The Sixth United States Cavalry is honored by a monument and a position marker at Gettysburg.
About the Main Monument
When was it dedicated? Erected between 1907 and 1908.
What is it made out of? Foundation: Concrete. Monument: Polished red Jonesboro Granite. Plaque: Bronze.
What size is it? 24 by 50 inches and 7 feet high.
Who made it? Van Armitage Granite Company
What does it depict? One of 45 monuments erected to units of the United States regular army on the battlefield. A red polished Jonesboro granite monolith that is set upon a concrete foundation with a descriptive 3’6′x3’7′ bronze tablet with the coat of arms of the United States in bronze.
What does it honor? Locates positions occupied by Regular 6th Cavalry during Battle of Gettysburg, July 3, 1863.
How is it inscribed? This monument reads,
ARMY OF THE POTOMAC
CAVALRY CORPS
RESERVE BRIGADE FIRST DIVISION
SIXTH U. S. CAVALRY
Major Samuel H. Starr Commanding
Detachment at Headquarters Army of the Potomac
July 3. Moved at 12 M. with the Brigade from Emmitsburg to attack the Confederate right and rear but was detached from the Brigade to intercept the Confederate wagon train supposed to be near Fairfield or Millerstown. Engaged a superior force of the Confederate Cavalry near Millerstown and withdrew after heavy loss.
Casualties Killed 6 Men Wounded 5 Officers and 23 Men Missing Officers and 203 Men
When was this photograph taken? December 8, 2011.
Where is it located? Located Gettysburg National Military Park, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania 17325. Located on the South Cavalry Field, east of Emmitsburg Road.
Is this monument located along the NPS Auto Tour route? No.
Has this monument been moved or changed? This monument has not been changed or materially altered.
Secondary Monuments and Markers
Monument Title: Marker at the Marshall and Culbertson House.
Photographed: September 18, 2009.
Location: One mile south of Orrtanna on the Fairfield Road in front of the Marshall and Culbertson house. This monument is denoted on the map above by a RED pushpin.
Description: Small marker near Fairfield, Pennsylvania. It was placed by the regiment in 1909. Narrates events of July 3, 1863 that involved 6th US Cavalry. Only 1 of this type of marker erected in honor of US Regular Army. The only marker erected by the US Regular survivors. Monolith of red granite, sides and reverse are rock-faced. Obverse faces is polished w/bronze inscription tablet and seal w/US Coat of Arms affixed to them. AH 7′ 0″, 4′ 0″ wide, 2′ 0″ thick.
Inscription: The Marshall and Culberson House were the temporary field hospitals of the Regiment on July 3rd 1863. The Regiment commanded by Major S.H. Starr was sent to Fairfield to capture a Confederate wagon train, guarded by Jones’ Brigade of Confederate cavalry consisting of the 6th, 7th & 11th Regt’s Virginia Cavalry. Clue’s Virginia Battery, and the 35th Virginia Battalion were met on this road & after a severe hand-to-hand fight were compelled to retire. Brought into action 400. Lost 242. Erected by the survivors 1909.
At Gettysburg
The 6th U.S. Cavalry served as a member of Merritt’s Reserve Brigade in Buford’s Division of the Cavalry Corps, Army of the Potomac.
Commander: Maj. Samuel H. Starr (1810-1891).
Officers Killed at Gettysburg:
- 1st Lieutenant Christian Balder, Company F, mortally wounded on July 3, buried in National Cemetery at C-32
Soldiers Buried in the United States Plot of the Gettysburg National Cemetery:
- Pvt. William Mattun, Company H, D-6
- Pvt. Augustus B. Nelson, Company E, D-5
- Sgt. John Pattinson, Company M, D-7
- Pvt. William R. Reynolds, Company C, D-4
After Action Report: After Action Report of Capt. George C. Cram (will open a pop up window).
Medal of Honor Winners: PLATT, GEORGE C. Rank and organization: Private, Troop H, 6th U.S. Cavalry. Place and date: At Fairfield, Pa., 3 July 63. Entered service at: —–. Birth: Ireland. Date of issue: 12 July 1895. Citation: Seized the regimental flag upon the death of the standard bearer in a hand_to_hand fight and prevented it from falling into the hands of the enemy.
SCHWENK, MARTIN. Rank and organization: Sergeant, Company B, 6th U.S. Cavalry. Place and date: At Millerstown, Pa., July 1863. Entered service at: ——. Birth: Germany. Date of issue: 23 April 1889. Citation: Bravery in an attempt to carry a communication through the enemy’s lines; also rescued an officer from the hands of the enemy.
General Information
Raised: Pennsylvania, western New York, and Ohio.
Regimental History ~ Dyer’s Compendium of the War of the Rebellion:
Organized by direction of the President May 4, 1861, and confirmed by Act of Congress July 29, 1861. Regiment organized at Pittsburg, Pa. Moved to Washington, D.C., October 12, 1861. Attached to Stoneman’s Cavalry Command, Army Potomac, to March, 1862. Emery’s Brigade, Cavalry Reserve, Army Potomac, to July, 1862. 1st Brigade, Cavalry Division, Army Potomac, to September, 1862. 1st Brigade, Pleasanton’s Cavalry Division, Army Potomac, to October, 1862. 2nd Brigade, Pleasanton’s Cavalry Division, Army Potomac, to February, 1863. Reserve Brigade, 1st Division, Cavalry Corps, Army Potomac, to August, 1864. 3rd (Reserve) Brigade, 1st Division, Cavalry Corps, Army Shenandoah, Middle Military Division, to March, 1865. 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, Cavalry Corps, Army Potomac, to June 1865. Frederick, Md., 8th Army Corps, Middle Dept., to October, 1865.
