Les,

Try a Goggle search, "Di Cesnola," you will find a wealth of material on this rather remarkable chap, Col. Louis (Luigi) Palma Di Cesnola, late of the Italian Army.

Little can be found of his involvement at Aldie, other than the fact that he was seriously wounded, captured, subsequently exchanged and returned to duty. Awarded the Medal of Honor for his involvment at Aldie.

I list below what I've come up with.

I found a couple of interesting items from the Richmond Dispatch newspaper which I posted, but was rejected for some obscene reason. I will forward direct via email.

Good Hunting,

George Martin
Sparks, NV

One hit comes up with:

4Th Regiment Cavalry, Ny Volunteers? Civil War Newspaper Clippings

THE STORY OF A NEW YORK REGIMENT.?

Services of the Fourth New York Cavalry.?

A correspondent, who has been a member of this regiment from its formation, sends us the following account of its services.

The regiment has been lately mustered out of service, its time having expired.?" The Fourth New York State Volunteer Cavalry was raised and mustered into service as a regiment on the 29th of August, 1861. It entered the field early in September of that year, under command of Colonel C. Dickel, who remained in command until June, 1862. He was succeeded in September 1862, by Colonel Louis Palma Di Cesnola, recently commanding Second Brigade First Cavalry Division, to which his regiment was then attached. . . . .

At Aldie, on 17th June, while a portion of our cavalry was driven back and nearly captured, the regiment opportunely arrived, and by a spirited charge turned apparent defeat into a glorious victory for our arms, and completely r o u t e d the enemy, and cutting off nearly one hundred men, with a battle-flag - all of whom surrendered and fell into the hands of the First Massachusetts cavalry….?[missing page]
http://www.dmna.state.ny.us/historic/reghist/civil/cavalry/4thCav/4thCavCWN.htm

An Official Records Search "Di Cesnola" give us:

The fight yesterday evening was more severe for us than I first supposed, from the dash and ease with which our troops drove the enemy from a strong position. The following-named officers were killed and wounded: Colonel Douty, First Maine, killed; Colonel Di Cesnola, Fourth New York, killed, wounded, or prisoner; [No. 336. -- Reports of Maj. Gen. Alfred Pleasonton, U.S. Army, commanding Cavalry Corps. [OR1V.27P1, p. 908]

In this fight, Lieutenant-Colonel Watts was severely wounded and taken from the field, the command of the regiment devolving upon Major Breckinridge, who moved it off to the right, carrying Colonel Di Cesnola, of the Fourth New York Cavalry, and his colors with him. [No. 574.--Reports of Col. Thomas T. Munford, Second Virginia Cavalry, commanding Fitz. Lee's brigade, of engagement at Brandy Station and action at Aldie. [OR1V.27P2, p. 740]

The regiment generally behaved well. Among those most conspicuous for gallantry, I mention Captain [T. B.] Holland, Company D; Adjutant [Lomax] Tayloe, Sergt. D. Vandergrift, Company I; Privates Wade, Company F, and Scruggs, CompanyK, who captured and brought off Colonel Di Cesnola, Fourth New York. Very respectfully submitted. CARY BRECKINRIDGE, Major, Commanding Second Virginia Cavalry.[OR 1V.27P2, p. 742]

CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA, WAR DEPARTMENT, November 16, 1863. Brig. Gen. S. A. MEREDITH, Agent of Exchange:
SIR: Col. A. Von Schrader, inspector-general of Fourteenth Army Corps; Col. L. P. Di Cesnola, Fourth New York Cavalry, and Lieut. Col. J. F. Boyd, quartermaster to Twentieth Army Corps, are the Federal officers who have been appointed as members of the board to superintend the distribution of your clothing. There is such a large amount on hand that it will be necessary to appoint other boards. When that is done you will be duly informed. Respectfully, &c., RO. OULD, Agent of Exchange. [ORIIV1, p. 526]

A search of the regiment in the files of the US Army History and Military Institute, Carlisle Barracks in their bibliographical history for the regiment gives us this collection:

U.S. Army Military History Institute
Historical Services Division
950 Soldiers Drive
Carlisle Barracks, PA 17013-5021
19 May 06

4th New York Cavalry Regiment

DiCesnola, Louis Palma. Ten Months in Libby Prison. Phila?: n.p., 1865? 7 p. (4 photocopied pages). E612L6D52.

Duganne, Augustine J.H. The Fighting Quakers: A True Story of the War for our Union. [Edward Ketchum] NY: J. P. Robens, 1866. ll6 p. E60lD865.

Dyer, Frederick H. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion. Vol. 2. Dayton, OH: Morningside, 1979. E491D992.
See p. 1373 (1 photocopied page) for a concise summary of the regiment's service.

New York (State). AGO. Annual Report...for the Year 1893. No. 1. Albany, NY: J.B. Lyon, 1894. pp. 1027-1266. E523.2N6no1. (Alphabetical roster of the regiment).

_____. Monuments Comm for the Battlefields of Gettysburg and Chattanooga. Final Report on the Battlefield of Gettysburg. Vol. 3. Albany, NY: J. B. Lyon, 1900. E475.53N58v3.

See pp. 1110-22 (14 photocopied pages) for a photo of the regimental monument at the Gettysburg National Military Park and addresses delivered at its dedication.

O'Neill, Robert F., Jr. "The Only Medal of Honor Earned in the Loudoun Valley Fighting: Col. Luigi Palma diCesnola." Blue & Gray Magazine (Oct 1993): pp. 21-22 (2 photocopied pages). Per.

Parnell, William R. "Recollections of 1861." United Service (1885): pp. 264-70 (7 photocopied pages).
Per.

Phisterer, Frederick, comp. New York in the War of the Rebellion, 1861-1865. Vol. 1. Albany, NY: Weed and Parsons, 1890. E523P584v1.
See pp. 803-22 (20 photocopied pages) for a brief history of the regiment and a roster of officers.

Rummel, George A. III. Gettysburg Cavalrymen: 4th Regiment, New York Volunteer Cavalry, Army of the Potomac, Cavalry Corps, 2nd Division, 2nd Brigade. Bridgeport, WV: By the Author, 1999. 22 p. E523.6.4th.R86.

Our Photo Archive includes images of individuals of this unit.
4th New York Cavalry (p. 2)

The following pertinent personal papers are in the Institute's Manuscript Archive:

Crane, James - CWMiscColl (Enlisted man's letters, Feb 15 & 17 and Mar 7, 1862)

DiCesnola, Louis P. - WileySwordColl (COL's letter, Mar 10, 1863; Biog info)
Payne, Edwin B. - LeighColl Bk 3: 51-53 (Enlisted man's letters, Aug 5-Mar 15, 1865)