The George Hunt papers include two pocket diaries kept by Hunt during his service in the 15th New York Cavalry and a memoir, "Custer and his Red Necks: A brief Sketch of incidents of the Civil War of 61 & 65," written at least a decade later. The diaries consist of terse entries that provide few details about battles and events.
In contrast, his memoir is fully fleshed out and filled with anecdotes and patriotic flourishes, suggesting that in writing this account, he may have relied as much on printed works as on his own notes and memory. "Custer and his Red Necks" has the earmarks of an address written for a veterans' reunion, and was clearly written after Custer's death. Slightly over half of the memoir concerns Custer's early life and military experience before Hunt's regiment were placed under his command. Hunt was enamored of the dashing figure cut by Custer, and the memoir is celebratory of the man and his achievements.
The collection also includes several other items, including Hunt's pocket-sized carte de visite album, containing photographs of Hunt, fellow members of the 15th New York Cavalry, and selected generals, including Grant and Sheridan; a pocket New Testament; an Ithaca Trust company notebook containing miscellaneous notes (1907); and a file of newspaper clippings relating to veterans' reunions.
Hunt, George W., b. 1844
Rank: Private?
Regiment: 15th New York Cavalry Regiment. Co. K (1863-1865)
Service: 1863 October 15-1865 June 17 (when consolidated with the 6th New York Cavalry)
Late in the summer, 1863, George W. Hunt enlisted in Company K of the 15th New York Cavalry Regiment, a company raised in Syracuse, Ithaca, and Utica. Within a few days of mustering into the U.S. service in October, Hunt was bound for western Virginia, where his regiment would be attached to the 2nd Brigade, West Virginia Cavalry, and later to the 3rd Cavalry Division of the Army of the Shenandoah. The "Red Neck Ties" served much of their two years under arms in and near the Shenandoah Valley, commanded after October 1864 by George Armstrong Custer. They participated in a large number of skirmishes and were present for Sheridan's Shenandoah Campaign of 1864, and the battles of Tom's Brook, Five Forks, Appomatox Station and Appomatox Court House.
On June 17, 1863, the 15th Cavalry were consolidated with the remnants of the 6th Cavalry and redesignated the 2nd Provisional Cavalry. They were mustered out of the service later in the summer. After the war, Hunt returned home to Aurora, N.Y., and worked for the Post Office. He was very active in veterans' organizations for many years.
