2nd Mounted Rifles Regiment
Civil War
Governor's 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: March 1864
Mustered out: August 10,1865

July 2, 1863, Col. John Fisk received authority to recruit a regiment of infantry; August 24, 1863, this authority was modified, making the organization to be recruited a regiment of mounted rifles. It was organized at Lockport and Buffalo, and the companies were mustered in the service of the United States for three years: at Lockport A and I October 31 and November 2, 1863, respectively; at Fort Porter, Buffalo, B, C, D, E and L January 12th, 26th, 27th, 29th and 25th, respectively; F and G February 5, and H, K and M February 4, 6 and 13, 1864, respectively.

The companies were recruited principally: A at Lockport, Buffalo, Batavia and Ridge-way; B at Caneadea, Centerville, Farmersville, Eagle, Gainesville, Hume, Rushford, Pike and Lockport; C at Lockport, Niagara, Royalton, Attica, Cambria, Tonawanda, Buffalo, Java and Warsaw; D at Buffalo, Collins, Tonawanda and Clarence; E at Buffalo, Lockport, Carlton, Wilson, Cambria and Newfane; F at Lockport, Arcadia, Lyons, Buffalo, Grand Island and Palmyra; G at Thompson, Monticello, Bethel, Callicoon, Liberty and Fallsburgh; H at Buffalo, Amherst, Colden, Grand Island, New Hudson and Tonawanda; I at Lockport, Buffalo and Lewiston; K at Buffalo, Grand Island, Orangeville, Amherst, Tonawanda and Warsaw; L at Barre, Carlton, Gaines, Java, Kendall, Ridgeway and Shelby; and M at Buffalo, Batavia, Danube, Attica, Little Falls, Mannheim, Middlefield, Jordan and Prattsburgh.

The regiment left the State in March, 1864, and served as infantry at and near Washington, D. C., in 22d Corps; in the Provisional Brigade, 1st Division, 9th Corps, from May 15, 1864; in 1st Brigade, 2d Division, 9th Corps, Army of Potomac, from June 11, 1864; in the 2d Brigade, 2d Division, 9th Corps, from September, 1864; mounted in the 3d Brigade, 2d Division, Cavalry, Army of Potomac, from November 16, 1864; in Department of Virginia, from May, 1865.

Commanded by Lieut.-Col. Joseph H. Wood, the regiment was honorably discharged and mustered out, August 10, 1865, at Petersburg, Va., having during its service lost by death, killed in action, 7 officers, 67 enlisted men; of wounds received in action, 2 officers, 29 enlisted men; of disease and other causes, 1 officer, 112 enlisted men; total, 10 officers, 208 enlisted men; aggregate, 218; of whom 20 enlisted men died in the hands of the enemy.

Battles and Casualties Table from Phisterer

Civil War Newspaper Clippings

2nd Mounted Rifles Guidon

2nd Mounted Rifles Guidon

2nd Mounted Rifles Regimental Standard

2nd Mounted Rifles Regimental Standard

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.

Cady, Nahum Ward. Court-martial of Major N. Ward Cady 2d mounted rifles, N.Y. vols., including the offence, defence, sentence, correspondence. [Yates: 1864].

Erskine, Liza. Rebellion Lay In His Way: Written by the late Liza Erskine, granddaughter, based on Robert Erskine's memoirs. 11 pages.
Edited and donated by Erskine's Great-granddaughter, Katharine Skillen.

Erskine, Robert. Impressions and Recollection of the American Civil War by an Alien Volunteer: Written entirely for his own amusement forty years after the War was over. 54 pages.
Edited and donated by Erskine's Great-granddaughter, Katharine Skillen.

Holmes, John. Nine months in Andersonville! Experiences of Captain John Holmes of Mellen, Wisconsin. [190-] 19, (1) p.

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