8th Cavalry Regiment

Nickname: Rochester Regiment

Left the State: November 29, 1861
Mustered out: June 27, 1865

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

Col. Samuel J. Crooks received authority to recruit this regiment; it was organized for a three years' service, November 14, 1861, at Rochester, where Companies A, B, C, D, E, F, I and K were mustered in the United States service November 23d, and Companies G and H November 28, 1861, only ten companies being organized; Company L having been consolidated into Company G and Company M merged into H, November 14, 1861. A number of the enlisted men of Company K were in December, 1861, transferred to other companies of the regiment, and March 8, 1862, the remaining men were transferred to the 1st Battalion of Artillery, Companies A, B and D, later 29th, 30th and 32d Batteries. A new Company K and Companies L and M were organized in August, September and October, 1862, and mustered in the United States service at Rochester for three years, September 29th, October 15th and 14th, respectively. At the expiration of the term of service of the regiment, those entitled thereto were, October 29, 1864, ordered to Rochester to be discharged and mustered out, and those remaining were, November 1, 1864, consolidated into a battalion of eight companies and retained in service. In this consolidation Companies A, B, C, D and E retained their letters and organization, Company K became Company F, L became G, and M was designated H; the enlisted men of the original Company F were transferred to Company A; those of original G to Companies B, C, D and M, old; those of original H to D and L, old; those of I to Company E, old. On the 30th of April, 1865, new Companies I, K, L and M were formed of recruits, mustered in for one and two years' service, and the regimental organization again completed.

The companies were recruited principally: A at Rochester, Penn Tan, Penfield, Webster and Canandaigua; B at Rochester, Avon, Brighton, Lima, Rush and Honeoye Falls; C at Rochester, Newark, Sodus, Palmyra, Marion and Williamson; D at Rochester, Clyde and Phelps; E at Rochester, -Hartland, Middleport and Royalton; F at Rochester, Albion, Carlton, Kendall and Newark; G at Rochester, Rushville, Seneca Falls, Montezuma and Waterloo; H at Rochester, Brockport, Bergen, Clarkson, Fairport and Hamblin; I at Rochester, Clinton, Penfield, Paris, Deansville, Waterville, Ontario, Webster, North Bay and Walworth; second Company I at Buffalo and Auburn, and K at Rochester, Brockport, Batavia, Norwich, Pitcher, Pharsalia, Sherburne, Spencerport and Webster; second Company K at Rochester; third Company K at Lockport, Canandaigua, Rochester, Buffalo and New York city; Companies L and M at Rochester; second Companies L and M at Rochester, Auburn, Elmira, Canandaigua, Buffalo, Binghamton, Lockport, Oswego and Syracuse.

The regiment left the State November 29, 1861, and served in the defenses of Washington, D. C., from December, 1861; in the Department of the Shenandoah from March, 1862; in the Middle Department, 8th Corps, from June, 1862; in the 5th Brigade, Pleasanton's Division of Cavalry, Army of the Potomac, mounted, from August, 1862; in the 1st Brigade, same division, from December, 1862; in the 1st Brigade, 1st Division, Cavalry Corps, Army of the Potomac, from February, 1863; in the 2d Brigade, 3d Division, Cavalry, Army of the Potomac, from March, 1864; in the Army of the Shenandoah from October, 1864, and with the Army of the Potomac from March, 1865.

The regiment, commanded by Col. Edmund M. Pope, was mustered out and honorably discharged June 27, 1865, at Alexandria, Va., having lost by death during its service, killed in action, 8 officers, 60 enlisted men; died of wounds received in action, 5 officers, 32 enlisted men; died of disease and other causes, 6 officers, 213 enlisted men; total, 19 officers, 305 enlisted men; aggregate, 324, of whom 3 officers and 70 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.

