The 6th Illinois Cavalry Regiment was a
cavalry
Historically, cavalry (from the French word ''cavalerie'', itself derived from "cheval" meaning "horse") are soldiers or warriors who fight mounted on horseback. Cavalry were the most mobile of the combat arms, operating as light cavalry ...
regiment
A regiment is a military unit. Its role and size varies markedly, depending on the country, service and/or a specialisation.
In Medieval Europe, the term "regiment" denoted any large body of front-line soldiers, recruited or conscripted ...
that served in the
Union Army
During the American Civil War, the Union Army, also known as the Federal Army and the Northern Army, referring to the United States Army, was the land force that fought to preserve the Union (American Civil War), Union of the collective U.S. st ...
during the
American Civil War
The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states th ...
.
Service
The 6th Illinois Volunteer Cavalry was mustered into service at
Camp Butler, Illinois
Camp Butler National Cemetery is a United States National Cemetery located a few miles northeast of Springfield and a few miles southwest of Riverton, a small town nearby to Springfield, in Sangamon County, Illinois. It was named for the Illi ...
, on November 19, 1861. The regiment mustered out on November 20, 1865.
Total strength and casualties
The regiment suffered 5 officers and 60 enlisted men who were killed in action or who died of their wounds and 8 officers and 328 enlisted men who died of disease, for a total of 401
fatalities.
Personnel
* Major
Arno Voss – reassigned to
12th Illinois Cavalry February 1, 1862
* Colonel Thomas H. Cavanaugh – resigned March 28, 1862.
* Colonel
Benjamin H. Grierson – promoted to
brigadier general
Brigadier general or Brigade general is a military rank used in many countries. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries. The rank is usually above a colonel, and below a major general or divisional general. When appointed ...
June 3, 1863.
* Colonel Matthew H. Starr – died of wounds October 1, 1864.
* Colonel John Lynch – mustered out with the regiment.
[http://www.rootsweb.com/~ilcivilw/f&s/cav006-fs.htm Illinois in the Civil War website after Illinois Adjutant General's muster rolls]
See also
*
List of Illinois Civil War Units
*
Illinois in the American Civil War
During the American Civil War, the state of Illinois was a major source of troops for the Union Army (particularly for those armies serving in the Western Theater of the Civil War), and of military supplies, food, and clothing. Situated near majo ...
*
Lizzie Aiken, Civil War Nurse
Notes
References
The Civil War Archive
Units and formations of the Union Army from Illinois
1861 establishments in Illinois
Military units and formations established in 1861
Military units and formations disestablished in 1865
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