Country United States Branch Cavalry | Allegiance Union | |
Active March 8, 1864 (left NYS) to August 1, 1865 (mustered out) Engagements Battle of the Wilderness
Battle of Spotsylvania Courthouse
Battle of Cold Harbor (at Port Royal, Virginia)
Siege of Petersburg
Wilson–Kautz Raid
Sheridan's Valley Campaign | ||
The 22nd New York Volunteer Cavalry Regiment was a cavalry regiment of the Union Army during the American Civil War.
Contents
Service
The regiment was organized in Rochester, New York between December 1863 and February 1864, and was mustered in for three years' service. Some of the veterans recruited came from the 23rd New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment.
The companies were recruited principally:
The regiment served in the 9th Corps, at Alexandria, Virginia, 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.
The regiment's reputation early in its existence was poor. During the Battle of Spotsylvania Courthouse the 22nd was considered "green" and its leader prone to exaggeration (he was eventually placed under arrest by Major General George G. Meade); it reportedly "skedaddled" when hit by the Confederate forces of Armistead L. Long. Army of the Potomac Provost Marshal Marsena R. Patrick took the disorganized regiment under his wing, but they still had their horses stolen from them by the veteran 3rd Pennsylvania Cavalry.
The regiment was mustered out of service at Winchester, Virginia, on August 1, 1865, except for a detachment mustered out at Hart Island, New York on May 1 of that year.
Total strength and casualties
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, 1 officer, 178 enlisted men; total, 4 officers, 200 enlisted men; aggregate, 204; of whom 87 enlisted men died in the hands of the enemy.