Eighth Cavalry.—Cols., Samuel J. Crooks, Alfred Gibbs, Benjamin F. Davis, William L. Markell, William H. Benjamin, Edmund M. Pope; Lieut.-Cols., Charles R. Babbitt. William L. Markell, William H. Benjamin, Edmund M. Pope, James Bliss; Majs., Edmund M. Pope. William L. Markell, Caleb Moore, William Downey. William H. Benjamin. James McNair. James Bliss, Harmon P. Burroughs, Albert L. Ford. Hartwell B. Compson. The 8th, known as the Rochester regiment, was recruited by Col. Crooks, and was organized in Rochester on Nov. 14. 1861. It is one of the famous three hundred fighting regiments enumerated by Col. Fox in his Regimental Losses in the Civil War. The members were principally recruited from the counties of Monroe, Ontario, Seneca, Wayne, Orleans, Niagara. Chenango and Oneida. Only ten companies were organized in 1861, and these were mustered into the U. S. service at Rochester, Nov. 23 and 28. 1861, for three years. The original Co. K was transferred to other organizations and a new Co. K was formed in 1862. as were the additional Cos., L and M, which were mustered into the U. S. service at Rochester from Sept. 29 to Oct. 14, for three years. The original members, who had not reenlisted, were ordered to return to Rochester on Oct. 29, 1864, and were there mustered out and discharged. The veterans and recruits were consolidated into a battalion of eight companies on Nov. I, 1864, and remained in service. Four new companies, I, K, L and M, formed of recruits mustered in for one and two years' service, in April, 1865, at the close of the war, increased the organization to the regimental standard once more. It was finally mustered out and honorably discharged on June 27, 1865, at Alexandria, Va., under command of Col. Pope. The regiment left the state, Nov. 29, 1861; was assigned to Banks' corps upon its arrival in Washington; served through the winter in the defenses of the capital; in 1862 it was in the Department of the Shenandoah; the Middle Department with the 8th corps; and from August to December in the 5th brigade of Pleasonton's cavalry division. Army of the Potomac. In Dec, 1862, it was assigned to the ist brigade, same division; in Feb., 1863, to the ist brigade, ist division; in March, 1864, to the 2nd brigade, 3d division; joined the Army of the Shenandoah in Oct., 1864. and returned to the Army of the Potomac in March, 1865. The regiment first came under fire at Winchester in May, 1862, where five dismounted companies were engaged. It distinguished itself during the siege of Harper's Ferry in September by escaping through the besieging lines at night, capturing some of the enemy's trains while on the way. It fought under Pleasonton in the famous cavalry battle of Beverly ford in June, 1863, where it sustained the heaviest loss of any regiment in the field—12 killed, 31 wounded and 7 missing. The gallant Col. Davis was here killed in a personal encounter. At Gettysburg it fought in Gamble's brigade, Buford's division, which opened that historic battle. Its casualties at Gettysburg amounted to 40 killed, wounded and missing. In the subsequent campaigns in Virginia it saw constant hard service, its list of casualties in Oct., 1863, amounting to 48 killed, wounded and missing. In Sheridan's raids and the Shenandoah campaign in 1864, it served in Wilson's division. It was with Wilson in the raid on the Weldon railroad in June, 1864, in which its losses were 117. of whom loi were reported missing. In the final Appomattox campaign it sustained a loss of 31 in killed, wounded and missing, fighting under Gen. Custer. Altogether the 8th participated in over 130 battles and skirmishes and lost by death 13 officers and 92 men, killed in action and mortally wounded; 6 officers and 213 men died of disease, accident and other causes, a total of 19 officers and 305 men, of whom 3 officers and 70 men died in prison. Medals of honor were awarded for distinguished gallantry to Henry H. Bickford, corporal; Hartwell B. Compson, major; Charles A. Goheen, sergeant; William E. Hart, private; Daniel Kelly, sergeant; Andrew Kuder, 2nd lieutenant; John Miller, private; Robert Nevers, 2nd lieutenant; Mortimer A. Read, lieutenant; and Joseph E. Sova, saddler.

8thCavStandard2004.0039.jpg

8th Regiment Cavalry, NY Volunteers | Standard | Civil War

Presented to the 8th Regiment Cavalry, NY Volunteers in May 1864, this silk standard features the arms of the United States embroidered to the center…

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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.

      Bell, Thomas. At Harper's ferry, Va., September 14, 1862. How the cavalry escaped out of the toils. A swift night march including a brief history of the Regiment, from its organization to this thrilling night's work, by Thomas Bell, Brevet Major, Eighth New York cavalry. [Brooklyn: 1900].

