6th New York 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: Regiment organized at New York City September 12 to December 19, 1861, under special authority of the War Department, as the Ira Harris Guard. Turned over to State of New York as 6th Cavalry November 20, 1861. Companies were mustered in as follows: “A” September 12, “B” September 27, “D” September 28, “C” September 29, “E” October 3, “F” and “G” October 24, “H” October 28, “I” November 2, “L” November 6, “K” and “M” December 19, 1861.¹
Muster Out: Consolidated with 15th New York Cavalry June 17, 1865, to form 2nd Regiment Provisional Cavalry.²

Commander(s):
Lieutenant Colonel William H. Crocker
Commander Image

Major William E. Beardsley
³

Major Harrison White
⁴

First Offensive Order of Battle: Second Brigade | First Division | Cavalry Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army⁵,⁶

• Commander:
• Unit Strength:
• Weapons:

Second Offensive Order of Battle: Second Brigade | First Division | Cavalry Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army⁷,⁸

• Commander: Lieutenant Colonel William H. Crocker (June 30, 1864)⁹
• Unit Strength:
• Weapons:

Third Offensive Order of Battle: Second Brigade | First Division | Cavalry Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army¹⁰,¹¹

• Commander: Major William E. Beardsley (July 31, 1864)¹²
• Unit Strength:
• Weapons:

Fourth Offensive Order of Battle: Second Brigade | First Division | Cavalry Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army

• Commander:
• Unit Strength:
• Weapons:
• Note: The Second Brigade, First Division, Cavalry Corps, Army of the Potomac was ordered to Washington, D. C. and embarked in early August 1864.  More research is needed on the exact date(s).¹³

Fifth Offensive Order of Battle:

• No longer present at the Siege of Petersburg.¹⁴

Sixth Offensive Order of Battle:

• No longer present at the Siege of Petersburg.¹⁵

Seventh Offensive Order of Battle:

• No longer present at the Siege of Petersburg.¹⁶

Eighth Offensive Order of Battle:

• No longer present at the Siege of Petersburg.¹⁷

Ninth Offensive Order of Battle: Second Brigade | First Division | Cavalry | Army of the Shenandoah | Union Army¹⁸,¹⁹

• Commander: Major Harrison White (March 31, 1865)²⁰
• Unit Strength:
• Weapons:
• Note: Sheridan’s cavalry from the Army of the Shenandoah, formerly the 1st and 3rd Divisions, Cavalry Corps, AotP, crossed the James River from the north side on March 26, 1865 to rejoin the Union Armies operating against Richmond and Petersburg.

Dyer’s/Sifakis’ Compendium Info:
Siege of Petersburg Battles²¹:

• Sheridan’s Trevillian Raid June 7-24.
• Trevillian Station June 11-12.
• Newark or Mallory’s Cross Roads June 12.
• White House or St. Peter’s Church June 21.
• Black Creek or Tunstall’s Station June 21.
• Jones’ Bridge June 23.
• Charles City Court House June 23.
• Before Petersburg June 26-July 30.
• Deep Bottom July 27-28.²²
• …away…
• Appomattox Campaign March 28-April 9.
• Dinwiddie Court House March 30-31.
• Five Forks April 1.
• Fall of Petersburg April 2.
• Scott’s Cross Roads April 2.
• Deep Creek April 3.
• Tabernacle Church or Beaver Pond Creek April 4.
• Sailor’s Creek April 6.
• Appomattox Station April 8.
• Appomattox Court House April 9.
• Surrender of Lee and his army.

Bibliography:

Siege of Petersburg Documents Which Mention This Unit:

• NP: August 28, 1864 Sunday Mercury (New York): The 6th New York Cavalry at First Deep Bottom, July 27-29, 1864
• Union Casualties in the Appomattox Campaign: March 28-April 9, 1865

Sources: