Introduction to Web Site: This web site offers information about the 10th New York Volunteer Cavalry Regiment, raised in Western and Central New York State, and receiving its numerical designation on December 12th, 1861. A brief overview of the regiment and a list of 55 engagements that they participated in, was found in the "10th Cavalry" folder in the Cortland, NY Historical Society reference library (Porter Guard). The original copy of this summary, in the Cortland Historical Society library, gives the number of killed, wounded, and missing men in each engagement, separating them into officers and men.

Another longer summary is the historical address given by Col. Noble D. Preston at one of the regiment's reunions in Gettysburg, VA. Preston was the designated regimental historian during the war. After the war, he wrote a comprehensive book on the exploits of the 10th, "History of the Tenth Regiment of Cavalry New York State Volunteers, August 1861 to August 1865" (Biblio-13).

The first two battalions of the 10th NY were formed in late 1861. They conducted their initial training at an unknown little town in Pennsylvania called Gettysburg. The 72 days of their stay there is described in a book by author and educator George A. Rummel III (Biblio-14). The third battalion was enrolled in late 1862, and trained in the camp of recruits near Alexandria, VA. The conventional regimental organization was followed, with Battalion 1 consisting of Companies A, B, C, and D; Battalion 2 with Companies E, F, G, and H; and Battalion 3 with Companies I, K, L, and M, there not usually being a Company J for some reason.

We have arbitrarily taken some of the engagements, especially those with significant casualties, and provided more detail for each of these on this web site. The battles in which the 10th NY sustained 20 or more casualties include the ones in the following table. Highlighted battles may be clicked to view more detail.

Battles in which 20 or more casualties were experienced-
Germantown, VA	31 Aug 62
Kanky's Store, VA	18 Dec 62
Brandy Station, VA	9 Jun 63
Middleburg, VA	19 Jun 63
Bristoe, VA (Includes Sulphur Springs, Auburn, Catlett's Station)	12-16 Oct 63
Totopotomoy, VA (Includes Hanoverton, Haw's Shop)	27-30 May 64
Gen. Sheridan'sTrevelian Raid- Trevelian Station, VA St. Mary's Church, VA
	11-12 Jun 64
	24 Jun 64
Appomattox Campaign, VA	29 Mar-9Apr 65

Gettysburg is not included in the high casualty list, since only 9 casualties were sustained in that battle by the 10th. The regiment participated heavily in the battle, however, and a description of the unit's activities is included in Biblio-14, pp.189-210. The official record of the activities of the 10th NY immediately after the Battle of Gettysburg is included in this web site.

The battle at Brandy Station is given extra attention by including commentary from author George Contant, since Brandy Station is said by some to be the largest cavalry engagement in the Civil War (Biblio-4).

In some cases, a reference to a letter from Justus G. Matteson, a private in L Company, 10th regiment, is in the narrative about a particular engagement. These letters are from a book of letters (Biblio-8) that he and his future wife exchanged during the War. (Ed. note: Justus is the great-grandfather of the creator of this web site.) A few of these letters can be read by clicking on Justus.

In early 1863, Gen. Hooker consolidated the army's cavalry into one corps of four divisions under command of Brigadier General George Stoneman. The cavalry became much more of a contributor after consolidation, demonstrated in mid-March, 1863, when Brigadier General W. W. Averell took one of the cavalry divisions of the cavalry corps across the Rappahannock at Kelly's Ford, and ran into a Confederate brigade under Brigadier General Fitzhugh Lee. Even President Lincoln was impressed, when he witnessed a review of 15,000 cavalry in review, on his April 8, 1863 visit to the headquarters of the Army of the Potomac.

Note that the number of engagements can vary widely, depending on the definition of "engagement". Mr. John Walter lists 135 engagements in his Capsule History of the Tenth New York Cavalry regiment (Biblio-15). The Porter Guard article lists 107. Also the number of casualties varies considerably, depending on who is included: Killed and wounded, captured, deserted, and/or deaths or absence due to disease and illness, not to mention inaccuracies in counting and recording.

Mr. Walter lists:    9 officers killed or mortally wounded
                                93 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded
                                1 officer died from disease or other non-battlefield cause
                                48 enlisted men died from disease or other                                            non-battlefield cause

Total                        151 deaths, all causes

The Porter Guard article:    5 officers killed in action
                                                54 enlisted men killed in action
                                                23 officers wounded
                                                228 enlisted men wounded
                                                13 officers captured
                                                214 enlisted men captured

Total losses 537 battlefield losses

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This web site was last changed on November 11, 2008. Comments to the web-master are encouraged, and will be appreciated.