      Beyer, Walter F, and Oscar F. Keydel. Deeds of Valor: How America’s Heroes Won the Medal of Honor. The Perrien - Keydel Company, 1902.

      “Civil War Muster Roll Abstract for Antonio Hernandez, c. 1865.” New York State Archives. http://www.archives.nysed.gov/education/civil-war-muster-roll-abstract-antonio-hernandez-c-1865.

      Dibble, George O. “Letter, 1863, July 7.” Navarro College. https://researchworks.oclc.org/archivegrid/collection/data/70971617.

      Gero, Anthony J, Roger David Sturcke, Philip G. Maples, Alan H. Archambault. “8th Regiment, New York Volunteer Cavalry (Rochester Regiment); 22nd Regiment, New York Volunteer Cavalry (Rochester Cavalry), 1861-1865.” Military Collector and Historian, 1995. Located at New York State Military Museum.

      Henry, William. “William Henry Letters: 8th New York Volunteer Cavalry.” 1865. Located at New York State Military Museum.

      Huntington - Hooker Papers.
Size: 16 boxes (145 folders, 4 diaries, 3 scrapbooks)
Abstract: Letters to and from the Huntington-Hooker family members and friends, chiefly personal in nature. Included are letters written by Albert Huntington and Horace Hooker during the Civil War, and their Civil War papers and documents.
Located at University of Rochester.
Thank you to Patrick Fultz for pointing out this resource.

      Miller, Lloyd D. “The Lloyd D. Miller collection, 1862-1865.” US Army Heritage and Education Center. https://researchworks.oclc.org/archivegrid/collection/data/47849413.

      “New York Cavalry-- 8th Regiment Papers [electronic resource].” US Army Heritage and Education Center. https://researchworks.oclc.org/archivegrid/collection/data/840954610.

      “New York Eighth Cavalry.” American Civil War Research Database. http://www.civilwardata.com/active/hdsquery.dll?RegimentHistory?1326&U.

      Norton, Henry. A sketch of the 8th cavalry, unwritten history of the rebellion, by Henry Norton, a member of Company H, 8th N.Y. cavalry. 1888.

      Norton, Henry. Deeds of daring; or, history of the Eighth N.Y. volunteer cavalry, containing a complete record of the battles, skirmishes, marches, etc., that the gallant Eighth New York cavalry participated in, from its organization in November, 1861, to the close of the rebellion in 1865. Compiled and edited by Henry Norton. Norwich, NY: Chenango Telegraph printhouse, 1889.

      Owen, Myron. Myron Owen diary, 1864
Myron Owen served with the 8th New York Cavalry Regiment and joined the Army of the Potomac. He served the quartermaster, managing supplies of forage for the horses. He was present at the battles of Harper's Ferry, Antietam, Chancellorsville and Rich Mountain.
Located at University of Iowa. Libraries. Special Collections Dept.

      Pope, Edmund Mann. "Personal experience, a side light on the Wilson raid, June, 1864, by Brevet-Brigadier-General Edmund M. Pope." MOLLUS-NY IV 585-604.

      Rummell, George A. III. Gettysburg Cavalrymen. Bridgeport, 2000.

      Swett, J. B. George Armstrong Custer. Deeds of the Eighth N. Y. Cavalry. R. Dransfield, Book and Job Printer, 1865.

      Tripp, Gerald. “Gerald Tripp Collection, 1865.” Western Michigan University. https://researchworks.oclc.org/archivegrid/collection/data/259254348.

      Van Dusen, Charles Theron. Van Dusen Civil War Diary.
A transcription of the diary kept by Charles Theron Van Dusen during the Civil War. The Van Dusen’s are among the earliest families to have settled in New York City.
Available online through the New York Times:
www.nytimes.com/interactive/2011/07/24/nyregion/20110724-van-dusen-civil-war-diary.html?ref=nyregion
Resource submitted by Patrick Fultz.

      Wert, Jeffry D. "Dark Passage Through Rebel Lines." Military History. June 1985, 27-32.

      Williams, Richard G. Jr. The Battle of Waynesboro. The History Press, 2014.

 

Items the museum owns are in bold.

 

Photos from the American Civil War Database:

George Henry Barry. 8th New York Cavalry. http://www.civilwardata.com/active/hdsquery.dll?SoldierHistory?U&1604978. Photo Courtesy of New York State Military Museum.

