20th Cavalry Regiment
Civil War
McClellan 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.

Mustered in: September 30, 1863
Mustered out: July 31, 1865

June 19, 1863, Col. Newton B. Lord received authority to recruit this regiment, which received its numerical designation October 8, 1863, and was organized at Sackett's Harbor, where its companies were mustered in the service of the United States for three years: A to G September 3, H September 4, I and K September 17, and L and M September 22 and 23, 1863, respectively.

The companies were recruited principally; A at Sackett's Harbor, Champion, Denmark, Pinckney and Wilna; B at Sackett's Harbor, Brownville, Clayton, Dexter, Lyme, Philadelphia, Orwell and Watertown; C at Antwerp, Alexandria, LeRay, Theresa and Watertown; D at Cape Vincent, Clayton, Ellisburg, Mannsville, LaFargeville, Sackett's Harbor and Watertown; E at Champion, Diana, Croghan and Wilna; F at Copenhagen, Redwood and Syracuse; G at Albany, Cape Vincent, Evan's Mills, Rome, Syracuse and Watertown; H at Antwerp, DeKalb, Edwards, Fowler and Gouverneur; I at Cape Vincent, Oswego, Rome, Sackett's Harbor, Syracuse and in St. Lawrence county; K at Albany, Sandy Creek, Sackett's Harbor, Wilna and Watertown; L at Norwich, Oswego, Penn Yan, Sackett's Harbor and Syracuse; and M at Sackett's Harbor, Albany, Herkimer, Norwich, Mannsville, Oswego, Rome, Theresa and Watertown.

The regiment left the State September 30, 1863, and served in the 22d Corps from October, 1863, Company F at Portsmouth, Va., from October, 1863; all at Portsmouth, Va., in the Department of Virginia from November, 1863; in Heckman's Division, 18th Corps, from January, 1864; in the defenses of Portsmouth, Va., in the district of East Virginia, Department of Virginia and North Carolina, from April, 1864; in 1st Brigade, Kautz's Division, Cavalry, Army of the James, from December 3, 1864; Company D at Fort Pocahontas, Va., in Separate Brigade, defenses of Bermuda, from January, 1865; Company F at Fort Powhattan, Va., and Company G in 1st Brigade, Mackenzie's Division of Cavalry from March, 1865; Company I with the Provisional and 10th Corps in March, 1865.

The regiment was honorably discharged and mustered out under the command of Col. David M. Evans July 31, 1865, Companies E and H at Fort Monroe, the other companies at Manchester, Va.

During its service it lost by death, killed in action, 6 enlisted men; of wounds received in action, I enlisted man; of disease and other causes, 2 officers, 121 enlisted men; total, 2 officers, 128 enlisted men; aggregate, 130; of whom 15 enlisted men died in the hands of the enemy.

Battles and Casualties Table from Phisterer

Civil War Newspaper Clippings

20th Cavalry General Guide Flag

20th Cavalry Guidons

20th Cavalry National Flag

20th 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.

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