22nd Cavalry Regiment

Nickname: Rochester Cavalry

Left the State: March 8, 1864
Mustered out: August 1, 1865

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

September 24, 1863, Col. Samuel J. Crooks received authority to recruit a second regiment of cavalry. He recruited this regiment, organizing it for a service of three years, at Rochester, where its companies were mustered in the service of the United States, A December 20, 1863; B and C January 5; D, E and F January 10; G, H and I February 2; K, L and M February 6, 12 and 23, 1864, respectively.

The companies were recruited principally: A at Rochester, Penn Yan, Perrinton, Pen-field and Jerusalem; B at Syracuse, Rochester and Utica; C at Brockport, Rome, Riga, Churchville, Sweden and Rochester; D at Rochester, Lyons, Cuba and Lindon; E at Caze-novia, Madison, Manlius, Syracuse and Smithfield; F at Rochester, Albion, Barre and Dunkirk ; G at Bath, Avon, Urbana, Plattsburgh and Rochester; H at Syracuse, Arcadia, Sodus, Huron, Lyons and Palmyra; I at Rochester, Auburn, Syracuse and Seneca Falls; K at Rochester, Portland, Pomfret, Lenox, Smithfield and Dunkirk; L at Plymouth, Norwich, Otsego, Oxford, Middlefield, Greene, Unadilla and German; and M at Rochester, Oneida, Bath, Auburn and Utica.

The regiment left the State March 8, 1864, and served in the 9th Corps, at Alexandria, Va., from March, 1864; in the 4th Division, 9th Corps, from April, 1864; in the 2d Brigade, 3d Division, Cavalry Corps, Army of the Potomac, from May, 1864; unattached, Army of the Potomac, from May 8, 1864; with its brigade in June, 1864; with the Army of the Shenandoah from October, 1864, and in the Cavalry Division, Army of West Virginia, from February, 1865.

May 1, 1865, a detachment of recruits from the regiment was mustered out at Hart's island, New York harbor, and August 1, 1865, the regiment, commanded by Col. Horatio Blake Reed, was honorably discharged and mustered out at Winchester, Va.

During its service, the regiment lost by death, killed in action, 2 officers, 9 enlisted men; of wounds received in action, 1 officer, 13 enlisted men; of disease and other causes, I officer, 178 enlisted men; total, 4 officers, 200 enlisted men; aggregate, 204; of whom 87 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.

Twenty-second Cavalry.—Cols., Samuel J. Crooks, George C. Cram, Horatio B. Reed; Lieut.-Cols., Johnson B. Brown, Horatio B. Reed, Peter McLennan; Majs., Peter McLennan, Benjamin Bennett, Charles C. Brown. Theodore Schlick, George R. French. The 22nd, known as the Rochester Cavalry, was organized at Rochester and there mustered into the U. S. service between Dec. 20, 1863, and Feb. 23, 1864, for three years. The companies of which it was composed were recruited in the counties of Monroe, Erie, Chautauqua, Livingston, Steuben, Onondaga, Orleans, Wayne, Chenango, Delaware and Otsego. Under command of Col. Reed it was honorably discharged and mustered out at Winchester, Va., Aug. i, 1865. The regiment left the state in March, 1864, and, considering the short time in the field, saw much hard fighting and sustained heavy losses. Its first service was with the 9th corps, after which it joined the 2nd brigade, 3d cavalry division. Army of the Potomac, for the Wilderness campaign. After Oct., 1864, it served with the Army of the Shenandoah in the campaigns in that valley, and from Feb., 1865, with the cavalry division. Army of West Virginia. It lost heavily at Spottsylvania, Cold Harbor, on Wilson's raid to the South Side and Danville railroads, and at the battle of Nineveh. It fought its final engagements at Fort Holly, New Market and Rude's hill, Va. Its casualties included 3 officers and 22 men killed, or died of wounds; 1 officer and 178 men died of disease, accidents and all other causes; total, 204. Of this number, 87 men died in prison. The regiment especially distinguished itself at Kearneysville, Dinwiddle Court House and White Oak swamp. Capt. Christopher Bruton, Corp. Henry Harvey and Pvt. George Ladd, who captured battleflags at Waynesboro, were awarded medals of honor by the secretary of war for distinguished gallantry on the field.

