6th Regiment, Pennsylvania Cavalry (70th Volunteers)

Historical Sketch:
Cols., Richard H. Rush, Charles R. Smith, Charles L. Leiper; Lieut.-Cols., John H. McArthur, Henry C. Whelan, Charles L. Leiper, Albert P. Morrow; Majs., Charles R. Smith, Robert Morris, Jr., John H. Gardiner, J. Henry Hazleton, Henry C. Whelan, W. P. C. Treichel, Benoni Lockwood, James Starr, Charles L. Leiper, Albert P. Morrow, Abram D. Price, Charles B. Coxe, B. H. Harkness. This regiment, the 70th of the line, was raised in the city of Philadelphia, with the exception of Co. G from Berks county, and was mustered into the U. S. service at Philadelphia from Aug. to Oct., 1861, for three years. The war department gave Richard H. Rush authority on July 27 to recruit the regiment. Col. Rush was a graduate of West Point and late captain in the U. S. artillery service. On Oct. 30 a stand of colors and a set of guidons were presented by the ladies of Germantown, and on Dec. 4, the state colors were presented by Gov. Curtin. In addition to the pistol and saber, the regiment was armed with a 9-foot lance. It left for Washington about the middle of Dec, 1861, and was quartered at Camp Barclay on Meridian hill. Early in May, 1862, it proceeded to New Market bridge, where it was brigaded with the reserve brigade, composed of the 5th and 6th U. S., and 6th Pa., being the 2nd brigade (Gen. Emory), of Cooke's cavalry division, and entered on the Peninsular campaign. After being employed for some days in picketing and scouting in the direction of Hanover Court House, it was under fire in the battle there and captured 80 men and 2 officers. Two squadrons under Lieut.-Col. Smith were detached in the latter part of June to escort the wagon train to Yorktown, rejoining the regiment at Harrison's landing. Two squadrons under Capt. Clymer were under fire with McCall's division at Mechanicsville, and the following day the other squadrons supported Robinson's battery at Gaines' mill. Cos. C and H reported for duty at Gen. Kearny's headquarters on June 28, and Co. F was engaged with Gen. Sumner at White Oak swamp and Malvern hill. The remaining companies served by detachments during the retreat with Porter, Keyes and McCall, and were repeatedly under fire. In addition to casualties in action, malarial fever struck down many of the command at this time. After the evacuation of the Peninsula the regiment returned to Washington until the opening of the Maryland campaign, when it moved with the army and was engaged with slight loss at Antietam. It encamped after the battle near Frederick, three companies being on detached service with Gen. Franklin. In October Cos. L and M were recruited in Philadelphia and added to the command. It was exposed to fire, but was not active at Fredericksburg. After serving by detachments in various capacities during the remainder of Dec, 1862, and participating in the "Mud March" of Jan., 1863, it went into winter quarters first at White Oak Church and then at Belle Plain landing. On April 6, it was reviewed by President Lincoln, drawing attention and praise on account of its novel arms and equipments. It next participated in Stoneman's raid into Virginia, and was engaged in scout and picket duty until June 8. As a part of Buford's division the 6th rendered gallant service at Beverly ford, losing nearly half its effective strength, Maj. Morris being captured and confined in Libby prison, where he died on Aug. 13, 1863. It was engaged at Aldie, Middleburg and Upperville, and arrived at Gettysburg during the night of July 2. In the battle on the 3d it was posted on the extreme left of the lines, near Round Top. In the pursuit which followed it was heavily engaged on the heights overlooking Williamsport and again at Boonsboro and Funkstown. On July 2, while the reserve brigade was still at Emmitsburg, a detachment of 100 men under Capt. Treichel was sent on special duty in the rear of Lee's army, rejoining the regiment near Boonsboro on the 7th, having captured a large number of prisoners and destroyed several of the enemy's wagons, with a loss of 40 men. In the maneuvres which followed in Virginia, the 6th was twice engaged at Brandy Station. With the reserve brigade it was ordered to Washington to refit, but from Oct. 11, it again shared actively in the fall campaigns, being joined on the 13th by Cos. I and E, which had been on detached service at headquarters since March. The twelve companies now served together until the close of the war. The regiment was slightly engaged at the Rapidan, Buckland mills and Sulphur springs ; scouted to James City in November ; and covered the army trains during the Mine Run movement. It spent the winter of 1863-64 at Culpeper, picketing the Rapidan. While here, 140 men reenlisted and received the usual veteran furlough. In February a detachment shared in Custer's raid upon the Virginia Central railroad and in May it entered on the arduous spring campaign of 1864, forming a part of the reserve brigade (Gen. Merritt), 1st division (Gen. Torbert), Maj. Starr commanding the regiment. It was heavily engaged at the Wilderness, Maj. Starr being wounded ; shared in Sheridan's first raid to Richmond ; fought at Old Church and at Cold Harbor on the next day. Before starting on Sheridan's second raid in June it was joined by a number of recruits. The 6th lost 41 men in the action at Trevilian Station, and 326 strong was sharply engaged at Charles City cross-roads in July. It then joined the army in the Shenandoah Valley and was hotly engaged at the Opequan. Co. A was mustered out on Aug. 24, and Co. B on the 28th. At Smithfield the regiment lost 2 killed and 16 wounded, after which it was ordered to Remount camp, Pleasant Valley, Md., where the men whose term of service had expired were mustered out on Sept. 8. About the middle of November it went into winter quarters at Hagerstown, where it received 100 recruits and after rejoining its brigade at Winchester near the end of Jan., 1865, 800 more were received. It shared in Sheridan's destructive raid to Lynchburg, and it moved with that general on his final ride. It lost heavily at Five Forks and fought its last battle on the White Oak road, dismounted, and with only 48 men bearing carbines. The remnant of the regiment was now ordered to Gen. Merritt's headquarters for escort and guard duty, and after Lee's surrender returned to Petersburg, thence to Danville and returned to Washington on the surrender of Gen. Johnston. After marching in the grand review it was consolidated with the 2nd and 17th regiments under the name of the 2nd provisional cavalry and ordered to Lousiville, Ky., where it was mustered out on Aug. 7, 1865. Roster:
The Roster of this unit contains the names of 3350 men.
Source:
The Union Army by Federal Publishing Company, 1908 - Volume 1
Bibliography:

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