1st New York "Lincoln" Cavalry From April 19, 1861 to July 7, 1865 by William H. Beach, A.M. First Lieutenant and Adjutant Aide-de-Camp to Commander in Chief G.A.R. '95,. 579 pp., hc. Rep. of 1902 ed.
The First New York Lincoln Cavalry
by William H. Beach, A.M.
The writing of the records of the first, and for a time the only, volunteer cavalry authorized to be raised, was undertaken at the request of the association of the survivors of the regiment, expressed in a formal resolution. The work has been done in intervals of leisure in an almost constant occupation.
The material has been taken from the diary of the writer, regularly kept during the entire four years; from letters written home, and from diaries and communications of comrades. For the details of related events all available authorities have been freely consulted.
It is an attempt to do justice, no more and no less, to worthy men and boys who promptly responded to the Presidentís first call volunteers, or who rather anticipated a call for volunteer cavalry.
It has not been the purpose to make a conventional or pretentious book. The purpose has been to represent as nearly as possible the men and conditions of the regiment as they actually were, and to narrate events as they actually took place. The career of the regiment was not an unbroken succession of brilliant charges. Nor were the officers and enlisted men all knights ěwithout fear and without reproach.î But they did good service to the country, and the record of what they did, though imperfectly made up, deserves to be preserved.
The minor incidents may not be of historical importance. Some of them are given as showing the characters of the men, and the nature of their experiences.
Acknowledgments are due to many comrades for their assistance and encouragement, and especially to C.T. Williamson of Company F, and his daughter, Miss Kate B. Williamson, for a vast amount of work in copying and compiling.
There are undoubtedly many mistakes and important omissions. A few blank pages are inserted at the end of the book, on which comrades can correct mistakes and make additional entries.