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OswegoHISTORY*• m Oswego’s horseless cavalrymenBy JACKIE KLIPPENSTEINOswego_In the winter of 1863-1864, toward the end of the Civil War, the 24th New York Cavalry was formed under the command of Col. William C. Raulston, a native of Southwest Oswego.Raulston was a veteran, having served with the 81st Cavalry. Two-fifths of the officers and men of the unit were from Oswego County. They assembled at Auburn, Cayuga County, and were transported by rail to a camp at Washington, D C. There they spent their time in training: drilling with sabers and the Starr carbines they had been issued.However, except for the officers who were able to obtain their own, the men were not provided with horses.The 24th Cavalry remained in the “grounded” condition through the battles of Wilderness, Spotsylvania Courthouse, Cold Harbour and Petersburg. From May to June of 1864, the unit — serving with the infantry — lost 300 men and 16 onicers, wun kauisiori himsen oeing wouiiueu, ihuugii not seriously.It was the siege of Petersburg in July which showed how greatly disadvantaged the men were without mounts.The Starr carbines were not made for siege work since their shorter barrels made them good only for short-range firing, which was better done on a horse. Another handicap for the cavalrymen was the fact that the conventional rifle bayonets did not fit carbines.Despite appeals to Washington, the 24th Cavalry remained horseless until October 1864, when mounts were finally issued. Before that, however, the unit went through yet another disastrous battle at Poplar Spring where five of its men were killed and 40 captured.Among the prisoners was Col. Raulston, who was taken to the military prison in Danville, Va., where he was later killed leading an escape attempt. Lt Alonzo Conner, another Os-lt;- i I Iwego resident, gave an account of the escape attempt. What follows is his description of the action after Raulston had been shot:“Guards were at once stationed about the rooms, and Col. Smith (commander of the pnson) proceeded upstairs where Raulston lay bleeding and questioned him in regard to the affair. This brave, unseifish officer at once said,' Coionei, i am wholly responsible for all that has occurred... no one but me is to blame for what was attempted to be done, and ... I alone deserve the punishment.”Though saddened by the loss of its popular commander, the 24th, by then under command of Colon Newbury, participated in a decisive thrust toward Appomatox in March 186$. During this campaign, at the battle of Paine's Cross Road, the 24th, working with another cavalry unit, the 10th New York, destroyed a Confederate baggage train.During the action, they lost another of their esteemedCOL WILLIAM RAULSTONLed 24th New York Cavalry unitPholo courtesy ct the Oswego County Historical Societyofficers, Lt. Col. Melzar Richards, or “Fighting Melz” as he was known, who had been with the unit since its formation.After Lee's surrender and Richards’ funeral, the unit pitched camp in Richmond, Va., then later in Washington,D.C. In the nation'.* capital the group was consolidated with the 10th New York to become the 1st Provisional New York Cavalry. Thcv were finally mustered out in Syracuse in Julv of 1865.(This is the 35th in a scries of articles provided by the Oswego County Historical Society.)♦
Newspaper Details
Syracuse Post Standard
Syracuse, New York, US
Thu, May 12, 1983
Page 259
Full Page
Clipped by
Dane C.
USA 14 Nov 2018
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