American Historical Ephemera & Photography

Albumen photo overall 7-1/4" x 9-1/2". Trimmed to shape to fit a frame (not present). (shadow of mat visible.) Consignor relates that this photograph was found together with another image in same format that was strongly attributed to a member of the 1st NY Cavalry (Harris Cavalry).

The 1st NY Cavalry was recruited primarily around New York City shortly after the outbreak of the war, with nearly half of the recruits being Germans, Hungarians and Poles. The original commission was given to Col. Carl Schurz, but he was shortly thereafter appointed minister to Spain and the companies that were already organized were turned over to Col. Andrew McReynolds of Grand Rapids, Michigan. This is likely why one company (K) was from Grand Rapids and not New York. 

The companies were mustered into service and left the state in detachments, with all being finally entered by Sept. 10, 1861. They spent the first months in defense of Washington, as did many other units. In spring, they joined the 1st Division, 1st Corps with the Army of the Potomac.  They saw action in many of the great battles of the Eastern Theater, nearly 230 battles and skirmishes overall.  It lost the greatest number of men at Strasburg, VA, Winchester, New Market and Piedmont. It lost about 205 killed, missing and wounded at these four battles alone. 

At the end of its three-year term of service, many men veteranized, the rest were discharged. The veterans and recruits were finally mustered out June 27, 1865.