16th Cavalry Regiment
Nickname: Sprague Light Cavalry
Left the State in detachments: June 19 to October 23, 1863
Consolidated with the 13th regiment of cavalry and designated 3rd provisional regiment of cavalry: August 17, 1865
The following is taken from New York in the War of the Rebellion, 3rd ed. Frederick Phisterer. Albany: J. B. Lyon Company, 1912.
January 17, 1863, Col. Spencer H. Olmstead, succeeded September 3, 1863, by Col. Henry M. Lazelle, received authority to recruit the Sprague Cavalry. July 27, 1863, Col. W. W. Hammill received authority to recruit the Washington Light Cavalry. July 29, 1863, Col. E. Schnepf received authority to reorganize the 20th N. Y. Volunteer Infantry, discharged by reason of the expiration of its term of service. October 14, 1863, these organizations were consolidated and the 16th Regiment of Cavalry formed, with Henry M. Lazelle as Colonel. The regiment was organized at Plattsburg, and the companies were mustered in the service of the United States for three years, at Plattsburg, A, B, C and D June 19th; E, G and H August 13th; and F August 1, 1863; at Staten Island, I September 2d; K September 22d; L October 18th, and M September 5, 1863. October 22, 1863, some of the men recruited for this, were transferred to the 18th Regiment of Cavalry.
The companies' were recruited principally: A at Plattsburg, Syracuse, Massena, Mooers, Champlain and New York city; B, C and D at Buffalo; E at Plattsburg, Buffalo and Massena; F at Troy, Ogdensburg, Plattsburg and Albany; G at Rochester, Plattsburg, Oswego and Buffalo; H at Plattsburg, Buffalo and New York city; I at New York city, Buffalo and Plattsburg; K at New York city, Mt. Pleasant, Yonkers, Greenburg, Rochester and Troy; L at New York city, Buffalo, Brooklyn, Greenburg, Schoharie and White Plains; and M at New York city and Greenburg.
Companies A, B, C and D left the State June 19, 1863; and took part in the Pennsylvania Campaign in June and July, 1863; Companies E, F, G and H, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Olmstead, left the State August 19, 1863; Companies I, K and L in September, and M October 23, 1863; the regiment served in the Cavalry Brigade of the 22d Corps, defenses of Washington, D. C., until August 17, 1865, when, commanded by Col. Nelson B. Sweitzer, it was consolidated with the 13th N. Y. Volunteer Cavalry; the new organization receiving the designation, 3d Provisional Regiment, N. Y. Volunteer Cavalry; the companies of the 16th Cavalry forming part of the companies of the consolidated force, as follows: A of H, B of C, C of I, D of K, E of D, F of B, G of A, H of L, I of E, K of M, L of F, and M of G.
During its service, the regiment lost by death, killed in action, 1 officer, 12 enlisted men; of wounds received in action, 8 enlisted men; of disease and other causes, 119 enlisted men; total, 1 officer, 139 enlisted men; aggregate, 140; of whom 44 enlisted men died in the hands of the enemy.
The following is taken from The Union army: a history of military affairs in the loyal states, 1861-65 -- records of the regiments in the Union army -- cyclopedia of battles -- memoirs of commanders and soldiers, Volume II: New York, Maryland, West Virginia and Ohio. Madison, WI: Federal Pub. Co., 1908.
Sixteenth Cavalry.—Cols., Henry M. Lazelle, Nelson B. Sweitzer; Lieut. -Cols., Spencer H. Olmstead, George S. HoUister, John Nicholson; Majs., Morris Hazzard, George B. Bosworth, Giles G. Horton, John Nicholson. Lawrence Leahy. The i6th, known as the Sprague Light Cavalry, was organized at Plattsburg, the companies of which it was composed being recruited in the counties of Clinton, Erie, New York, Westchester, Monroe, Oswego, Rensselaer and St. Lawrence. The first eight companies were mustered into the U. S. service at Plattsburg from June 19 to Aug. i, 1863, for three years; I, K, L and M were mustered in at Staten island from Sept. 2 to Oct. 18, 1863. On Aug. 17, 1865, the regiment commanded by Col. Sweitzer, was consolidated with the 13th N. Y. cavalry, and the new organization was designated the 3d provisional regiment, N. Y. volunteer cavalry. Cos. A, B, C and D left the state on June 19, 1863, and took part in the Gettysburg campaign; E, F, G and H, under Lieut.-Col. Olmstead left on Aug. 19, 1863; I, K and L left in September, and M on Oct. 23. The regiment was assigned to the cavalry brigade, 22nd corps, defenses of Washington, until the period of its consolidation with the 13th. In 1863 it engaged with loss at Lewinsville; was active at Bristoe Station and near the Blue ridge. In 1864 it was repeatedly in action, its principal engagements and casualties being as follows: Centerville, loss 39; Falls Church, 23; Rapidan Station, 13; Lewinsville, 16. It saw its last fighting in March, 1865, at Warrenton, Fairfax Court House and Vienna. The regiment lost during service i officer and 20 men killed and mortally wounded; 119 men died of disease, accidents, in prison, etc.—total deaths 140. Capt. James H. Fleming was killed at Fairfax Station and was the only commissioned officer lost by the regiment.
16th Regiment Cavalry, NY Volunteers | Flank Markers | Civil War
The NYS Battle Flag Collection includes two flank markers carried by the 16th Regiment Cavalry, NY Volunteers. Both flags feature painted inscriptions…
16th Regiment Cavalry, NY Volunteers | Standard | Civil War
The standard carried by the 16th Cavalry features, in paint, the Arms of the United States with 13 gold stars and a red ribbon with the regiment's…
NYSMM Online Resources
Battles and Casualties from Phisterer (pdf)
Battles and Casualties from Phisterer (spreadsheet)
