page_title: 5th New York Cavalry Regiment
section_title: Waynesboro
hierarchical_section_title: 5th New York Cavalry Regiment / Sheridan / Waynesboro
caption_attribution_description: English: This is a crop of photo of Lt. Colonel Theodore A. Boice, 2nd in command of the 5th New York Cavalry at the end of the American Civil War. Boice began his military service as a private, but quickly rose in rank. The photo is on page 185 of the book "Historic Records of the Fifth New York Cavalry, First Ira Harris Guard&#160;: Its organization, Marches, Raids, Scouts Engagements and General Services, During the Rebellion of 1861-1865", by Louis N. Beaudry, which was published in 1865.
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 March 2, Sheridan's 1st and 3rd divisions destroyed Early's Confederate army near Waynesboro, Virginia in the Battle of Waynesboro. Most of Early's army was killed or captured, although Early evaded capture. Custer's 3rd Division did the fighting, and a large number of Confederates surrendered. All of Early's headquarters equipment and artillery were captured.
  After the battle, the regiment was part of a force that escorted about 1,400 prisoners 100 miles north to Winchester. A few men from the regiment (orderlies and messengers) remained with Sheridan, while the 5th New York was joined by several of the depleted regiments and dismounted men. The Union force totaled to about 1,200 from the 1st and 3rd Divisions. Lieutenant Colonel Boice commanded the men from the 3rd Division, since Colonel White was on furlough.
  During the trip north, the 5th New York was the rear guard. On March 7, near Rude's Hill, the rear guard was attacked by Rosser's cavalry. Boice led a counter attack that drove off the Confederates in hand-to-hand fighting. He fired everything in his revolver and "unhorsed six Rebel troopers" with the butt of his weapon. Bugler John Caitlin of Company A captured Rosser's chief bugler and kept his bugle as a souvenir of the war. Numerous Confederates were killed and 35 were captured. Sergeant Hiram S. Graves of the regiment's Company M was killed in action. The Union force and all prisoners arrived at Winchester on March 7. Here, they were under the command of General Hancock, who had temporary command of Union forces around Winchester.
caption: Lt. Col. Boice
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