6th United States Cavalry

Regimental History and Service Record

Organized by direction of the President May 4, 1861, and confirmed by Act of Congress July 29, 1861. Regiment organized at Pittsburg, Pa. Moved to Washington, D.C., October 12, 1861. Attached to Stoneman's Cavalry Command, Army Potomac, to March, 1862. Emery's Brigade, Cavalry Reserve, Army Potomac, to July, 1862. 1st Brigade, Cavalry Division, Army Potomac, to September, 1862. 1st Brigade, Pleasanton's Cavalry Division, Army Potomac, to October, 1862. 2nd Brigade, Pleasanton's Cavalry Division, Army Potomac, to February, 1863. Reserve Brigade, 1st Division, Cavalry Corps, Army Potomac, to August, 1864. 3rd (Reserve) Brigade, 1st Division, Cavalry Corps, Army Shenandoah, Middle Military Division, to March, 1865. 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, Cavalry Corps, Army Potomac, to June 1865. Frederick, Md., 8th Army Corps, Middle Dept., to October, 1865.

SERVICE.--Duty in the Defenses of Washington, D.C., until March, 1862. Advance on Manassas, Va., March 10-15. Reconnaissance to Cedar Run March 14-16.

• Moved to Virginia Peninsula March 27-30.
• March 30-September 2, 1862 - The Peninsula Campaign
  • April 5-May 4, 1862 - Siege of Yorktown, Virginia
  • May 4, 1862 - Skirmish at Cheese Cake Church, Virginia
  • Slatersville May 9.
  • New Kent Court House May 11.
  • New Bridge May 20.
  • Mechanicsville May 24
  • May 27-29, 1862 - Operations about Hanover Court House, Virginia
    • May 27, 1862 - Engagement at Hanover Court House, Virginia
  • Destruction of bridges, South Anna River, May 28-29.
  • Expedition to Wormsley Ferry June 2.
  • Operations against Stuart June 13-15.
  • Ashland June 16.
  • June 25-July 1, 1862 - The Seven Days Battles before Richmond, Virginia
    • Operations about White House June 26-July 2.
• Black Creek June 26.
• Malvern Hill August 5.
• Movement to Alexandria August 15-26.
• September 3-20, 1862 - The Maryland Campaign
  • Fall's Church September 5.
  • September 10-11, 1862 - Skirmishes at Sugarloaf Mountain, Maryland
  • Petersville September 15.
  • September 17, 1862 - Battle of Antietam, Maryland
  • September 19, 1862 - Actions at Sharpsburg and Shepherdstown/Blackford's/Boteler's Fords, Maryland

Charlestown September 28. Hillsboro September 29. Reconnaissance from Harper's Ferry to Leesburg October 1-2. Waterford October 1. Charlestown October 6. Reconnaissance to Charlestown October 16-17. Charlestown October 16. Philomont November 1. Union November 2-3. Upperville and Bloomfield November 2-3. Ashby's Gap November 3. Markham Station November 4. Barbee's Cross Roads, Chester Gap and Markham November 5-6. Amissville November 7-8. Little Washington November 8.

• November 9, 1862 - Skirmish at Newby's Cross Roads, Virginia
• November 10, 1862 - Action at Amissville, Virginia
• Sulphur Springs November 17.
• Battle of Fredericksburg, Va., December 12-15.
• April 27-May 6, 1863 - The Chancellorsville Campaign
  • Stoneman's Raid April 29-May 8.
  • Stevensburg April 29.
• Brandy Station and Beverly Ford June 9.
• Middleburg June 19.
• Upperville June 21.
• June 11-August 1, 1863 - The Gettysburg Campaign
  • July 1-3, 1863 - Battle of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
  • July 3, 1863 - Action at Fairfield, Pennsylvania
  • July 6, 1863 - Action at Williamsport, Maryland
  • July 7, 1863 - Skirmish near Funkstown, Maryland
  • July 8, 1863 - Action at Boonsboro, Maryland
  • July 9, 1863 - Skirmish at Benevola, Maryland
  • July 10-13, 1863 - Skirmishes near Funkstown, Maryland
  • July 14, 1863 - Engagement at Falling Waters, Maryland

