Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-12-10
FIFTH NEW YORK CAVALRY.
a Regiment OF Over Three Thousand
EniSstments and Nearly Two Hum.
dreel BATTLES.
letter in New York Times

ERiIstlnents and Nearly 1--WE Hun.
dred BATTLES.
Letter in New Yorl, Times
The account by Harris Light Cavalry of
the capture OF Lees last Fations is urdoubt-
eddy true. They were a splendid regiment.
feel inadequate to do them justice, for they
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 Dahlgrens famous Five
hundred" that was made up from different
regiments. He led them inside the city
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 member of the Fifth New Yorl,
cavalry Gsa Harris guards) I must. in ius-
hce to my regiment, take exception when he
says the Second New orl1 cavalry nart;ci-
pated IN more engagements than any rapi
ment in the Union army. He claims 100 an
gagements and 5000 enlistments on ifs ms
ter-rolls, which is a glorious record. But the
historic records of the Fifth New York
cavalry show III engagements, and during
Its four years of service it had 3.O3S enlist.
ments on its mustef-rolls. The ORIGINAL
veterans remaining July 10, 1865. numbered
l61. will quote the late secretary of war.
u. M. Stanton, in reference to the Fifth
New York cavalry after the battle Of Cedar
Creek, Va. Get. 10, 1864, that it was the hest
regiment IN the United States service. and
had captured more artillery and battle-faos
ana participated N more engagements than
any other regiment in the Union service. T
may not have written the words exactly as
ne SAID them, but they are Correct in the
main: Harris Light Cavalryn will pardon
me II 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
diVlslon. Alter turning both fanks of the
enemy and driving it in confusion across
Cedar creek, On the right, the division was
left IN command Of Col. A. c. NJ. Pennine-
ton, DR., when the gallant Custer took the
First Vermont and the Fifth New York
cavalry and changed front to the left aft q
gallop.
There was no cheering. The creek was
forded The gallant Custer dashed bv. saw
ing: Boys, when you get after that artillery
L want you to go for it!n In our haste to oct
a position on the hill we resenlbled a flock If
sheep more than regiment, and before we
mad time to get in line Custer sang out: Go
Tor them, boys" The bugle sounded the
charge. Then came that terrible veil. We
had 300 yards to go to meet the enemy. The
rebels delivered one fierce volley, and the
next instant the pitiless sabres of our men
and the iron heels Of the horses were doing
their work. It was now dark. The charge
continued for three miles. The bloody
ground, the broken 1nuskets, 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-Gve of the 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 IN the war was so much gained. Nor
Is there anything in the annals Of warfare to
compare with it. do not doubt that had
the Second New York cavalry the same op-
portunlty they would have done just as well
as we did.