The 6th United States Cavalry in the Civil War

This is the first scholarly history of the only regular army cavalry regiment raised during the Civil War. Unlike volunteer regiments raised by individual states, the regular regiments drew soldiers from across the country. By war’s end 2,130 men and at least one woman from 29 states and 14 countries served in the 6th U.S. Cavalry. The regiment’s initial cast of officers included two grandsons of a former president, a cousin of Confederate President Jefferson Davis, two cousins of the governor of Pennsylvania, the son of a Radical Republican senator who opposed President Lincoln, and a number of enlisted soldiers promoted from the ranks. The book relies heavily upon primary sources to tell the regiment’s story in the words of the participants. These include diaries and letters of officers and enlisted soldiers alike, several of which are previously unpublished. Official reports are excerpted when appropriate to provide the commander’s view of the regiment’s performance.

Retired Army cavalry officer, Donald C. Caughey has taught military science at the College of William and Mary and Colorado School of Mines and UC-Colorado Springs. He lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Jimmy J. Jones is an active duty cavalry officer as well as a professional genealogist, who has served two tours of duty in the 6th U.S. Cavalry. His history of the 6th Squadron, 6th U.S. Cavalry’s most recent deployment to Afghanistan led to its selection for the LTG Ellis D. Parker Award (Combat Category) and the AAAA Best Aviation Unit of the Year for 2011. He lives in Aurora, Colorado.

Donald C. Caughey and Jimmy J. Jones
Format: softcover (7 x 10)
Pages: 288
Bibliographic Info: 21 photos, 14 maps, appendices, notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2013
pISBN: 978-0-7864-6835-5
eISBN: 978-1-4766-0083-3
Imprint: McFarland

Table of Contents


Acknowledgments ix

Foreword by Eric J. Wittenberg 1

Preface 3

Introduction 5

Part I. Regimental History

 1. Raising the Regiment 7

 2. Learning the Trade 27

 3. The Tip of the Spear 44

 4. To Maryland and Back 61

 5. On the Rappahannock 69

 6. Stoneman’s Raid 77

 7. Beverly Ford 84

 8. The Road North 95

 9. Fairfield 103

10. Headquarters Duty 119

11. Campaigning with Sheridan 126

12. In at the Death 131

Part II: Regimental Roster 135

Epilogue 249

Appendices

  A. Battles and Campaign Credit 253

  B. Regimental Unique Facts 255

  C. Key Regimental Positions 256

Chapter Notes 261

Bibliography 269

Index 275

“This combination background and ready reference is written by a pair of experts in cavalry history, and fills an important gap in US Civil War studies as well as being an effective regimental history. The clearly written historical account synthesizes deep research to reveal a wealth of information”—ARBA; “well researched…one of the greatest treasures to be found in the book is the detailed roster spanning over 100 pages…. long overdue”—Civil War Books & Authors.