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6th United States Cavalry

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Muster In: Organized by direction of the President May 4, 1861, and confirmed by Act of Congress July 29, 1861.1
Muster Out: Unit existed after the Civil War.2

Commander(s):
Captain Ira W. Claflin
Commander Image

Major Robert M. Morris
Commander Image

Commander 3
Commander Image

First Offensive Order of Battle: Escort | Cavalry Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army3,4

  • Commander: Captain Ira W. Claflin5,6
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Second Offensive Order of Battle: Escort (?) | Cavalry Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army7,8,9

  • Commander: Captain Ira W. Claflin10,11
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Third Offensive Order of Battle: Escort | Cavalry Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army12,13,14

  • Commander: Captain Ira W. Claflin (July 31, 1864)15
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Fourth Offensive Order of Battle: Escort | Cavalry Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army

  • Commander:
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:
  • Note: The First and Third Divisions, 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).16

Fifth Offensive Order of Battle:

  • No longer present at the Siege of Petersburg.17

Sixth Offensive Order of Battle:

  • No longer present at the Siege of Petersburg.18

Seventh Offensive Order of Battle:

  • No longer present at the Siege of Petersburg.19

Eighth Offensive Order of Battle:

  • No longer present at the Siege of Petersburg.20

Ninth Offensive Order of Battle: Third (Reserve) Brigade | First Division | Cavalry | Army of the Shenandoah | Union Army21,22

  • Commander: Major Robert M. Morris (March 31, 1865)23
  • 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 Battles24:

  • Sheridan’s Trevillian Raid June 7-24.
  • Trevillian Station June 11-12.
  • 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.
  • …away…
  • 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.

Bibliography:

    Siege of Petersburg Documents Which Mention This Unit:

    Sources:

    1. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3) ↩
    2. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3) ↩
    3. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 1 (Serial Number 80), p. 231 ↩
    4. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XXXVI, Part 1 (Serial Number 67), p. 186. ↩
    5. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 1 (Serial Number 80), p. 231 ↩
    6. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XXXVI, Part 1 (Serial Number 67), p. 186. ↩
    7. Caughey, Donald C. The 6th United States Cavalry in the Civil War: A History and Roster (McFarland: 2013), p. 126-128: Caughey mentions that the 6th US Cavalry was assigned to headquarters duty at Cavalry Corps headquarters in May 1864 and continued to be assigned to headquarters, where they still were on August 1, 1864. ↩
    8. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 2 (Serial Number 81), p. 550: The Official Records do not list the 6th US Cavalry on the June 30, 1864 return.  Based on other evidence presented here, this seems to be an oversight. ↩
    9. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XXXVI, Part 1 (Serial Number 67), p. 186. ↩
    10. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 1 (Serial Number 80), p. 231 ↩
    11. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XXXVI, Part 1 (Serial Number 67), p. 186. ↩
    12. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 1 (Serial Number 80), page 261 ↩
    13. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 3 (Serial Number 82), page 735 ↩
    14. Caughey, Donald C. The 6th United States Cavalry in the Civil War: A History and Roster (McFarland: 2013), p. 126-128: Caughey mentions that the 6th US Cavalry was assigned to headquarters duty at Cavalry Corps headquarters in May 1864 and continued to be assigned to headquarters, where they still were on August 1, 1864. ↩
    15. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 1 (Serial Number 80), page 261 ↩
    16. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3) ↩
    17. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3) ↩
    18. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3) ↩
    19. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3) ↩
    20. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3) ↩
    21. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 1 (Serial Number 95), page 575: “Organization of the Union Forces” (March 31, 1865) ↩
    22. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 1 (Serial Number 95), page 591: “Return of casualties in the Union Forces commanded by Lieut. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, March 29-April 9, 1865” ↩
    23. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 1 (Serial Number 95), page 575: “Organization of the Union Forces” (March 31, 1865) ↩
    24. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3) ↩

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