enlisted men; of disease and other causes, 87 enlisted men; total, 4 officers, 134 enlisted men; aggregate, 138; of whom 32 enlisted men died in the hands of the enemy.

The following is taken from The Union army: a history of military affairs in the loyal states, 1861-65 -- records of the regiments in the Union army -- cyclopedia of battles -- memoirs of commanders and soldiers, Volume II: New York, Maryland, West Virginia and Ohio. Madison, WI: Federal Pub. Co., 1908.

First Veteran Cavalry.—Cols., Robert F. Taylor, John S. Platner; Lieut. -Cols., John S. Platner, Charles A. Wells; Majs., Charles A. Wells, Charles W. Ringer, James E. Williams, J. M. Guion, Jerry A. Sullivan, E. D. Comstock. This regiment was organized at Geneva and was originally intended to become the 17th cavalry, but the designation was changed before the organization had commenced. On Sept. 17, 1863, the men enlisted for Cos. A and B, 17th cavalry, were transferred to it. The various companies were principally recruited in the counties of Ontario, Seneca, Wayne, Monroe, Erie and Chemung. A and B were mustered into the U. S. service at Elmira, July 31 and Sept. 8, respectively, for three years, and the others at Geneva from Oct. 10 to Nov. 19. In Oct., 1864, Co. M was consolidated with Co. A, and a new Co. M was mustered in at Elmira for a service of one year. The regiment left the state by detachments from July to Nov., 1863, and served in the Department of Washington until Feb., 1864. It was composed of excellent material, chiefly veterans of the 27th and 33d infantry. Attached to the 1st brigade, ist division, cavalry of West Virginia, its first battle occurred at Upperville, in Feb., 1864. It lost 35 men at Snickersville on March 6. and 38 on the loth at Kabletown, Maj. Sullivan being among the killed. It suffered severely at New Market in May, where it lost 65 killed, wounded and missing. Continuous hard service followed, the regiment being actively engaged at Woodstock, Newtown, New Market, Harrisonburg, Piedmont, Waynesboro, Cheat mountain, Diamond hill, Lynchburg, White Sulphur Springs, Bunker Hill, and near Martinsburg, Leetown, Sharpsburg, Sandy Hook, Charlestown and Winchester. In Aug., 1864, attached to the 2nd cavalry division. Army of West Virginia, it fought at Duffield Station, Cedar creek, Berryville, Charlestown and Falling Waters, and was then ordered to remount camp, Md., where it remained until the end of Oct., 1864. In November it was engaged at Nineveh and Rude's hill without loss, as part of the Army of the Shenandoah. It participated in no more pitched battles. Under command of Col. Platner it was mustered out at Camp Piatt, W. Va., July 20, 1865, having lost while in service 4 officers and 47 men killed and mortally wounded; 87 men who died of disease, accidents, in prison, etc., a total of 138.

1stCavVetStandard2001.0023.jpg

1st Regiment Veteran Cavalry, NY Volunteers | Standard | Civil War

This blue, silk standard generally conforms to the 1861 U.S. Army Regulations. The standard features a painted Arms of the United States with thirteen…

NYSMM Online Resources

Battles and Casualties from Phisterer (pdf)
Battles and Casualties from Phisterer (spreadsheet)

Civil War Newspaper Clippings

Muster Roll

Unit Roster

Search the Museum catalog for this unit

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Other Resources

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@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.

Proceedings of the annual reunions and banquets of the Survivors' association 27th regiment and 1st veteran cavalry, N.Y. state vols. 1876, 1880, 1882, 1883, 1885. [Binghamton: Carl & Spaulding, printers, 1885].

Annual reunion proceedings of the Survivors' Association. Binghamton, N.Y. : The Association, 1800s-1900s.

Annual reunion proceedings of the Survivors' association 27th regiment N.Y. vols. and 1st N.Y. veteran cavalry, held at Rochester, N.Y., on Wednesday, July 21, 1886, and at Geneva, N. Y., Sept. 18,, 1886. Binghamton: Carl & Matthews, printers [1886].

Annual reunion proceedings of the Survivors' association 27th regiment N.Y. vols., 1st N.Y. veteran cavalry, and 33d regiment N.Y. vols., held at Mount Morris, Livingston county, N.Y., on Thursday and Friday, Oct. 20th and 21st, 1887. Binghamton: Carl & Matthews, printers [1888].

