page_title: 5th New York Cavalry Regiment
section_title: Sheridan
hierarchical_section_title: 5th New York Cavalry Regiment / Sheridan
context_page_description: The 5th New York Cavalry Regiment, also known as the 5th Regiment New York Volunteer Cavalry and nicknamed the "1st Ira Harris Guards", was a cavalry regiment of the Union Army during the American Civil War. The regiment had a good fighting reputation, and had important roles in the Battle of Hanover and the Battle of the Wilderness. It was present at nearly 175 battles and skirmishes, including Gettysburg, Opequon, and Cedar Creek. A majority of its fighting was in Virginia.
  The regiment was formed in New York City by Othniel De Forest. Training began in New York before the regiment moved to Annapolis, Maryland. John Hammond and Abram H. Krom provided much of the unit's on-field leadership. Both began as captains and finished their military careers as commander of the regiment. The regiment was originally involved with the defense of Washington, and subsequently served in the Army of the Potomac and then the Army of the Shenandoah.
  The regiment had 8 officers and 93 men killed or mortally wounded. Disease killed 3 more officers and 222 more enlisted men.
context_section_description: On August 12, Wilson's division (including the 5th New York Cavalry) was ordered to report to Sheridan in the Shenandoah Valley. They proceeded on the next day through Leesburg and Snicker's Gap and reached Sheridan's Army of the Shenandoah near Opequon Creek about 2 miles (3.2 km) from Winchester. They had travelled about 75 miles (121 km) in 22 hours. Although the regiment was in the Battle of Summit Point on August 21, it did not have multiple casualties until it had 5 killed and 14 wounded (including officers) in "furious fighting" at Kearneysville Station on August 25. Skirmishing for the next few weeks was at Berryville and Opequon Creek.
  On August 30 Hammond relinquished command, and Lieutenant Colonel Bacon became commander of the regiment. Hammond was discharged on September 3 as he had completed his term of service. During his tenure, he had a bone in his right hand broken from a bullet and his right leg cracked above the ankle from a shot that hit his saber scabbard. Bacon commanded the regiment for only a short time, resigning effective September 12 (White was released from a Confederate prison on that day). This made Major Krom commander, and he would lead the regiment at Opequon. Although Major White was exchanged from Libby Prison on September 12 and promoted to lieutenant colonel on September 15, he did not take command of the regiment until he rejoined it in Winchester on December 19. Captain Boice was also promoted on September 15, becoming a major. In September and continuing until April 1865, Company K became the escort of General William H. Emory, commander of the XIX Corps.
caption: Gen. Sheridan
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