The Eighth New York Cavalry is honored by a monument at Gettysburg.
About the Main Monument
When was it dedicated? June 9, 1889.
What is it made out of? Sculpture: Barre granite with bronze relief; Base: granite.
What size is it? Sculpture: approx. 10 ft. x 6 ft. x 2 ft. 4 in.; Base: approx. 6 in. x 9 ft. 2 in. x 5 ft. 6 in.
Who made it? Muer, F., sculptor. Smith & Barry, fabricator.
What does it depict? A bas-relief of a mounted cavalryman is set into a recessed surface of a square monument with an apexed cap. The figure is seen in proper left profile. On top of the monument is a bronze relief of the Cavalry Corps insignia; below the mounted cavalryman is a bronze relief of the New York State Seal. Flanking markers are rough hewn with smooth face and slanted top, one foot square.
What does it honor? The monument marks the approximate position held by dismounted troops of the 8th New York Cavalry on the morning of July 1, 1863 when they opposed the advance of Heth’s Confederate division.
How is it inscribed? CASUALTIES:/3 KILLED,/10 WOUNDED,/21 MISSING./PICKETS OF THIS REGIMENT WERE ATTACKED/ABOUT 5 A.M., JULY 1, 1863, BY THE ADVANCE/SKIRMISHERS OF HETH’S CONFEDERATE DIVISION,/THE REGIMENT ENGAGED THE ENEMY WEST OF/SEMINARY RIDGE, WITH THE BRIGADE STUBBORNLY/CONTESTING THE GROUND AGAINST GREAT ODDS/UNTIL ABOUT 10:30 A.M., WHEN IT WAS RELIEVED/BY THE ADVANCE REGIMENTS OF THE 1ST CORPS
When was this photograph taken? December 11, 2011.
Where is it located? Located Gettysburg National Military Park, East side of Reynolds Avenue, at intersection with Meredith Avenue, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania 17325.
Is this monument located along the NPS Auto Tour route? Yes.
Has this monument been moved or changed? The monument was moved about 300 yards from its original location.
Monument Details, Alternative Views, and Contextual Views
At Gettysburg
The 8th New York Cavalry was also known as Rochester Regiment. During the battle of Gettysburg, it served as a member of Gamble’s Brigade in Buford’s Division of the Cavalry Corps, Army of the Potomac. A Fighting 300 Regiment.
Commander: Lt. Col. William L. Markell (1836-1916). Manufacturer and wholesaler in Rochester. Wounded on July 10, 1863.
Number Engaged: 623
Casualties: 2 killed, 22 wounded, 16 missing
Officers Killed at Gettysburg:
- Capt. Charles D. Follett, Company D, mortally wounded on July 1, aged 33, of Pitcher
Soldiers Buried in the New York Plot of the Gettysburg National Cemetery:
- Cpl. Albert H. Edson, Company A, D-25
- Sgt. Edwin A. Slocum, Company A, D-113
General Information
Raised: Chenango, Monroe, and Niagara counties.
Regimental History ~ Dyer’s Compendium of the War of the Rebellion:
Organized at Rochester, N.Y., and mustered in November 23, 1861. Moved to Washington, D.C., November 28-30, 1861. Attached to Cavalry Brigade, Army of the Potomac, to March, 1862. Cavalry Brigade, Banks’ 5th Corps, to April, 1862. Hatch’s Cavalry Brigade, Department of the Shenandoah, to May, 1862. Railroad Brigade, 8th Corps, Middle Department, to September, 1862. 4th Brigade, Pleasanton’s Cavalry Division, Army of the Potomac, to November, 1862. 1st Cavalry Brigade, Right Grand Division, Army of the Potomac, to February, 1863. 1st Brigade, 1st Division, Cavalry Corps, Army of the Potomac, to March, 1864. 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, Cavalry Corps, Army of the Potomac, and Army of the Shenandoah, Middle Military Division, to June, 1865.
