Description
Eleventh New York Cavalry.—Cols., James B. Swain, John P. Sherburne, Samuel H. Wilkeson; Lieut.-Cols., L. P. Di Cesnola, William W. Bennett, Samuel H. Wilkeson, Michael A. McCallum; Majs., William W. Bennett, Seth P. Remington, Horace D. Ellsworth, George W. Richardson, Wilbur F. Raymond, Joseph C. Kenyon, Thomas F. Gamble, George W. Smith, Augustus Pruyn. The 11th New York cavalry, “Scott’s 900,” recruited from the state at large, was organized at New York city, where the first ten companies were mustered into the U. S. service between Dec, 1861, and May, 1862, for three years. Cos. L and M were mustered in Aug. and Sept., 1862, and joined the regiment in October. On the expiration of their term of service the original members, except veterans, were mustered out and the veterans and recruits were consolidated on July 21, 1865, into a battalion of four companies, which remained in service until Sept. 30, 1865 when it was mustered out at Memphis, Tenn.
The regiment left the state on May 5, 1862 and served in the Military district of Washington, 22nd corps, a part of it being detached for service in the 8th corps. Middle Department, until March, 1864, when it was transferred to the Department of the Gulf. During this period it was active in engagements at the Blue ridge, Va.; Poolesville, Md., where it lost 4 wounded and 16 missing, among the latter being Lieut. William Smith; Fairfax Court House, Va., where a large part of a squadron under Maj. Remington was overcome by superior numbers and captured after a heroic resistance, the losses being 3 killed, 15 wounded and 55 captured, though Maj. Remington succeeded in cutting his way out with 18 men.
It was also engaged at Bolivar Heights, Harper’s Ferry, Halltown, Edwards’ ferry, Leesburg and Rockville, but with slight casualties. While in the Department of the Gulf it was engaged at New river, Manning’s plantation, Doyal’s plantation, where it sustained a loss of 2 wounded and 98 captured. Bayou Sara, Jackson and Clinton, La., and at Brookhaven, Liberty. Franklin and Ocean Springs, Miss.
Early in 1865, it was transferred to the Department of the Cumberland and was engaged near Memphis. Tenn., in March, with a loss of 32 wounded, and at Germantown, Miss., in April, with a loss of 42 killed, wounded and missing. The regiment lost altogether I officer and 22 men killed in action and died of wounds; 2 officers and 319 enlisted men died of disease, accidents, in prison, etc.; total deaths, 344. It also lost a number of men by drowning, due to the foundering of the steamer North America off the coast of Florida on Dec. 22, 1864.
This fine old warhorse is serial number 26,857 which would make production around January to February 1862. It functions properly, has clear maker marks and has a strong bore. At some point in time it was cleaned up and a mellow gray patina is returning. The single action Starr was noted to be a fine and reliable weapon in the field and far superior to the double action counterpart.
