Further information about this cavalry regiment is in:

• Dyer, Frederick H. A, Compendium of the War of the Rebellion, Vol. 2. Dayton, OH: Morningside, 1979, p. 1372
• New York State. Adjutant General's Office. Annual Report for the Year 1895, No. 6. Albany, NY: Wynkoop, Hallenbeck, Crawford, 1896. pp. 854-1059.; alphabetical roster of enlisted men.
• Phisterer, Frederick, New York in the War of the Rebellion, 1861-1865, Vol. 2. Albany,NY: Weed and Parsons, 1890, pp. 1133-47; history and roster of officers.
• Roback, Henry, "The Veteran Volunteers of Herkimer and Otsego Counties in the War of the Rebellion; Being a History of the 152d N.Y.V. With Scenes, Etc., Which Occurred in the Ranks of the 34th N.Y., 97th N.Y., 121st N.Y., 2d N.Y. Heavy Artillery, and lst and 2d N.Y. Mounted Rifles", Utica, NY: L.C. Childs, 1888.

In Captain John H. Fralick's company (M) of the 2nd regiment of mounted rifles, commanded by Colonel John Fisk, of Niagara Falls, were between thirty and forty men from Herkimer county, namely:

The regiment was organized at Buffalo, N. Y., to serve three years. The companies of which it was composed were raised principally in the counties of Erie, Niagara, Wyoming, Orleans, Allegheny and Wayne, from July, 1863, to February, 1864; and the regimental officers were chiefly front Lockport and Niagara Falls.

The regiment first rendezvoused at Lockport, but the barracks were insufficient and the regiment was ordered to Fort Porter, Buffalo, which latter barracks were made a recruiting station and camp of instruction. The 2nd remained there front December, 1863, until the March following, when, three battalions being completed, they were ordered to Camp Stoneman, near Giesboro Point, in the neighborhood of Washington. Here they remained until about May first, when they were ordered to the front to reinforce the Army of the Potomac. Instead of being furnished with the cavalry outfit for which they were sent to, Camp Stoneman, or receiving instruction in cavalry tactics, which had been promised them, they were assigned to a provisional brigade, composed of dismounted cavalry and heavy artillery, commanded by Colonel Marshall, of the 14th heavy artillery, in the 9th corps, under General Burnside.

On the day following their arrival at Camp Stoneman they participated in the battle of Spottsylvania, suffering but little loss. Their next engagement was the battle of North Anna, southeast of Spottsylvania. In this their loss was light. Returning from North Anna the regiment was placed as rear guard of the 9th corps, when it had a severe engagement at Tolopotomoy Creek, losing quite a number of men. The next day it was in the fight at Bethesda Church, a few miles from Tolopotomoy. At this time the regiment was under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Raymond, of New York. The loss at Bethesda was quite heavy, 50 or 60 killed and wounded.

Hardly had the smoke of this battle cleared away before the 2nd was in the memorable fight at Cold Harbor. In early June; its loss here was not heavy. From Cold Harbor the regiment moved with the Army of the Potomac and crossed the James river, arriving at Petersburg June 16th, just in time for service again. On the morning of June 17th, the 2nd made a charge over the enemy's works and captured a large number of prisoners, who were sent to the rear in charge of Captain W. Fitzer Williams. The regiment was engaged during the entire day, but its loss was light. On the morning of the 18th of June it again advanced on the enemy's works, near the Weldon railroad, and toward evening made a gallant charge, which resulted in the capture of the railroad, the 2nd, however, suffering a terrible loss.

In this action First lieutenant Delong, of Lockport, was killed, and Captain Williams; the entire loss was between two and three hundred men killed and wounded.

From this time until July 28th, 1864, the regiment lay in the rifle pits under a constant fire, losing men day by day, among them Lieutenant J. L. Atwood, who was killed by a sharpshooter. On the morning of July 30th, the mine in front of Petersburg was exploded. A terrible struggle followed, in which the 2nd regiment was engaged, under command of Major Mapes. One division was repulsed by the rebels. The division in which the 2nd regiment fought had been held for the final charge, in case those already in the fight did not hold their ground. The order was finally given for them to charge, and they did it nobly, capturing two lines of the enemy's works; they held them about six hours, but as no relief came, they were compelled to fall back. In this engagement the regiment lost nearly 150 men, killed, wounded and prisoners. It remained in command of Major Mapes from this time forward until the battle of Pegram's Farm.

A few days subsequent to the fight at the mine the regiment moved to the left and took a position near Fort Hell, where it remained for sometime, experiencing no loss. The next battle was at Pegram's Farm, southwest of Petersburg, where Major Mapes, Captain Stebbins, Lieutenant Mansfield, Lieutenant Bush and others, in all 40 or 50, were taken prisoners. The killed and wounded numbered between 50 and 75. The next field was the first battle of Hatcher's Run, in October, 1864. The loss was slight. From here the 2nd went back to Pegram's Farm, where it remained until the last of November. It was then ordered to dismount camp at City Point, where the men received their promised horses, with orders to report to General Charles H. Smith, of the 3rd brigade, 2nd cavalry division. The second day after reporting the regiment went on a raid to Stony Creek station, where, with the balance of the division, it assisted in destroying a large amount of stores and taking many prisoners, sustaining slight loss. It then returned to camp near Fort Stevenson, in the vicinity of South Petersburg, where it remained until December, 1864. The regiment next accompanied the celebrated Warren raiders, and assisted in the destruction of Weldon railroad from near Petersburgh to Weldon, N. C.

At this time the 2nd was divided, a detachment having been sent back to the second battle of Hatcher's Run, under command of Lieutenant Newman. Upon the return of the regiment to camp it was detailed as a rear guard to the 5th corps of infantry. In this action the 2nd lost about 40 men. It went into camp again and remained until March 29th, 1865, doing picket duty and losing but few men. On this date it started with General Sheridan's corps in the final pursuit of Lee, and March 30th engaged in the battle of Dinwiddie Court-house, southwest of Petersburg, in which engagement Captain Eli Morse, of Little Falls, was killed.

The next day the 2nd was in the battle of Five Forks, but sustained no loss. Next, at Jettersville, it lost a dozen wounded, but none killed. At Sailor's Creek it lost a few men, and again at Farmville. It was next engaged at Appomattox Court-house. After doing service at Appomattox the brigade to which the 2nd regiment, belonged was detailed as an escort of General Grant from Appomattox to Burkeville Junction, Va. It then returned to Petersburgh, when, pending negotiations between Johnston and Sherman, it was ordered to North Carolina to reinforce Sherman. There it was learned the Johnston had surrendered, and the 2nd was ordered back to Petersburgh and from there to Buckingham county, VA, were it remained on provost duty until August, 1865.

> This closed the eventful career of the regiment, and its next movement was homeward. Arriving in Buffalo August 10th, 1865, it was mustered out. It left home 1,500 strong, and during the service was reinforced by upward of 300 recruits; but came back with only between 700 and 800 men. the depleted ranks and the scars the survivors bore told the story of their service in their county's defense. They were in the field a little over a year, and took part in nineteen distinct engagements, as recorded in the foregoing narrative.

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