The 2nd Regiment New York Mounted Rifles was a

cavalry Historically, cavalry (from the French word ''cavalerie'', itself derived from "cheval" meaning "horse") are soldiers or warriors who fight mounted on horseback. Cavalry were the most mobile of the combat arms, operating as light cavalry ...

regiment A regiment is a military unit. Its role and size varies markedly, depending on the country, service and/or a specialisation. In Medieval Europe, the term "regiment" denoted any large body of front-line soldiers, recruited or conscripted ...

of the

Union Army During the American Civil War, the Union Army, also known as the Federal Army and the Northern Army, referring to the United States Army, was the land force that fought to preserve the Union (American Civil War), Union of the collective U.S. st ...

during the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states th ...

Service

Organized at Lockport and Buffalo, N. Y., and mustered in by Companies as follows "A" October 31, "I" November 2, 1863; "B" January 12, "C" January 26, "D" January 27, "E" January 29, "L" January 29. "F" and "G" February 5, "H" February 4, "K" February 6 and "M" February 13, 1864. Moved to Washington, D. C., March 4, 1864, thence to Belle Plains, Va. Attached to 22nd Army Corps, Dept. of

Washington, D. C. ) , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, Na ...

, to May 15, 1864. Provisional Brigade, 1st Division, 9th Army Corps,

Army of the Potomac The Army of the Potomac was the principal Union Army in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War. It was created in July 1861 shortly after the First Battle of Bull Run and was disbanded in June 1865 following the surrender of the Confedera ...

, to June 1, 1864. 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, 9th Army Corps, June, 1864. 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, 9th Army Corps, to September, 1864. 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 9th Army Corps, to November 16, 1864. 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, Cavalry Corps, Army of the Potomac, to May, 1865. Dept. of Virginia to August, 1865.

Detailed History

This regiment, known as the Governor's Guard, was organized at Lockport and Buffalo in the summer and early fall of 1862. Col. Fisk had been authorized to recruit a regiment of infantry, but this authority was modified a month later, making the organization a regiment of mounted rifles. The companies of which it was composed were principally raised in the counties of Erie,

Niagara Niagara may refer to: Geography Niagara Falls and nearby places In both the United States and Canada *Niagara Falls, the famous waterfalls in the Niagara River *Niagara River, part of the U.S.–Canada border *Niagara Escarpment, the cliff ov ...

Wyoming Wyoming () is a U.S. state, state in the Mountain states, Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. It is bordered by Montana to the north and northwest, South Dakota and Nebraska to the east, Idaho to the west, Utah to the south ...

, Orleans, Allegany and Wayne, and were mustered into the U. S. service from Oct., 1863, to Feb., 1864, for three years. The regiment left the state in March, 1864; served as infantry attached to the 22nd Corps at and near Washington until May; then joined the Army of the Potomac, engaged in the Richmond Campaign, where it was first assigned to the Provisional Brigade, 1st division, and later to the 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, 9th Corps; saw its first fighting at Spotsylvania Court House; lost heavily at Cold Harbor where its casualties amounted to 64 killed, wounded and missing; and in the assaults on the Petersburg works in June it again suffered severely, having 18 killed, 82 wounded and 2 missing. At the mine explosion it was again in action with Potter's division, and sustained a loss of 48 killed, wounded and missing. In the action at Poplar Spring Church its casualties were 76. The regiment was now mounted and served with the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Cavalry Division ( Crook's), Army of the Potomac, losing 33 killed, wounded and missing at Hatcher's Run and Nottoway Station. It performed its full share during the campaign leading up to Lee's surrender at Appomattox, its casualties from March 28 to April 9, 1865, amounting to 62 killed, wounded and missing. After the close of the war it served in the Department of Virginia until mustered out under the command of Lieut.-Col. Joseph H. Wood, at Petersburg on Aug. 10, 1865. Second Lieutenant

Harlan J. Swift Harlan J. Swift (2 October 1843 – 6 October 1910) was a captain in the United States Army who was awarded the Medal of Honor for gallantry during the American Civil War. He was awarded the medal on 20 July 1897 for actions performed during the ...

received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the

Battle of the Crater The Battle of the Crater was a battle of the American Civil War, part of the siege of Petersburg. It took place on Saturday, July 30, 1864, between the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia, commanded by General Robert E. Lee, and the Union Arm ...

on July 30, 1864.

Casualties

During the war the regiment lost 8 Officers and 94 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 1 Officer and 112 Enlisted men by disease; for a total of 215.

References

{{Reflist Units and formations of the Union Army from New York (state)

Service

Detailed History

Casualties

See also

References