Oscar J. Bassett. 8th New York Cavalry. http://www.civilwardata.com/active/hdsquery.dll?SoldierHistory?U&1605008. Photo Courtesy of New York State Military Museum.

Amasa Adolphus Beckwith. 8th New York Cavalry. http://www.civilwardata.com/active/hdsquery.dll?SoldierHistory?U&1605046. Photo Courtesy of New York State Military Museum.

Edward Everett Beckwith. 8th New York Cavalry. http://www.civilwardata.com/active/hdsquery.dll?SoldierHistory?U&1605050. Photo Courtesy of New York State Military Museum.

Carl Ludwig Berlin. 8th New York Cavalry. http://www.civilwardata.com/active/hdsquery.dll?SoldierHistory?U&1994524. Photo courtesy of Massachusetts Commandery of MOLLUS.

Henry H. Bickford. 8th New York Cavalry. http://www.civilwardata.com/active/hdsquery.dll?SoldierHistory?U&1816233.

Thomas Bradburn. 8th New York Cavalry. http://www.civilwardata.com/active/hdsquery.dll?SoldierHistory?U&1605261. Photo Courtesy of New York State Military Museum.

Henry C. Bridges. 8th New York Cavalry. http://www.civilwardata.com/active/hdsquery.dll?SoldierHistory?U&1605341. Photo Courtesy of New York State Military Museum.

Thomas Jefferson Brown. 8th New York Cavalry. http://www.civilwardata.com/active/hdsquery.dll?SoldierHistory?U&1610233. Photo Courtesy of New York State Military Museum.

Henry A. Bull. 8th New York Cavalry. http://www.civilwardata.com/active/hdsquery.dll?SoldierHistory?U&1610251. Photo Courtesy of New York State Military Museum.

Hartwell Benton Compson. 8th New York Cavalry. http://www.civilwardata.com/active/hdsquery.dll?SoldierHistory?U&1610453. Photo Courtesy of New York State Military Museum.

Lewis Isaac Cox. 8th New York Cavalry. http://www.civilwardata.com/active/hdsquery.dll?SoldierHistory?U&1610495. Photo Courtesy of New York State Military Museum.

William H. Derby. 8th New York Cavalry. http://www.civilwardata.com/active/hdsquery.dll?SoldierHistory?U&1610603. Photo Courtesy of New York State Military Museum.

Joseph W. Douglass. 8th New York Cavalry. http://www.civilwardata.com/active/hdsquery.dll?SoldierHistory?U&1610652. Photo Courtesy of New York State Military Museum.

Walter H. Douglass. 8th New York Cavalry. http://www.civilwardata.com/active/hdsquery.dll?SoldierHistory?U&1610653. Photo Courtesy of New York State Military Museum.

Benjamin Chedell Efner. 8th New York Cavalry. http://www.civilwardata.com/active/hdsquery.dll?SoldierHistory?U&1610715. Photo Courtesy of New York State Military Museum.

Winfield S. Fuller. 8th New York Cavalry. http://www.civilwardata.com/active/hdsquery.dll?SoldierHistory?U&1610826. Photo courtesy of Karl Sundstrom.

Alfred M. Giddings. 8th New York Cavalry. http://www.civilwardata.com/active/hdsquery.dll?SoldierHistory?U&1610915. Photo Courtesy of New York State Military Museum.

Willis S. Hinman. 8th New York Cavalry. http://www.civilwardata.com/active/hdsquery.dll?SoldierHistory?U&1611143. Photo Courtesy of New York State Military Museum.

Henry Howes. 8th New York Cavalry. http://www.civilwardata.com/active/hdsquery.dll?SoldierHistory?U&1611189. Photo Courtesy of New York State Military Museum.

Samuel H. Lee. 8th New York Cavalry. http://www.civilwardata.com/active/hdsquery.dll?SoldierHistory?U&1611397. Photo Courtesy of New York State Military Museum.

George E. Mack. 8th New York Cavalry. http://www.civilwardata.com/active/hdsquery.dll?SoldierHistory?U&1611473. Photo Courtesy of New York State Military Museum.