Blossom, Edmund W. “Edmund W. Blossom papers, 1863-1865, circa 1890-1899.” Library of Congress. https://www.loc.gov/cgi-bin/zgate?present+16384052+Default+9+1+F+1.2.840.10003.5.10+9+/cgi-bin/zgate%3fACTION%3dINIT%26FORM_HOST_PORT%3d/prod/www/data/z3950/oclcmss3.html,zcat.oclc.org,210%26AUTH%3doclcmss.

Brown, Lewis Henry. “The Lewis H. Brown collection, 1861-1865 (bulk 1861-1863).” Library of Congress. https://www.loc.gov/cgi-bin/zgate?present+16384052+Default+23+1+F+1.2.840.10003.5.10+35+/cgi-bin/zgate%3fACTION%3dINIT%26FORM_HOST_PORT%3d/prod/www/data/z3950/oclcmss3.html,zcat.oclc.org,210%26AUTH%3doclcmss.

“Burrows Family Letters 1861-1891.” Virginia Tech. https://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vt/viblbv00235.xml.

Burrows, Samuel Worcester. “Samuel Worcester Burrows Letter 1862.” Virginia Tech. https://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vt/viblbv00265.xml.

“Civil War Collection, 1840(ca.)-1959, 1860(approx.)-1959 (bulk).” Library of Congress. https://www.loc.gov/cgi-bin/zgate?present+16384052+Default+3+1+F+1.2.840.10003.5.10+3+/cgi-bin/zgate%3fACTION%3dINIT%26FORM_HOST_PORT%3d/prod/www/data/z3950/oclcmss3.html,zcat.oclc.org,210%26AUTH%3doclcmss.

Fifth and sixth annual reunion proceed ings of the survivors' association 27th regiment New York volunteers, 1st N.Y. volunteers, held at Deposit, N.Y., Wednesday and Thursday, Sept. 26th and 27th, 1888, and at Seneca Falls, N.Y., Wednesday and Thursday, Sept. 4th and 5th, 1889. [Binghamton: Carl & Matthews, printers [1889].

Seventh and eighth annual reunion proceedings of the Survivors' association 27th regiment N.Y. volunteers, 1st N.Y., veteran cavalry, 33d regiment N.Y. volunteers, held at Binghamton, N. Y., Wednesday and Thursday, Sept. 24th and 25th, 1890, and at Rochester, N. Y., Wednesday and Thursday, Sept. 23d and 24th, 1891. [New York: Street Railway Journal press, 1891].

Eleventh, twelfth, thirteenth and fourteenth annual re-union proceedings of the Survivors' association 27th regiment N.Y. volunteers. 1st New York veteran cavalry. 33d regiment N.Y. volunteers. Held at Portage, N.Y., August 28th and 29th, 1894; Binghamton, N.Y., August 13th and 14th, 1895; Elmira, N.Y., November 10th and llth, 1896; Buffalo, N.Y., August 23d and 24th, 1897. [Nunda, Printed at the office of the "News," 1898].

Freeman, John C. "Address on the civil and military career of General William Tecumseh Sherman, by John C. Freeman, Captain 1st New York veteran cavalry." MOLLUS-NY III 296-316.

New York (State). Adjutant General's Office. Registers of the New York regiments in the War of the Rebellion. J.B. Lyon, 1894-1906.

“New York State Historian Transcriptions of Civil War Records.” New York State Archives. https://iarchives.nysed.gov/xtf/view?docId=ead/findingaids/A0257.xml;query=.

“Order of Battle New Market, Virginia, 15 May 1864.” U.S Army Center of Military History. https://history.army.mil/books/Staff-Rides/NewMarket/NM-OB.htm.

Platner, John. “John Platner Letter.” New York Heritage: Digital Collections. https://cdm16694.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15109coll6/id/802.

Stone, Francis M. “The Francis M. and Henry H. Stone collection, 1861-1864.” Library of Congress. https://www.loc.gov/cgi-bin/zgate?present+16384052+Default+11+1+F+1.2.840.10003.5.10+11+/cgi-bin/zgate%3fACTION%3dINIT%26FORM_HOST_PORT%3d/prod/www/data/z3950/oclcmss3.html,zcat.oclc.org,210%26AUTH%3doclcmss.

