Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-12-10
FIFTH NEW YORK CAVALRY.
a Regiment OF Over Three Thousand
EnIistments and Nearly 1--WE EEun-
dred Battles.

a Regiment OF Over Three Thousand
EnIistnents and Nearly 1--WE Hum
dred Battles.
Letter in New York Times.l
The account by Harris Light Cavalry of
the capture of Lees last rations is undoubt-
eddy true. They were a splendid regiment.
feel inadequate to do them Justice, for thew
are deserving of much honor. They were
led to the gates Of Richmond several times
by Gems. Fitzpatrick and Sheridan. There
was detachment of the Harris light cavalry
with Col. Uric Dahlgren's famous five
hundred" that was made up from different
regiments. He led them inside the citv
limits of Richmond ON that dark and terrible
night, March l, 1864, and they were the first
Union troops that entered Richmond. any,
thing to the contrary notwithstanding.
As a member Of the Fifth New York
cavalry Isa Harris guards I must, in ius-
tice to my regiment, take exception when ba
says the Second New-York cavalry partici-
pated in more engagements than alv regi.
ment in the Union army He claims 100 en-.
gagements and 5000 enlistments on its mus-
ter-rolls, which is a glorious record. But the
historic records of the Fifth New Yor,,
cavalry show III engagements, and durino
its four years of service it had 3,O3S enlist.
ments on its muster-rolls The ORIGINAL
veterans remaining July 10, 1855. numbered
l67. will quote the late secretary Of war
b. NJ. Stanton, in reference to the Fifth
New York cavalry, after the battle of Cedar
Creek, Va, Oct. 80; 1864, that it was the best
regiment in the United States service. and
had captured more artillery and battle.fiaps
and participated in moro engagements than
any other regiment in the Union service
may not have written the words exactly as
he said them, but they are correct in the
main: Harris Light Cavalry will pardon
me if l tell him what the Fifth New Yorl,
cavalry did on that day at Cedar Creek. Va.
although the Harris Light Cavalry did
yeoman service that day, as did all of Clusters
division. After turning both tanks of the
enemy and driving it in confusion across
Cedar creek, On the right, the division was
left in command of Col. A. c. M. Pennine-
ton, Jr., when the gallant Custer took the
First Vermont and the Fifth New York
cavalry and changed front to the left at a
gallop.
There was no cheering. The creek was
forded. The gallant Custer dashed bv say-
ing: Boys, when you get after that artillery
want you to go for it!n In our haste to GET
position on the hill we resembled a flock of
sheep more than a regiment, and before wa
had time to get in line Custer sang out: 600
for them, boys!" The bugle sounded the
charge. Then came that terrible yell. We
had 800 yards to go to meet the enemy. The
rebels delivered one fierce volley, and the
next instant the pitiloss sabres Of our men
and the iron heels of the horses were doing
their work 1t was now dark. The charge
continued for three miles. The bloody
ground, thu broken muskets, the dead and
wounded told of the ferocity. Only the
darkness of the night put an end to the
slaughter. Sheridan's victory was complete.
We captured forty-fve OF Che fourty-eight
pieces Of artillery taken from the enemy on
that day, also many battle-fags and prison.
ers, and, in fact, we captured everything
Gen. Darby had that rolled on wheels. There
were in both regiments less than 500 men.
Never III the war was so much gained. Nor
Is there anything in the annals Of warfare tc
compare with it. do not doubt that had
the Second New York cavalry the same op
poltuniity they would have dons just as well
as we did