Tenth Regiment of Cavalry

"Porter Guard"

(From "10th Cavalry" folder in Cortland, NY Historical Society reference library; PART III. SKETCHES OF ORGANIZATIONS, pp. 309-310)

Col. John c. Lemmon received August 3d, 1861, authority from the War Department to recruit this regiment. In Sept., 1861, it was turned over to the State authorities and recruiting continued by them. It was organized at Elmira, and a number of the men enlisted for the "Morgan Cavalry", then disbanded, joined it. It received its numerical designation, December 12th, 1861, and its companies were mustered in the service of the United States for three years, A at Syracuse, Sept. 27th, 1861, B, C, D, E, F, G and H, at Elmira, Dec. 28th, 1861, I, K and L, at Elmira, Oct. 30th and 29th, 1862, and M in Nov. and Dec., 1862, and Jan., 1863. Companies J, K and L joined the regiment Dec. 5th, 1862, and Company M in Dec., 1863, completing the regimental organization. At the expiration of the term of service of the first eight companies, the men entitled thereto were discharged, and the regiment continued in the service.

The companies were recruited principally: A at Syracuse, McGrawville, Victory, Jordan, Cincinnatus, Freetown, Red Creek and Cortland; B, C, D, E and F, at Elmira and Buffalo; G and H at Elmira; I at Broadalbin, Johnstown, Mayfield, Perth and North Hampton; K at Oxford, McDonough, Coventry, Greene, Sherburne, Preston and Unadilla; L at Buffalo, Cortland, Cuyler, Lyons, Persia, Pitcher, Taylor and Virgil; M at Buffalo, Freetown, Otto, Oxford, German, Niagara Falls, Pitcher, Virgil, Cortland, Lapeer and West Sparta.

The regiment, eight companies, left the State Dec. 24th, 1861, and served at Gettysburg, Pa.; from March, 1862, in the Middle Department, 8th Corps, guarding railroads; from Aug., 1862, in the defenses of Washington, D. C.; in Gregg's Cavalry Brigade, A. P.¹, all mounted, from Oct., 1862; in the 1st Brigade, 3d Division, Calvary Corps, A. P., from Feb., 1863; in the 3d Brigade, 2d Division, Cavalry Corps, A. P., from June 14th, 1863, serving, however, with the 12th Corps from June 22d to 27th, 1863; in the 2d Brigade, same division, from Aug., 1863; Company K served as escort with Headquarters 2d Corps, in Sept., 1863; and Company M from Sept. to Dec., 1863; the regiment in the 1st Brigade, 2d Division, Cavalry Corps, A. P., from May 17th, 1864.

July 10th, 1865, the regiment, commanded by Col. Matthew H. Avery, was consolidated, company with corresponding company, with the 24th N. Y. Volunteer Cavalry at Cloud's Mills, Va. and the consolidated force received the designation, "First Provisional regiment N. Y. Vol. Cavalry."

During its service the regiment lost by death, killed in action, 5 officers, 71 enlisted men; of wounds received in action, 4 officers, 26 enlisted men; of disease and other causes, 1 officer, 151 enlisted men; total, 10 officers, 248 enlisted men; aggregate, 258; of whom 1 officer and 31 enlisted men died in the hands of the enemy; and it, or portions of it, took part in the following engagements, etc. [n.b. The following table does not have the list of casualties included in the original. The regiment lost killed 76, wounded 30, missing in action 254, disease and other causes 152.]:

1. Army of the Potomac

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