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6th Virginia Cavalry

Editor’s Note: Do you have information on this unit’s role at the Siege of Petersburg?  Please contact us using the Contact button in the menu at the top of the screen.  We are happy to exchange information with other researchers.

Muster In: Organized with seven companies on September 12, 1861.1
Muster Out: April 9, 18652

Commander(s):
Colonel Julien Harrison
Commander Image

Lieutenant Colonel Daniel T. Richards
Commander Image

Major Daniel A. Grimsley
Commander Image

First Offensive Order of Battle: Lomax’s Brigade | Fitzhugh Lee’s Division | Cavalry Corps | Army of Northern Virginia | Confederate Army3

  • Commander:
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Second Offensive Order of Battle: Lomax’s Brigade | Fitzhugh Lee’s Division | Cavalry Corps | Army of Northern Virginia | Confederate Army4

  • Commander:
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Third Offensive Order of Battle: Lomax’s Brigade | Fitzhugh Lee’s Division | Cavalry Corps | Army of Northern Virginia | Confederate Army5

  • Commander:
    • Colonel Julien Harrison6
    • Lieutenant Colonel Daniel T. Richards7
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Fourth Offensive Order of Battle: Lomax’s Brigade | Fitzhugh Lee’s Division | Cavalry Corps | Army of Northern Virginia | Confederate Army8

  • Commander: Lieutenant Colonel Daniel T. Richards9
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:
  • Note: Fitz Lee’s Cavalry Division was ordered to join Early in the Shenandoah Valley on August 8, 1864 and actually reached his army on August 18, 1864.10

Fifth Offensive Order of Battle:

  • Not at the Siege of Petersburg.11

Sixth Offensive Order of Battle:

  • Not at the Siege of Petersburg.12

Seventh Offensive Order of Battle:

  • Not at the Siege of Petersburg.13

Eighth Offensive Order of Battle: Payne’s Cavalry Brigade | Fitzhugh Lee’s Division | Cavalry Corps | Army of Northern Virginia | Confederate Army14,15,16

  • Commander: Lieutenant Colonel Daniel T. Richards (February 1865)17
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:
  • Note: Returned to the Siege of Petersburg in late January-early February 1865. Payne’s Cavalry Brigade, minus the 36th Virginia Cavalry Battalion, arrived in the Richmond area by February 24, 1865.18,19

Ninth Offensive Order of Battle: Payne’s Cavalry Brigade | Fitzhugh Lee’s Division | Cavalry Corps | Army of Northern Virginia | Confederate Army20,21

  • Commander:
    • Lieutenant Colonel Daniel T. Richards (left March 10 and was admitted to the hospital)(returned to duty April 2)(March & April 2, 1865)22,23
    • Major Daniel A. Grimsley (after Lt. Col. Richards left in March)(also commanded the brigade at times in March)(relinquished command when Lt. Col. Richards returned April 2)(March & April 1-2, 1865)24,25
    • ? (while Lt. Col. Richards was in the hospital and Major Grimsley was temporarily commanding the brigade)(March 1865)26
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:
  • Note: Payne’s Cavalry Brigade, minus the 36th Virginia Cavalry Battalion, arrived in the Richmond area by February 24, 1865.27

Dyer’s/Sifakis’ Compendium Info:
Siege of Petersburg Battles28:

  • Trevilian Station (June 11-12, 1864)
  • Petersburg Siege (June 1864-April 1865)
  • Reams’ Station (June 29, 1864)
  • Five Forks (April 1, 1865)
  • High Bridge (April 7, 1865)
  • Appomattox Court House (April 9, 1865)

Bibliography:

    Siege of Petersburg Documents Which Mention This Unit:

    Sources:

    1. Compendium of the Confederate Armies: Virginia by Stewart Sifakis, pp. 111-113
    2. Compendium of the Confederate Armies: Virginia by Stewart Sifakis, pp. 111-113
    3. The Confederate Order of Battle, Volume 1: The Army of Northern Virginia by F. Ray Sibley, Jr., p. 114
    4. The Confederate Order of Battle, Volume 1: The Army of Northern Virginia by F. Ray Sibley, Jr., p. 114
    5. The Confederate Order of Battle, Volume 1: The Army of Northern Virginia by F. Ray Sibley, Jr., page 123
    6. The Confederate Order of Battle, Volume 1: The Army of Northern Virginia by F. Ray Sibley, Jr., page 123
    7. The Confederate Order of Battle, Volume 1: The Army of Northern Virginia by F. Ray Sibley, Jr., page 123
    8. The Confederate Order of Battle, Volume 1: The Army of Northern Virginia by F. Ray Sibley, Jr., page 132
    9. The Confederate Order of Battle, Volume 1: The Army of Northern Virginia by F. Ray Sibley, Jr., page 132
    10. The Confederate Order of Battle, Volume 1: The Army of Northern Virginia by F. Ray Sibley, Jr., page 132
    11. Compendium of the Confederate Armies: Virginia by Stewart Sifakis, pp. 111-113
    12. Compendium of the Confederate Armies: Virginia by Stewart Sifakis, pp. 111-113
    13. Compendium of the Confederate Armies: Virginia by Stewart Sifakis, pp. 111-113
    14. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 2 (Serial Number 96), page 1175: “Organization of the Army of Northern Virginia, commanded by General R. E. Lee, January 31, 1865”; This list contains many commanders who were not there.  They were the “official” commanders but may have been gone on leave.  I have used none of the leaders from this list as a result.
    15. The Confederate Order of Battle, Volume 1: The Army of Northern Virginia by F. Ray Sibley, Jr., page 187
    16. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 2 (Serial Number 96), page 1274: “Organization of the Infantry and Cavalry of the Army of Northern Virginia, General R. E. Lee, C. S. Army, commanding, February 28, 1865”; This order of battle was based off of inspection reports from February 28, 1865.  However, leaders listed are from January.  I’ve chosen to ignore the leaders and just use this source for the organization of the order of battle.
    17. The Confederate Order of Battle, Volume 1: The Army of Northern Virginia by F. Ray Sibley, Jr., page 187
    18. The Confederate Order of Battle, Volume 1: The Army of Northern Virginia by F. Ray Sibley, Jr., page 187
    19. Compendium of the Confederate Armies: Virginia by Stewart Sifakis, pp. 111-113: More research is needed as to the exact date.
    20. The Confederate Order of Battle, Volume 1: The Army of Northern Virginia by F. Ray Sibley, Jr., page 196
    21. The Confederate Order of Battle, Volume 1: The Army of Northern Virginia by F. Ray Sibley, Jr., page 205
    22. The Confederate Order of Battle, Volume 1: The Army of Northern Virginia by F. Ray Sibley, Jr., page 196
    23. The Confederate Order of Battle, Volume 1: The Army of Northern Virginia by F. Ray Sibley, Jr., page 205
    24. The Confederate Order of Battle, Volume 1: The Army of Northern Virginia by F. Ray Sibley, Jr., page 196
    25. The Confederate Order of Battle, Volume 1: The Army of Northern Virginia by F. Ray Sibley, Jr., page 205
    26. The Confederate Order of Battle, Volume 1: The Army of Northern Virginia by F. Ray Sibley, Jr., page 196
    27. The Confederate Order of Battle, Volume 1: The Army of Northern Virginia by F. Ray Sibley, Jr., page 187
    28. Compendium of the Confederate Armies: Virginia by Stewart Sifakis, pp. 111-113
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