22ndCavStandard2005.0142.jpg

22nd Regiment Cavalry, NY Volunteers | Standard | Civil War

The 22nd Regiment Cavalry, NY Volunteers, reportedly received this red, silk standard while in winter quarters at Camp Russell, Virginia, in February…

22ndCavGuidon2006.0142.jpg

22nd Regiment Cavalry, NY Volunteers | Guidon | Civil War

This wool swallowtail guidon, made from two pieces of wool seamed along the horizontal center, features tan-colored, appliqued regimental designation…

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.

      Allen, R. Alfred. “R. Alfred Allen Diary.” Duke University Libraries. https://repository.duke.edu/dc/allenralfred-000842322/secst0039.

      Brown, Charles Curtis. “Charles Curtis Brown papers.” Library of Congress. https://www.loc.gov/cgi-bin/zgate?present+36175882+Default+15+1+F+1.2.840.10003.5.10+15+/cgi-bin/zgate%3fACTION%3dINIT%26FORM_HOST_PORT%3d/prod/www/data/z3950/oclcmss3.html,zcat.oclc.org,210%26AUTH%3doclcmss.

      Burns, Michael G. From Rochester to Winchester: The Regimental History of the 22nd New York Cavaly, 1864-1865. Westminster, MD: Morningside Books, 2001.

      “Civil War Military Records Collection, 1846-1917.” New York State Library. https://www.nysl.nysed.gov/msscfa/sc21141.htm. Contains discharge certificate of Harries Edgeston, 22nd New York Cavalry.

      Cranson, Frederick. “Frederick Cranson, 22nd New York Cavalry.” Library of Congress. https://www.loc.gov/cgi-bin/zgate?present+36175882+Default+13+1+F+1.2.840.10003.5.10+13+/cgi-bin/zgate%3fACTION%3dINIT%26FORM_HOST_PORT%3d/prod/www/data/z3950/oclcmss3.html,zcat.oclc.org,210%26AUTH%3doclcmss.

      Crumb, DeWitt. Historical address, delivered by DeWitt Crumb, late Corporal Co. G., at the annual re-union held at Syracuse, N.Y., on the 2d day of August, 1887. South Otselic, NY: W. M. Reynolds, 1887. 22 p. At head of title: 22d regiment, N. Y. vol. cav. "My recollections of the acts of our gallant old Regiment from June 29th 1864, to Aug. 9th 1865."

      Hall, Seth M. "Fifth Annual Report of the Bureau of Military Statistics, with Appendices 5th Annual Report of the Bureau of Military Statistics, with Appendices." New York State Military Museumhttp://catalog.nysmm.org/Presto/content/Detail.aspx?ctID=MWUzZjNjOGQtZjA1My00MDA3LTk0ZDMtN2E5ZmNkZWM1ZWUw&rID=ODUwMA==&qrs=RmFsc2U=&q=KENhdGFsb2cuQ29uZmxpY3Q6KDE4NjUpKSBBTkQgKENhdGFsb2cuTWlsQ29tcG9uZXQ6KCJVbml0ZWQgU3RhdGVzLiBBcm15LiBOZXcgWW9yayBDYXZhbHJ5IFJlZ2ltZW50LCAyMm5kIikp&qcf=MWUzZjNjOGQtZjA1My00MDA3LTk0ZDMtN2E5ZmNkZWM1ZWUw&ph=VHJ1ZQ==&bckToL=VHJ1ZQ==&rrtc=VHJ1ZQ==.

      Gero, Anthony J. "8th Regiment, New York Volunteer Cavalry (Rochester Regiment); 22nd Regiment, New York Volunteer Cavalry (Rochester Cavalry), 1861-1865." New York State Military Museum. http://catalog.nysmm.org/Presto/content/Detail.aspx?ctID=MWUzZjNjOGQtZjA1My00MDA3LTk0ZDMtN2E5ZmNkZWM1ZWUw&rID=OTI1Nw==&qrs=RmFsc2U=&q=KENhdGFsb2cuQ29uZmxpY3Q6KDE4NjUpKSBBTkQgKENhdGFsb2cuTWlsQ29tcG9uZXQ6KCJVbml0ZWQgU3RhdGVzLiBBcm15LiBOZXcgWW9yayBDYXZhbHJ5IFJlZ2ltZW50LCAyMm5kIikp&qcf=MWUzZjNjOGQtZjA1My00MDA3LTk0ZDMtN2E5ZmNkZWM1ZWUw&ph=VHJ1ZQ==&bckToL=VHJ1ZQ==&rrtc=VHJ1ZQ==

      Graham, Robert H. Yates County's "boys in blue", 1861-1865 who they were, what they did. Penn Yan, N.Y., 1926.

