page_title: 5th New York Cavalry Regiment
section_title: Bristoe and Mine Run campaigns
hierarchical_section_title: 5th New York Cavalry Regiment / Bristoe and Mine Run campaigns
caption_attribution_description: English: Major Abram H. Krom served in the 5th NY Cavalry from 1861 through 1864. He commanded the regiment at the Battle of Cedar Creek in 1864. This a crop of a set of photographs from the USAHEC that can be found here.
context_page_description: The 5th New York Cavalry Regiment, also known as the 5th Regiment New York Volunteer Cavalry and nicknamed the "1st Ira Harris Guards", was a cavalry regiment of the Union Army during the American Civil War. The regiment had a good fighting reputation, and had important roles in the Battle of Hanover and the Battle of the Wilderness. It was present at nearly 175 battles and skirmishes, including Gettysburg, Opequon, and Cedar Creek. A majority of its fighting was in Virginia.
  The regiment was formed in New York City by Othniel De Forest. Training began in New York before the regiment moved to Annapolis, Maryland. John Hammond and Abram H. Krom provided much of the unit's on-field leadership. Both began as captains and finished their military careers as commander of the regiment. The regiment was originally involved with the defense of Washington, and subsequently served in the Army of the Potomac and then the Army of the Shenandoah.
  The regiment had 8 officers and 93 men killed or mortally wounded. Disease killed 3 more officers and 222 more enlisted men.
context_section_description: A letter written August 14 from Hammond states that Johnstone took command of the regiment on the previous day (August 13, 1863), and complained that Johnstone had "avoided all the labor, dangers and privations of the regiment for nearly three-fourths of a year". The same letter noted that Colonel De Forest had been arrested and taken to New York. Johnstone was in a foul mood when he returned to the regiment, threatening arrest for anyone hostile to him. By September 3, Johnstone himself was under arrest and did not return. Hammond was back in command, and the regiment's three battalion leaders were Major White, Captain Krom, and Major Bacon. From September until the end of the year, the regiment was present for 19 actions. Sometime in the latter half of the year the regiment became equipped with seven-shot Spencer carbines.
  For the Bristoe Virginia Campaign beginning October 10, the regiment was in the First Brigade of Kilpatrick's 3rd Division.  The brigade was commanded by Brigadier General Henry E. Davies Jr. After some early successes, portions of Kilpatrick's brigade were partially surrounded on October 19 in the Battle of Buckland Mills. The regimental historian believed that without the brigade's skill and daring the "entire command would have been annihilated". The Union cavalry escaped, and the 5th New York Cavalry was involved in fighting off attacking infantry. An October 21 report by Davies mentioned Hammond and White for "distinguished gallantry" at James City, Brandy Station, and New Baltimore—and Lieutenant Theodore A. Boice was mentioned for two scouting missions that obtained much valuable information at Thoroughfare Gap and Aldie.
  The Mine Run Campaign began November 26. In this campaign, the regiment was still part of the First Brigade of the 3rd Division, but General George A. Custer was the division commander. Davies remained in command of the brigade, and Hammond commanded the regiment. The regiment faced artillery duels and cold, wet weather. Private Loron F. Packard of Company G was awarded the Medal of Honor for rescuing a soldier from three Confederates at Raccoon Ford on November 27. In Davies' December 3 report, he praised the 5th New York's Captain Krom, whose battalion held off the enemy at Raccoon Ford for six days.
caption: Maj. Abram Krom
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