SERVICE.–Duty in the Defenses of Washington, D.C., until March, 1862. Advance on Manassas, Va., March 10-15. Reconnaissance to Cedar Run March 14-16. Moved to Virginia Peninsula March 27-30. Siege of Yorktown April 5-May 4. Cheese Cake Church May 4. Slatersville May 9. New Kent Court House May 11. New Bridge May 20. Mechanicsville May 24, Hanover Court House May 27. Operations about Hanover Court House May 27-29. Destruction of bridges, South Anna River, May 28-29. Expedition to Wormsley Ferry June 2. Operations against Stuart June 13-15. Ashland June 16. Seven days before Richmond June 25-July 1. Operations about White House June 26-July 2. Black Creek June 26. Malvern Hill August 5. Movement to Alexandria August 15-26. Maryland Campaign September 6. 22. Fall’s Church September 5. Sugar Loaf Mountain near Frederick, September 10-11. Petersville September 15. Antietam September 16-17. Shepherdstown Ford September 19-20. Charlestown September 28. Hillsboro September 29. Reconnaissance from Harper’s Ferry to Leesburg October 1-2. Waterford October 1. Charlestown October 6. Reconnaissance to Charlestown October 16-17. Charlestown October 16. Philomont November 1. Union November 2-3. Upperville and Bloomfield November 2-3. Ashby’s Gap November 3. Markham Station November 4. Barbee’s Cross Roads, Chester Gap and Markham November 5-6. Amissville November 7-8. Little Washington November 8. Newby’s Cross Roads November 9. Corbin’s Cross Roads, near Amissville, November 10. Sulphur Springs November 17. Battle of Fredericksburg, Va., December 12-15. Chancellorsville Campaign April 27-May 8, 1863. Stoneman’s Raid April 29-May 8. Stevensburg April 29. Brandy Station and Beverly Ford June 9. Middleburg June 19. Upperville June 21. Battle of Gettysburg, Pa., July 1-3. Williamsport, Md., July 6. Funkstown July 7. Boonesboro July 8. Benevola or Beaver Creek July 9. At and near Funkstown July 10-13. Falling Waters July 14. Manassas Gap, Va., July 21-22. Wapping Heights July 23. Kelly’s Ford July 31-August 1. Brandy Station August 1-4. Advance from the Rappahannock to the Rapidan September 13-17. Bristoe Campaign October 9-22. Brandy Station October 11. Advance to line of the Rappahannock November 7-8. Mine Run Campaign November 26-December 2. Demonstration on the Rapidan February 6-7, 1864. Barnett’s Ford February 6-7. Rapidan Campaign May 4-June 12. Wilderness May 5-7. Todd’s Tavern May 7-8. Sheridan’s Raid to James River May 9-24. Ground Squirrel Church and Yellow Tavern May 11. Richmond fortifications May 12. Line of the Pamunkey May 26-28. Hanovertown Ferry and Hanovertown May 27. Haw’s Shop May 28. Totopotomoy May 28-31. Old Church and Mattadequin Creek May 30. Cold Harbor May 31-June 1. 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. Sheridan’s Shenandoah Valley Campaign August 7-November 28. Sevier’s Ford, Opequan Creek, September 15. Battle of Opequan, Winchester, September 19. Fisher’s Hill September 21-22. Luray Valley September 24. Battle of Cedar Creek October 19. Raid from near Winchester to Gordonsville December 19-28. Sheridan’s Raid from Winchester February 27-March 25, 1865. Occupation of Staunton March 2. Action at Waynesboro March 2. Duguidsville March 8. 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. Expedition to Danville April 23-29. March to Washington, D.C., May. Grand Review May 23. At Frederick, Md., until October. Regiment lost during service 2 Officers and 50 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 1 Officer and 106 Enlisted men by disease. Total 159.
United States Regular Army at Gettysburg
Infantry Units :: 2nd Infantry :: 3rd Infantry :: 4th Infantry :: 6th Infantry :: 7th Infantry :: 8th Infantry :: 10th Infantry :: 11th Infantry :: 12th Infantry :: 14th Infantry :: 17th Infantry :: Artillery Units :: 1st Artillery E&G :: 1st Artillery H :: 1st Artillery I :: 1st Artillery K :: 2nd Artillery A :: 2nd Artillery D :: 2nd Artillery G :: 2nd Artillery B&L :: 2nd Artillery M :: 3rd Artillery C :: 3rd Artillery F&K :: 4th Artillery A :: 4th Artillery B :: 4th Artillery C :: 4th Artillery E :: 4th Artillery F :: 4th Artillery G :: 4th Artillery K :: 5th Artillery C :: 5th Artillery D :: 5th Artillery F :: 5th Artillery I :: 5th Artillery K :: Cavalry Units :: 1st Cavalry :: 2nd Cavalry :: 5th Cavalry :: 6th Cavalry :: Other Units :: Engineer Battalion :: Signal Corps
One Comment
Jenny,
Huzzah! Another cavalry monument, and a Regular regiment at that! 8^)
Sharply fought is a good description of the battle of Fairfield. By the end of the battle, the survivors of the regiment were commanded by a lieutenant.