SERVICE – Duty in the Defenses of Washington, D.C., until March, 1862, and at various points in Maryland by detachments, until May. Operations in the Shenandoah Valley May 15-June 17. Berryville May 24. Retreat to Williamsport May 24-25. Battle of Winchester May 25. Stevenson’s Station May 25. Harper’s Ferry May 28-30, Near Charlestown September 4. Summit Point September 8. Siege of Harper’s Ferry September 12-15. Near Williamsport and Greencastle September 15. Antietam, Md., September 16-17. Near Shephardstown September 20. Snicker’s Gap October 27. Philomont November 1-2, Union and Bloomfield November 2-3. Barbee’s Cross Roads, Chester Gap and Markham November 5-6. Waterloo Bridge November 7. Corbin’s Cross Roads near Amissville November 10. Jefferson November 14. Uniontown November 20. Fredericksburg December 12-15. Near Warrenton December 30-31. Warrenton January 4, 1863. Somerville February 9. Belle Plains February 11. Near Dumfries March 2. Independence Hill, Prince William County, March 4. Near Dumfries March 29. Beverly Ford April 1. Beverly Ford, Freeman’s Ford and Hazel Run April 15. Stoneman’s Raid April 27-May 8. Kelly’s Ford April 29. Culpeper April 30. Rapidan Station May 1. Ely’s Ford May 2. Rapidan Bridge May 4. Brandy Station and Beverly Ford June 9. Aldie June 17, Ashby’s Gap June 20. Upperville June 21. Aldie June 23. Near Middleburg and Upperville June 27. Fairfield, Pa., June 30. Gettysburg, Pa., July 1-3. Williamsport July 6. Funkstown July 6. Boonsboro July 8. Benevola or Beaver Creek July 9. Funkstown July 10-13. Falling Waters July 14. Chester Gap July 21-22. Wapping Heights July 23. Barber’s Cross Roads July 25. Kelly’s Ford July 31-August 1. Brandy Station August 1, 4 and 10. Advance from the Rappahannock to the Rapidan September 13-17. Culpeper Court House September 13. Rapidan Station September 14-15. Raccoon Ford September 19. Reconnaissance across the Rapidan September 21-23. Jack’s Shop, Madison Court House, September 22. Germania Ford October 1. Bristoe Campaign October 9-22. Germania, Raccoon and Morton’s Fords October 10. Stevensburg and near Kelly’s Station October 11. Brandy Station October 12. Oak Hill October 15. Hunter’s Ford October 17-18. Bealeton October 24-26. Snicker’s Gap October 27. Advance to line of the Rappahannock November 7-8. Muddy Run November 8. Mine Run Campaign November 26-December 2. Locust Grove November 27. Parker’s Store November 29. Demonstration on the Rapidan February 6-7, 1864. Morton’s Ford February 6-7. James City March 4. Rapidan Campaign May-June. Craig’s Meeting House May 5. Wilderness May 5-7. The Furnaces May 7. Alsop’s Farm, Spottsylvania, May 8. Sheridan’s Raid to James River May 9-24. North Anna River May 9-10. Ground Squirrel Church and Yellow Tavern May 11. Fortifications of Richmond and Meadow Bridge May 12. On line of the Pamunkey May 26-28. Demonstration on Little Creek May 26. Totopotomoy May 28-31. Mechump’s Creek May 30. Hanover Court House May 31. Cold Harbor June 1-12. Gaines Mill, Totopotomoy and Salem Church June 2. Sumner’s Upper Bridge June 2. Haw’s Shop June 3. Old Church June 10-11. Riddell’s Shop and Long Bridge June 12, White Oak Swamp June 13. Near Harrison’s Landing June 14. St. Mary’s Church and Malvern Hill June 15. Before Petersburg June 17-July 30. Wilson’s Raid on South Side & Danville Railroad June 22-30. Ream’s Station June 22. Black and White Station and Nottawny Court House June 23. Staunton Bridge and