Manassas Gap, Va., July 21-22. Wapping Heights July 23. Kelly's Ford July 31-August 1. Brandy Station August 1-4. Advance from the Rappahannock to the Rapidan September 13-17. Bristoe Campaign October 9-22. Brandy Station October 11. Advance to line of the Rappahannock November 7-8. Mine Run Campaign November 26-December 2. Demonstration on the Rapidan February 6-7, 1864. Barnett's Ford February 6-7.

• May 4-June 12, 1864 - The Overland Campaign
  • May 5-7, 1864 - Battle of the Wilderness, Virginia
    • May 5-6, 1864 - Engagement at Todd's Tavern, Virginia
    • May 7-8, 1864 - Engagement at Todd's Tavern, Virginia
  • May 9-24, 1864 - (Sheridan's) Expedition from Todd's Tavern to the James River, Virginia
    • • May 11, 1864 - Engagement at Yellow Tavern, Virginia
      • Richmond fortifications May 12.
  • May 26-28, 1864 - Operations on Line of the Pamunkey River, Virginia
    • May 27, 1864 - Skirmish near Hanover Junction, Virginia
    • May 27, 1864 - Action at Hanovertown, Virginia
    • Haw's Shop May 28.
  • May 28-31, 1864 - Operations on Line of the Totopotomoy River, Virginia
    • Old Church and Mattadequin Creek May 30.
  • May 31-June 1, 1864 - Battles of Cold Harbor, Virginia
  • June 7-24, 1864 - (Sheridan's) Raid to Trevillian Station, Virginia
    • June 11-12, 1864 - Engagement at Trevillian Station, Virginia

Mallory's Cross Roads June 12. Black Creek or Tunstall Station and White House or St. Peter's Church June 21. Siege of Petersburg until August. Deep Bottom July 27-28. Malvern Hill July 28. Sheridan's Shenandoah Valley Campaign August 7-November 28. Sevier's Ford, Opequan Creek, September 15. Battle of Opequan, Winchester, September 19. Fisher's Hill September 21-22. Luray Valley September 24. Battle of Cedar Creek October 19. Raid from near Winchester to Gordonsville December 19-28. Sheridan's Raid from Winchester February 27-March 25, 1865. Occupation of Staunton March 2. Action at Waynesboro March 2. Duguidsville March 8. Appomattox Campaign March 28-April 9. Dinwiddie Court House March 30-31. Five Forks April 1. Scott's Cross Roads April 2. Tabernacle Church or Beaver Pond Creek April 4. Amelia Springs April 4-5. Sailor's Creek April 6. Appomattox Station April 8. Appomattox Court House April 9. Surrender of Lee and his army. Expedition to Danville April 23-29. March to Washington, D.C., May. Grand Review May 23. At Frederick, Md., until October.

• July 30, 1864 - Burning of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania (detachment under H.T. McLean)
• July 5, 1864 - Skirmish at Hagerstown, Maryland (detachment under H.T. McLean)
• July 29, 1864 - Skirmish at Clear Spring, Maryland (McLean's Detachment Cavalry)

Regimental Roster

This feature is not yet available. Check back soon for updates!

Regiment Statistical Information

• Regiment lost during service 2 Officers and 50 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 1 Officer and 106 Enlisted men by disease. Total 159.

Legacy

This feature is not yet available. Check back soon for updates!

Sources

• Dyer, Frederick H. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion. The Dyer Publishing Company (Des Moine, 1908). (Pages 758, 760, 761, 762, 763, 764, 828, 897, 898, 900, 902, 905, 910, 932, 933, 935, 936, 939, 940, 941, 942, 1692-1693)