6th Michigan Volunteer Cavalry Regiment
Encyclopedia
The 6th Regiment Michigan Volunteer Cavalry was a cavalry
regiment
that served in the Union Army
during the American Civil War
. It was a part of the famed Michigan Brigade
, commanded for a time by Brigadier General
George Armstrong Custer
.
on May 28 to October 13, 1862 and mustered in October 13, 1862. Among the officers who later joined the regiment as replacements were Thomas W. Custer
, who would win two edals of Honor] while serving with the 6th in the spring of 1865.
The regiment was assigned to what became the Michigan Brigade during the early part of the Gettysburg Campaign
in June 1863. It saw its first actions under General Custer at the Hanover
, Hunterstown
, and Gettysburg
. Armed with Spencer Repeating Rifle
s, the 6th provided superior firepower against the lightly armed Confederate
cavalry.
Sent out to the Old West frontier
following the cessation of hostilities in mid-1865, the 6th, under the overall command of Brig. Gen. Patrick Connor
constructed "Fort Connor" as a supply depot during the Powder River Expeditions
of that summer. The regiment was mustered out of service on November 24, 1865.
fatalities.
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
regiment
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
that served in the Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. It was a part of the famed Michigan Brigade
Michigan Brigade
The Michigan Brigade, sometimes called the Wolverines, the Michigan Cavalry Brigade or Custer's Brigade, was a brigade of cavalry in the volunteer Union Army during the latter half of the American Civil War...
, commanded for a time by Brigadier General
Brigadier general (United States)
A brigadier general in the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, is a one-star general officer, with the pay grade of O-7. Brigadier general ranks above a colonel and below major general. Brigadier general is equivalent to the rank of rear admiral in the other uniformed...
George Armstrong Custer
George Armstrong Custer
George Armstrong Custer was a United States Army officer and cavalry commander in the American Civil War and the Indian Wars. Raised in Michigan and Ohio, Custer was admitted to West Point in 1858, where he graduated last in his class...
.
Service
The 6th Michigan Cavalry was organized at Grand Rapids, MichiganGrand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located on the Grand River about 40 miles east of Lake Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 188,040. In 2010, the Grand Rapids metropolitan area had a population of 774,160 and a combined statistical area, Grand...
on May 28 to October 13, 1862 and mustered in October 13, 1862. Among the officers who later joined the regiment as replacements were Thomas W. Custer
Thomas Custer
Thomas Ward Custer was a United States Army officer and two-time recipient of the Medal of Honor for bravery during the American Civil War...
, who would win two edals of Honor] while serving with the 6th in the spring of 1865.
The regiment was assigned to what became the Michigan Brigade during the early part of the Gettysburg Campaign
Gettysburg Campaign
The Gettysburg Campaign was a series of battles fought in June and July 1863, during the American Civil War. After his victory in the Battle of Chancellorsville, Confederate General Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia moved north for offensive operations in Maryland and Pennsylvania. The...
in June 1863. It saw its first actions under General Custer at the Hanover
Battle of Hanover
The Battle of Hanover took place on June 30, 1863, in Hanover in southwestern York County, Pennsylvania, as part of the Gettysburg Campaign of the American Civil War....
, Hunterstown
Battle of Hunterstown
The Battle of Hunterstown was a minor cavalry engagement in Adams County, Pennsylvania, on July 2, 1863, during the Gettysburg Campaign of the American Civil War...
, and Gettysburg
Battle of Gettysburg, Third Day cavalry battles
The history of the third day of the Battle of Gettysburg has focused on the disastrous infantry assault nicknamed Pickett's Charge...
. Armed with Spencer Repeating Rifle
Spencer repeating rifle
The Spencer repeating rifle was a manually operated lever-action, repeating rifle fed from a tube magazine with cartridges. It was adopted by the Union Army, especially by the cavalry, during the American Civil War, but did not replace the standard issue muzzle-loading rifled muskets in use at the...
s, the 6th provided superior firepower against the lightly armed Confederate
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
cavalry.
Sent out to the Old West frontier
Frontier
A frontier is a political and geographical term referring to areas near or beyond a boundary. 'Frontier' was absorbed into English from French in the 15th century, with the meaning "borderland"--the region of a country that fronts on another country .The use of "frontier" to mean "a region at the...
following the cessation of hostilities in mid-1865, the 6th, under the overall command of Brig. Gen. Patrick Connor
Patrick Edward Connor
Patrick Edward Connor was a Union General during the American Civil War. He was most famous for his campaigns against Native Americans in the American Old West.-Early life and career:...
constructed "Fort Connor" as a supply depot during the Powder River Expeditions
Powder River Expeditions
The Powder River Expedition, or the Powder River War and Powder River Invasion, of 1865, was a military operation of the United States Army against native Americans in what soon became the Wyoming and Montana territories.-Expedition:...
of that summer. The regiment was mustered out of service on November 24, 1865.
Total strength and casualties
The regiment suffered 7 officers and 128 enlisted men killed in action or mortally wounded and 251 enlisted men who died of disease, for a total of 386fatalities.
Commanders
- ColonelColonel (United States)In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, colonel is a senior field grade military officer rank just above the rank of lieutenant colonel and just below the rank of brigadier general...
George Gray - MajorMajor (United States)In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, major is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel...
James Kidd