Worman, Edward. “1st New York Veteran Cavalry captured at Halltown, West Virginia on March 10, 1864.” New York State Military Museum. http://catalog.nysmm.org/Presto/content/Detail.aspx?ctID=MWUzZjNjOGQtZjA1My00MDA3LTk0ZDMtN2E5ZmNkZWM1ZWUw&rID=MTEwNzE=&qrs=RmFsc2U=&q=MXN0IHZldGVyYW4gY2F2YWxyeQ==&ph=VHJ1ZQ==&bckToL=VHJ1ZQ==&rrtc=VHJ1ZQ==.

Worman, Edward. 1st NY Veteran Cavalry casualties at New Market, VA, May 15, 1864 to June 1, 1864. 2018.

Worman, Edward (compiler). 1st NY Veteran Cavalry casualties at Snickers Gap, Virginia on March 6, 1864 (all Company D). 4 pages.

Items in bold are in the museum's catalog.

 

Photos from the American Civil War Research Database:

Edward H. Brady. 1st New York Veteran Cavalry. http://www.civilwardata.com/active/hdsquery.dll?SoldierHistory?U&1458537.

Adolphus W. Crans. 1st New York Veteran Cavalry. http://www.civilwardata.com/active/hdsquery.dll?SoldierHistory?U&1756571. Photo Courtesy of New York State Military Museum.

Suel T. Fisk. 1st New York Veteran Cavalry. http://www.civilwardata.com/active/hdsquery.dll?SoldierHistory?U&1636690. Photo courtesy of HDS Subscriber.

Alfred H. Hitchcox. 1st New York Veteran Cavalry. http://www.civilwardata.com/active/hdsquery.dll?SoldierHistory?U&1638790. Photo courtesy of Sean Coykendall.

Langon Hovey. 1st New York Veteran Cavalry. http://www.civilwardata.com/active/hdsquery.dll?SoldierHistory?U&1654679. Photo Courtesy of New York State Military Museum.

Charles O. Ingraham. 1st New York Veteran Cavalry. http://www.civilwardata.com/active/hdsquery.dll?SoldierHistory?U&1799124. Photo Courtesy of New York State Military Museum.

Charles K. Jenree. 1st New York Veteran Cavalry. http://www.civilwardata.com/active/hdsquery.dll?SoldierHistory?U&1464286. Photo Courtesy of New York State Military Museum.

Jacob Lester. 1st New York Veteran Cavalry. http://www.civilwardata.com/active/hdsquery.dll?SoldierHistory?U&1639507. Photo courtesy of Edward Schoenberger.

Robert Lucas. 1st New York Veteran Cavalry. http://www.civilwardata.com/active/hdsquery.dll?SoldierHistory?U&1639683.

James C. parmenter. 1st New York Veteran Cavalry. http://www.civilwardata.com/active/hdsquery.dll?SoldierHistory?U&1640561. Photo Courtesy of New York State Military Museum.

William J. H. Pendall. 1st New York Veteran Cavalry. http://www.civilwardata.com/active/hdsquery.dll?SoldierHistory?U&1640606. Photo courtesy of Jack R. Box at cemeteryworks.com.

Merritt H. Perkins. 1st New York Veteran Cavalry. http://www.civilwardata.com/active/hdsquery.dll?SoldierHistory?U&1640622. Photo Courtesy of New York State Military Museum.

John Strong Platner. 1st New York Veteran Cavalry. http://www.civilwardata.com/active/hdsquery.dll?SoldierHistory?U&1749769. Photo courtesy of Massachusetts Commandery of MOLLUS.

Patrick Plunkett. 1st New York Veteran Cavalry. http://www.civilwardata.com/active/hdsquery.dll?SoldierHistory?U&1640693. Photo courtesy of Henry Pomerantz.

Henry C. Race. 1st New York Veteran Cavalry. http://www.civilwardata.com/active/hdsquery.dll?SoldierHistory?U&1640729. Photo Courtesy of New York State Military Museum.

Clarkson H. Reasor. 1st New York Veteran Cavalry. http://www.civilwardata.com/active/hdsquery.dll?SoldierHistory?U&1431387. Photo Courtesy of New York State Military Museum.

Charles Ringer. 1st New York Veteran Cavalry. http://www.civilwardata.com/active/hdsquery.dll?SoldierHistory?U&1750011.

Jeremiah Andrew Sullivan. 1st New York Veteran Cavalry. http://www.civilwardata.com/active/hdsquery.dll?SoldierHistory?U&1809603. Photo Courtesy of New York State Military Museum.