      “Lists of soldiers acknowledging receipt of clothing and horses, 1864.” Library of Congress. https://www.loc.gov/cgi-bin/zgate?present+36175882+Default+11+1+F+1.2.840.10003.5.10+11+/cgi-bin/zgate%3fACTION%3dINIT%26FORM_HOST_PORT%3d/prod/www/data/z3950/oclcmss3.html,zcat.oclc.org,210%26AUTH%3doclcmss.

      Lloyd, Harlan Page. "The battle of Waynesboro, by Harlan Page Lloyd, late Captain Twenty-second New York cavalry." MOLLUS-Ohio IV 194-213.

      Hall, Seth M. "Diary of Twenty-second New York cavalry." In Fifth annual report of the New York state Bureau of military statistics, 1868, p. 613-17.

      Near, Irving W. Volume I of A History of Steuben County, New York and its People. Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Co., 1911.
Contributed by Kirk House, director of the Steuben County Historical Society in Bath, NY:
This space is dedicated to Hammondsport resident Benjamin Bennitt (1827-1889), and almost entirely to his service in the 23rd infantry regiment, NYS Volunteers (sergeant and lieutenant) and the 22nd cavalry regiment, NYS volunteers (captain and major, brevet lieutenant colonel). In the process of telling Bennitt's story, the article gives a fair amount of detail on his regiments' service. Reportedly he fought in 30 battles, spent time in 14 Confederate prisons, and made four escapes, eventually being recaptured each time. Postwar he was an inspector-general in the National Guard, and also involved with the NYS Soldiers and Sailors Home (now Bath VA).

      “New York State Historian Transcriptions of Civil War Records.” New York State Archives. https://iarchives.nysed.gov/xtf/view?docId=ead/findingaids/A0257.xml;query=.

      Sisson, Perry V. “Perry V. Sisson papers, 1861-1864.” Library of Congress. https://www.loc.gov/cgi-bin/zgate?present+36175882+Default+16+1+F+1.2.840.10003.5.10+16+/cgi-bin/zgate%3fACTION%3dINIT%26FORM_HOST_PORT%3d/prod/www/data/z3950/oclcmss3.html,zcat.oclc.org,210%26AUTH%3doclcmss.

      "The 22nd cavalry: The statement that those who enlist in the new 22d cavalry regiment will not receive all the bounties is entirely untrue." Oneida: Union print [1864] broadside, 21 x 30 1/2 cm.

      “The story of John Walter Dolph and his family, 1848-1939.” New York State Military Museum. http://catalog.nysmm.org/Presto/content/Detail.aspx?ctID=NzM2NDhlODUtM2EyNi00MGQ4LTk4NmQtOWRjODYzNWU2ZWU1&rID=Mzg5OA==&qrs=RmFsc2U=&q=MjJuZCBuZXcgeW9yayBjYXZhbHJ5&ph=VHJ1ZQ==&bckToL=VHJ1ZQ==&rrtc=VHJ1ZQ==.

      Wolcott, Walter. The military history of Yates County, N.Y. comprising a record of the services rendered by citizens of this county in the army and navy, from the foundation of the government to the present time. Express Book and Job Print. House 1895

 

Items in the museum collection are in bold.

 

Photos from the American Civil War Research Database

David H. Dickinson. 22nd New York Cavalry. http://www.civilwardata.com/active/hdsquery.dll?SoldierHistory?U&1428492. Photo Courtesy of New York State Military Museum.

Romaine B. Hart. 22nd New York Cavalry. http://www.civilwardata.com/active/hdsquery.dll?SoldierHistory?U&1475214. Photo courtesy of Ron Erwin.

Daniel Layton. 22nd New York Cavalry. http://www.civilwardata.com/active/hdsquery.dll?SoldierHistory?U&1434947. Photo Courtesy of New York State Military Museum.

Dwight M. Lee. 22nd New York Cavalry. http://www.civilwardata.com/active/hdsquery.dll?SoldierHistory?U&1435003. Photo Courtesy of New York State Military Museum.

John Moochler. 22nd New York Cavalry. http://www.civilwardata.com/active/hdsquery.dll?SoldierHistory?U&1749623. Photo Courtesy of New York State Military Museum.

Horatio Blake Reed. 22nd New York Cavalry. http://www.civilwardata.com/active/hdsquery.dll?SoldierHistory?U&1437560. Photo courtesy of Steve Meadow.

Milton. Milton Thompson. 22nd New York Cavalry. http://www.civilwardata.com/active/hdsquery.dll?SoldierHistory?U&1443018.