1st Mounted Rifles Regiment
Civil War

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

Mustered in by companies: July 30, 1861 to September 1862.
Consolidated with 3rd regiment of cavalry: July 21, 1865.

After the action at Big Bethel, Va., June 10, 1861, Major General Butler authorized Capt. Judson Kilpatrick, 5th N. Y. Volunteer Infantry, to organize a squadron of cavalry for duty in General Butler's Department. This authority was approved by the Secretary of War and Companies. A and B were accordingly organized at New York City. Later in 1861 Capt. C. C. Dodge received permission from the War Department to raise two more companies to form a battalion, and Companies C and D were accordingly organized at Newburgh with the consent of the State authorities, and Captain Dodge was appointed Major. In the summer of 1862 the Governor of the State authorized Major Dodge to organize sufficient companies to raise the battalion to a regiment and appointed him Colonel of the same, and Companies E, F, G, H, I, K, L and M were accordingly organized at New York City.

The companies were mustered in the service of the United States for three years: at Fort Monroe, Va., A and B, July 30, 1861; at Newburgh C and D September 18 and October 16, 1861, respectively; at. New York City E, F, G and H in June, July and August, 1862; and I, K, L and M in August and September, 1862. July 17, 1864, 270 men of the 16th N. Y. Volunteer Artillery, who had volunteered to serve with the regiment, were transferred to it. At the expiration of their term of service the men of Companies A, B, C and D, entitled thereto, were discharged and the companies continued in the service. July 21, 1865, the regiment, commanded by Col. Edwin V. Sumner, was consolidated at Fredericksburg, Va., into a battalion of seven companies, the men of Company B being transferred to Companies E and G; those of F to A; of H to K; of I to M, and of L to D; leaving in existence Companies A, C, D, E, G, K and M, and the reorganization of the regiment was completed by the transfer of the 3d N. Y. Volunteer Cavalry, consolidated into five companies, as Companies B, F, H, I and L to the same.

The companies were recruited principally: A and B at New York City; C and D; First and Second Cavalry Companies, Tenth Legion; at Monticello, Grahamville, Fallsburgh, Clayville, Middletown, Ellenville and Newburgh; E at Troy, Albany, Fort Edward, Salem, Schenectady and New York city; F at Troy, Buffalo and New York City; G at Troy, Chatham and New York city; H at Troy, Buffalo, Mt. Pleasant, Syracuse, Tarry-town and New York City; I at Canaan, Carmel, Chatham, North Castleton and New York City; K at Buffalo, Charlton, Livonia, Richmond, Springwater, Victor and New York City; L at Lenox, Oneida, Rome, Syracuse and Verona; and M at Chatham, North Castle and New York City.

The companies left the State, A and B in July, 1861; C and D December 6, 1861; E, F, G and H in August, 1862; I, K, L and M September 19, 1862, and served in the Department of Virginia (7th and 4th Corps) and Department of Virginia and North Carolina, principally at Fort Monroe, Norfolk and Suffolk, Portsmouth, Williamsburg and Yorktown, Va.; in Wistar's Division, 18th Corps, from January, 1864; in the Cavalry, Army of the James, with the 3d Brigade, 1st Division, 10th Corps, from March, 1864; a detachment as escort, headquarters Army of the James, from July, 1864; unattached from August, 1864; in the 3d Brigade of the Cavalry Division, Army of the James, until March, 1865; again unattached to the close of the war; and at Fredericksburg, Va., from April, 1865. Companies H and D served with the 10th Corps from June 1864; with the 18th Corps from August, 1864.

September 6, 1865, the regiment received the designation, 4th Provisional Regiment, N. Y. Volunteer Cavalry, and its final record will be found under that head.

The regiment lost by death, killed in action, 1 officer, 18 enlisted men; of wounds received in action, 1 officer, 12 enlisted men; of disease and other causes, 4 officers, 125 enlisted men; total, 6 officers, 155 enlisted men; aggregate, 161; of whom 8 enlisted men died in the hands of the enemy.

Battles and Casualties Table from Phisterer

Civil War Newspaper Clippings
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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.

First New York mounted rifles, 1861-5, 12th annual reunion and dinner of the Veterans association.

Van Vechten, Henry C. At the siege of Suffolk. In National tribune scrapbook I 83.

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