14th Cavalry Regiment

Nickname: Metropolitan Cavalry

Left the State by detachments: February, April, and October, 1863
Transferred to the 18th regiment of cavalry, June 12, 1865.

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

October 28, 1862, Maj. Morris DeCamp, succeeded November 19, 1862, by Maj. William B. Hyde, and he, January 10, 1863, by Col. Thaddeus P. Mott, received authority from the State to recruit this regiment; it was organized in New York city as part of the Metropolitan Brigade. September 22, 1862, Col. John Elwood received authority to recruit a regiment— the Pierrepont Rifles. October 11, 1862, Maj. D. D. Abohbot received authority to recruit a battalion of cavalry — the Abohbot or Pierrepont Cavalry. January 20, 1863, these organizations, incomplete, were transferred to Colonel Mott's regiment. October 31, 1862, Col. F. Willis Fisher received authority to recruit a regiment — the Fisher's Cavalry. This regiment was not completed, but was merged in the Metropolitan Cavalry. The companies were mustered in the service of the United States for three years at Riker's Island, A November 24, B November 25, C December 22, D December 4, 1862; E February 3, F February 26, G March 14, H March 18, I April 25, K July 8, L June 6, M July 18, 1863. August I, 1863, Companies A to I were consolidated into three companies, A, B and C.

The companies were recruited principally: A at New York city and Hempstead; B at Flushing, Oyster Bay and New York city; C, D, G, K, L and M, at New York city; E at New York city, Rochester and Geneva; F at New York city and LeRoy; H and I at New York city and Buffalo.

Five companies left the State February 8, 1863, four more in April, 1863, the remainder in October, 1863, and the regiment served in the Department of the East and of the Gulf, and from March, 1863, in the 2d Brigade, 2d Division, 19th Corps; in the 1st Brigade, Cavalry Division, 19th Corps, from October, 1863; in the 3d Brigade, from November, 1863; in the 1st Brigade, from January, 1864; with the 16th Corps during part of the Red River Campaign; at Baton Rouge, La., from June, 1864, and in the 2d Brigade, defenses of New Orleans, from January, 1865, except Company M, which served detached at Fort Barrancas, and District of Florida, from September, 1863, to March, 1865.

The battalion of six companies, commanded by Col. Abram Bassford, was, June 12, 1865, transferred to the 18th N. Y. Volunteer Cavalry.

During its service, the regiment lost by death, killed in action, 6 enlisted men; of wounds received in action, 2 officers, 12 enlisted men; of disease or other causes, 4 officers, 140 enlisted men; total, 6 officers, 158 enlisted men; aggregate, 164; of whom 1 officer and 15 enlisted men died in the hands of the enemy. The large number of men drowned is due principally to the foundering of the steamer North America, December 22, 1864.

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.

Fourteenth Cavalry.—Cols., Thaddeus P. Mott, Abraham Bassford; Lieut.-Cols., John W. Cropsey, John Ennis; Majs., William D. Morton, John Ennis, Abraham Bassford, Collins Chesebrough, James A. Duffy. The 14th, known as the Metropolitan cavalry, was organized in New York city as part of the Metropolitan brigade. It was chiefly recruited in the counties of New York, Erie and Queens. The companies rendezvoused at Riker's island and were there mustered into the U. S. service from Nov. 24, 1862, to July 18, 1863, for three years. On Aug. 1, 1863, Cos. A to I were consolidated into three companies—A, B and C—making the organization a battalion of six companies, which on June 12, 1865, commanded by Col. Bassford, was transferred to the i8th N. Y. cavalry. The regiment went out under command of Col. Mott, who had distinguished himself as captain of the 3d independent battery. Five companies left the state on Feb. 8, 1863, four more in April, and the remainder in October. A part of the regiment shared in the siege of Port Hudson, La., and a part was active during the draft riot in New York city. Most of the term of service was spent in the Department of the Gulf, as part of Arnold's division, 19th corps. In the Red River campaign it served part of the time with the i6th corps. Co. M was on detached service at Fort Barrancas, and District of Florida, from Sept., 1863, to March, 1865. The heaviest losses of the regiment were sustained during the Red River campaign—62 killed, wounded and missing. On its return from that expedition it was stationed at Baton Rouge, La., for several months and after Jan., 1865, formed part of the forces defending New Orleans, sharing during this period in a number of raids and scouting expeditions. In the engagement at Davis creek, near Mobile, Ala., in Dec, 1864, it met with a loss of 10 men, and at McCullom's point, La., in March, 1865, it lost 15. Altogether the 14th lost 2 officers and 18 men killed or mortally wounded; 3 officers and 140 men died of disease, accidents in prison, etc., a total of 163. It took part in about 50 battles and skirmishes, and lost a number of men drowned by the foundering of the steamer North America. Dec. 22, 1864. The portion of the regiment transferred to the i8th cavalry was mustered out on May 31, 1866, at Victoria, Tex.

14thCavMarker2002.0090.jpg

14th Regiment Cavalry, NY Volunteers | Flank Markers | Civil War

The 14th Regiment Cavalry, or “Metropolitan Cavalry,” mustered into service for three years at Riker’s Island between November 1862 and July 1863.…

14thCavStandard2002.0093.jpg

14th Regiment Cavalry, NY Volunteers | Standard | Civil War

The 14th Regiment Cavalry, or “Metropolitan Cavalry,” mustered into service for three years at Riker’s Island between November 1862 and July 1863.…

14thCavalryStandard2006.0311.jpg

14th Regiment Cavalry, NY Volunteers | Standard | Civil War

The 14th Cavalry’s standard features the Arms of the State of New York painted on the obverse and the Arms of the City of New York painted on the…

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.

Items in the museum catalogue are in bold.

      Coakley, Robert W. The Role of Federal Military Forces in Domestic Disorders, 1789-1878. Center of Military History, U.S. Army : Supt. of Docs., U.S. G.P.O. distributor, 1989

      Jones, Walter Franklin. “Walter Franklin Jones papers, ca. 1860-1862.” University of Michigan - William L. Clements Library. https://search.lib.umich.edu/catalog/record/017608876?query=walter+franklin+jones&library=William+L.+Clements+Library.

      Mott, Thaddeus. “Letters (1863).” New York State Library. https://www.nysl.nysed.gov/mssc/allcwrec.htm#177.

 

Photos from the American Civil War Research Database:

Coy Clark. 14th New York Cavalry. http://www.civilwardata.com/active/hdsquery.dll?MusterPhoto?1296&U. Photo Courtesy of New York State Military Museum.

Thaddeus Phelps Mott. 14th New York Cavalry. http://www.civilwardata.com/active/hdsquery.dll?SoldierHistory?U&1407271. Photo courtesy of Massachusetts Commandery of MOLLUS.

Henry James Nowlan. 14th New York Cavalry. http://www.civilwardata.com/active/hdsquery.dll?SoldierHistory?U&1408625. Photo courtesy of Mike Medhurst.