Roanoke Station June 25. Columbia Grove June 27. Sappony Church or Stony Creek June 28. Ream’s Station June 29. Sheridan’s Shenandoah Valley Campaign August 7-November 28. Winchester August 17. Charlestown Summit Point August 21, Halltown August 23. Kearneysville August 25. Berryville September 3. Near Brucetown and near Winchester September 7. Locke’s Ford September 13. Snicker’s Gap September 16. Battle of Opequan, Winchester, September 19. Near Cedarville September 20. Front Royal Pike September 21. Milford September 22. Luray September 25. Staunton September 26. Waynesboro September 29. Mr. Crawford September 30. Columbia Furnace October 7. Tom’s Brook, “Woodstock Races,” October 8-9. Mr. Olive October 9. Battle of Cedar Creek October 19. Near Kernstown November 10. Newtown and Middle Road, Cedar Creek, November 12. Rude’s Hill, near Mt. Jackson, November 22. Expedition to Lacy Springs December 19-22. Lacy Springs December 21. Expedition from Winchester to Moorefield, W. Va., February 4-6, 1865. Sheridan’s Raid from Winchester February 27-March 25, 1865. Waynesboro March 2. Occupation of Charlottesville March 3. Beaver Dam Station March 13. Appomattox Campaign March 28-April 9. Dinwiddie Court House March 30-31. Five Forks April 1. Fall of Petersburg April 2. Namozine Church April 3. Jettersville April 4. Sailor’s Creek April 6. Appomattox Station April 8. Appomattox Court House April 9. Surrender of Lee and his army. Expedition to Danville April 23-29. March to Washington, D.C., May –. Grand Review May 23. Mustered out June 27, 1865, and honorably discharged from service. Regiment lost during service 14 Officers and 91 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 5 Officers and 200 Enlisted men by disease. Total 310.
New York at Gettysburg
New York Infantry 10th Infantry :: 12th Infantry :: 33rd Infantry :: 39th Infantry :: 40th Infantry :: 41st Infantry :: 42nd Infantry :: 43rd Infantry :: 44th Infantry :: 45th Infantry :: 49th Infantry :: 52nd Infantry :: 54th Infantry :: 57th Infantry :: 58th Infantry :: 59th Infantry :: 60th Infantry :: 61st Infantry :: 62nd Infantry :: 63rd Infantry :: 64th Infantry :: 65th Infantry :: 66th Infantry :: 67th Infantry :: 68th Infantry :: 69th Infantry :: 70th Infantry :: 71st Infantry :: 72nd Infantry :: 73rd Infantry :: 74th Infantry :: 76th Infantry :: 77th Infantry :: 78th Infantry :: 80th Infantry :: 82nd Infantry :: 83rd Infantry :: 84th Infantry :: 86th Infantry :: 88th Infantry :: 94th Infantry :: 95th Infantry :: 97th Infantry :: 102nd Infantry :: 104th Infantry :: 107th Infantry :: 108th Infantry :: 111th Infantry :: 119th Infantry :: 120th Infantry :: 121st Infantry :: 122nd Infantry :: 123rd Infantry :: 124th Infantry :: 125th Infantry :: 126th Infantry :: 134th Infantry :: 136th Infantry :: 137th Infantry :: 140th Infantry :: 145th Infantry :: 146th Infantry :: 147th Infantry :: 149th Infantry :: 150th Infantry :: 154th Infantry :: 157th Infantry :: New York Cavalry :: 2nd Regiment :: 4th Regiment :: 5th Regiment :: 6th Regiment :: 8th Regiment :: 9th Regiment :: 10th Regiment :: Oneida Company :: New York Artillery :: 1st Artillery B (14th attached) :: 1st Artillery C :: 1st Artillery D :: 1st Artillery G :: 1st Artillery I :: 1st Artillery K (11th attached) :: 1st Artillery E&L :: 1st Artillery M :: 1st Independent :: 3rd Independent :: 4th Independent :: 5th Independent :: 6th Independent :: 10th Independent :: 13th Independent :: 15th Independent
