MILITARY - UNION ARMY: S.J. Pannitti records:
Moses enlisted as a private on September 2, 1862 in Suffolk County, NY at the age of 28. He enlisted in Company D, 2nd Cavalry Regiment New York on September 3, 1862. He was missing on October 19, 1863 and was released by the enemy on March 14, 1864. He was transferred on August 29, 1864. Moses was promoted to Full Corporal. He was KILLED IN ACTION on April 3, 1865 in Sweat House Creek, Virginia.
The several companies of the 2nd were recruited from New York city, Long island, Rensselaer and Washington counties, with two from Hartford, Conn., three from Indiana, and one (partly) from Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The eight companies raised in 1864, were recruited principally from Cortland and Onondaga counties and were enlisted for one year only.
The term of service of the original members expired in Sept., 1864, and these were mustered out and returned home, except about 350 who remained in the field, composed of recruits and reenlisted veterans. They were consolidated into a battalion of four companies, A, B, C and D, and the eight companies raised in 1864 were united with the battalion, raising it again to a full regiment.
The regiment left the state in Sept. and Oct., 1861, and originally served with McDowell's division, Army of the Potomac. While on Pope's campaign in Aug., 1862, the 2nd lost 11 killed, 19 wounded and 45 captured or missing, a total of 83. It again suffered heavily in June, 1863, while serving with the 2nd brigade, 2nd cavalry division (Gregg's), Army of the Potomac at Beverly ford, where its casualties were 39 killed, wounded and missing.
In the cavalry action at Aldie, Va., the same month, it lost 50 in killed, wounded and missing; at Liberty mills in September, its casualties were 87 killed, wounded and missing, and at Buckland mills, in October it met with a loss of 59 killed, wounded and missing. As a part of Wilson's division, afterwards Custer's, it saw much hard service in 1863-64; it participated in Kilpatrick's daring raid in March, 1864, within the defenses of Richmond, when the regiment approached within a mile and a half of the city.
Maj. Cook was captured at this time and put in irons. The regiment again lost heavily during Wilson's raid to the South Side and Danville railroads in June, 1864, when its casualties amounted to 47 killed, wounded and missing. The 2nd served with the cavalry in the Army of the Shenandoah from Oct., 1864, to March, 1865, and with the Army of the Potomac during the final campaign up to the surrender of Lee at Appomattox. The regiment was mustered out June 23, 1865, at Alexandria, Va. Three of its six colonels rose to high rank for conspicuous gallantry. Col. Kilpatrick became a bvt. major-general; Col. Henry E. Davies, Jr., rose to be a major-general, and Col. Randol was appointed bvt. brigadier-general. Six members of the regiment were awarded medals of honor by Congress, viz.: Lieut. James H. Gribben, Sergt. Ivers S. Calkins, Corps. Irvin C. Payne and John F. Benjamin, and Pvts. William I. Brewer and Frank Miller. The total enrollment of the regiment was 2,528, of whom 9 officers and 112 men were killed and died of wounds; 2 officers and 234 men died of disease, accidents, in prison, etc.; 20 officers and 226 were wounded and recovered; and 14 officers and 545 men were reported missing. The regiment served almost entirely in Virginia and Maryland and took part in about 175 battles and skirmishes. It was a credit to the state which sent it forth, and few regiments in the service displayed more conspicuous gallantry and efficiency.
Source: The Union Army, Vol. 2, p. 182
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