Orange McCumber. 8th New York Cavalry. http://www.civilwardata.com/active/hdsquery.dll?SoldierHistory?U&1611561. Photo Courtesy of New York State Military Museum.

Andrew McKenzie. 8th New York Cavalry. http://www.civilwardata.com/active/hdsquery.dll?SoldierHistory?U&1611596. Photo Courtesy of New York State Military Museum.

James McNair. 8th New York Cavalry. http://www.civilwardata.com/active/hdsquery.dll?SoldierHistory?U&1611611. Photo Courtesy of New York State Military Museum.

Joseph McPherson. 8th New York Cavalry. http://www.civilwardata.com/active/hdsquery.dll?SoldierHistory?U&1611617. Photo Courtesy of New York State Military Museum.

Thomas Mercer. 8th New York Cavalry. http://www.civilwardata.com/active/hdsquery.dll?SoldierHistory?U&1611631. Photo Courtesy of New York State Military Museum.

Oscar C. Palmer. 8th New York Cavalry. http://www.civilwardata.com/active/hdsquery.dll?SoldierHistory?U&1611985. Photo Courtesy of New York State Military Museum.

Enos Blossom Parsons. 8th New York Cavalry. http://www.civilwardata.com/active/hdsquery.dll?SoldierHistory?U&1611992. Photo courtesy of Andrew Garton.

William H. Patterson. 8th New York Cavalry. http://www.civilwardata.com/active/hdsquery.dll?SoldierHistory?U&1612001. Photo Courtesy of New York State Military Museum.

Albert Paxon. 8th New York Cavalry. http://www.civilwardata.com/active/hdsquery.dll?SoldierHistory?U&1612006. Photo Courtesy of New York State Military Museum.

Ezra J. Peck. 8th New York Cavalry. http://www.civilwardata.com/active/hdsquery.dll?SoldierHistory?U&1612017. Photo courtesy of Mike Medhurst.

Edmund Mann Pope. 8th New York Cavalry. http://www.civilwardata.com/active/hdsquery.dll?SoldierHistory?U&1612097. Photo courtesy of Massachusetts Commandery of MOLLUS.

John N. Reeves. 8th New York Cavalry. http://www.civilwardata.com/active/hdsquery.dll?SoldierHistory?U&1612244. Photo Courtesy of New York State Military Museum.

Charles Reynolds. 8th New York Cavalry. http://www.civilwardata.com/active/hdsquery.dll?SoldierHistory?U&1612266. Photo Courtesy of New York State Military Museum.

Roswell Root. 8th New York Cavalry. http://www.civilwardata.com/active/hdsquery.dll?SoldierHistory?U&1612402. Photo Courtesy of New York State Military Museum.

George B. F. Simpson. 8th New York Cavalry. http://www.civilwardata.com/active/hdsquery.dll?SoldierHistory?U&1565813. Photo courtesy of Massachusetts Commandery of MOLLUS.

George Skeele. 8th New York Cavalry. http://www.civilwardata.com/active/hdsquery.dll?SoldierHistory?U&1612775. Photo Courtesy of New York State Military Museum.

Myron Sloat. 8th New York Cavalry. http://www.civilwardata.com/active/hdsquery.dll?SoldierHistory?U&1612790. Photo Courtesy of New York State Military Museum.

Vincent M. Smith. 8th New York Cavalry. http://www.civilwardata.com/active/hdsquery.dll?SoldierHistory?U&1612870. Photo Courtesy of New York State Military Museum.

Charles T. VanDusen. 8th New York Cavalry. http://www.civilwardata.com/active/hdsquery.dll?SoldierHistory?U&1613325. Photo courtesy of Matthew Fleming.

James Walker. 8th New York Cavalry. http://www.civilwardata.com/active/hdsquery.dll?SoldierHistory?U&1613393. Photo Courtesy of New York State Military Museum.

George M. Wheeler. 8th New York Cavalry. http://www.civilwardata.com/active/hdsquery.dll?SoldierHistory?U&1613552. Photo Courtesy of New York State Military Museum.

William J. Yates. 8th New York Cavalry. http://www.civilwardata.com/active/hdsquery.dll?SoldierHistory?U&1613842. Photo Courtesy of New York State Military Museum.