6TH OHIO VOLUNTEER CAVALRY

The 6TH OHIO VOLUNTEER CAVALRY was organized at Camp Hutchins in Warren, OH, on 7 Oct. 1861. Composed of recruits drawn mostly from the WESTERN RESERVE, it was authorized by the War Dept. to serve in the CIVIL WAR, as the second regiment in Wade's & Hutchins' Cavalry Brigade. 

In Jan. 1862 the regiment moved to Camp Dennison for drill instruction. In March it was assigned to Camp Chase to guard Confederate prisoners. The 6th Ohio moved to Wheeling, WV, on 13 May 1862. It entered Union field service, joining Fremont at Strasburg during his pursuit of Jackson down the Shenandoah Valley. On 7 June at the battle of Cross Keys, several Ohio cavalrymen were killed. 

After a brief encampment at Strasburg, the regiment moved under Gen. Sigel, who had replaced Fremont. Coming under Gen. Pope's command, the 6th Ohio faced Confederate fire at Rappahannock for 4 consecutive days. On 29 Aug., after the Second Battle of Bull Run, the 6th Ohio, along with the Union Army, retreated to Alexandria. Having passed the 1862-63 winter campaign guarding the passage of the Rappahannock, the 6th Ohio was reorganized for the spring campaign under the command of Gen. Hooker. 

In March the regiment engaged in the battle of Kelly's Ford. Later that spring it confronted Gen. Lee's forces as they moved toward Maryland. Following their engagement at Gettysburg, the 6th Ohio pursued Lee's retreating army and engaged in a series of battles before the winter campaign. While spending winter quarters at Warrenton, several hundred members of the 6th Ohio reenlisted. During the 1864 campaign, the regiment was engaged almost daily in the field, always in the advanced-guard position.

The 6th's campaign opened in May with a series of skirmishes leading up to the Battle of the Wilderness, followed by Gen. Sheridan's raid on Richmond and the Battle of Yellow Tavern. The 1865 spring campaign again brought the unit in pursuit of Lee's army. On 9 Apr., as part of Gen. Smith's regiment, they opened the Battle of Appomattox Court House. Later the 6th Ohio had the honor of escorting Gen. Grant from Appomattox to Burkesville Station.

On 7 August 1865, the 6th was mustered out of service. The regiment lost 5 officers and 52 enlisted men to hostile action, and 4 officers and 177 enlisted men to disease.

After the war, the state of Ohio erected a monument to the 6th to mark their involvement in the Gettysburg campaign. Interestingly, the regiment was not actually on the Gettysburg battlefield, but spent the battle guarding supply trains in Maryland. The monument is located south of Gettysburg, on the Taneytown Road. 

Unit Assignments:

Updated by Meghan Schill

 Finding Aid for the Alcinus Ward Fenton Papers, WRHS.