Civil War veteran Thomas Benjamin Amiss in U

The 6th Virginia 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 raised in Virginia for service in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. It fought mostly with the Army of Northern Virginia. On September 11, 1861, Kentucky-born West Point graduate Col. Charles William Field, who had commanded the Cavalry Camp of Instruction in Ashland, Virginia with the assistance of Capt.

Lunsford L. Lomax Lunsford Lindsay Lomax (November 4, 1835 – May 28, 1913) was the fourth president of Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College and an officer in the United States Army who resigned his commission to join the Confederate Army at the outbr ...

beginning in late June 1861, was appointed Colonel of the new 6th Regiment of Virginia Volunteer Cavalry. Initially, his Lt.Col. was

Williams C. Wickham Williams Carter Wickham (September 21, 1820 – July 23, 1888) was a Virginia lawyer and politician. A plantation owner who served in both houses of the Virginia General Assembly, Wickham also became a delegate to the Virginia Secession Conventi ...

, and Dr.

J. Grattan Cabell ''J. The Jewish News of Northern California'', formerly known as ''Jweekly'', is a weekly print newspaper in Northern California, with its online edition updated daily. It is owned and operated by San Francisco Jewish Community Publications In ...

of Richmond named the unit's Major. Col. Field initially divided the unit into seven companies, but the Governor's Guard and Henrico Light Dragoons never arrived (instead becoming Company I of the

4th Virginia Cavalry The 4th Virginia Cavalry Regiment was a cavalry regiment raised in Virginia for service in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. It fought mostly with the Army of Northern Virginia. History The Virginia 4th Cavalry comp ...

and

10th Virginia Cavalry The 10th Virginia Cavalry Regiment was a cavalry regiment raised in Virginia for service in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. It fought mostly with the Army of Northern Virginia. Organization Virginia's 10th Cavalry Regi ...

, respectively), so the Clarke Cavalry and Rockingham Cavalry were substituted. Wickham also was reassigned before arrival, so Julian Harrison (a major planter and slaveholder from

Columbia Columbia may refer to: * Columbia (personification), the historical female national personification of the United States, and a poetic name for America Places North America Natural features * Columbia Plateau, a geologic and geographic region in ...

, Goochland County, Virginia) became the unit's initial Lt. Col. Some of the named companies had already seen action; others were newly formed. Col. Field completed organizing Virginia's 6th Cavalry by November, 1861, at Manassas, Virginia. The Georgia Hussars arrived despite Georgia Governor Joseph E. Brown's objection to their having accepted state funds to arm, but following a skirmish near Burke's Station in Fairfax County, Virginia were assigned to the Jefferson Davis Legion of Mississippi Cavalry in December. As shown below, men of this unit were raised in Loudoun, Rappahannock, Clarke, Rockingham, Fairfax, Halifax, Pittsylvania, Jefferson, Frederick, Wise and Orange counties. When Col. Field was promoted to brigadier general of infantry, the unit was reorganized and the Pittsylvania Dragoons, led by Capt. Thomas Stanhope Flournoy's son, added. On April 15, 1862, Julian Harrison was named colonel of the 6th Virginia Cavalry, Dr. J. Grattan Cabell was promoted to lieutenant colonel, and Thomas S. Flournoy became the company's major. Flournoy, a prominent Virginia Whig had been a United States Congressman as well as an unsuccessful candidate for Virginia governor from the anti-Catholic and anti-immigrant

Know Nothing Party The Know Nothing party was a nativist political party and movement in the United States in the mid-1850s. The party was officially known as the "Native American Party" prior to 1855 and thereafter, it was simply known as the "American Party". ...

in 1855. However, by month's end the reorganization changed pursuant to new legislation passed by the Confederate Congress which not only authorized conscription, but also promoted reorganization through election of officers, so 20 lieutenants and captains in the 6th Virginia cavalry failed to win their troop's confidence lost their commissions. The second reorganization that month promoted Flournoy to lieutenant colonel, and John ("Shac") Shackelford Green (despite being voted out as captain) became the unit's major. At this time, the 6th Cavalry and

2nd Virginia Cavalry The 2nd Virginia Cavalry Regiment was a cavalry regiment raised in Virginia for service in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. It fought mostly with the Army of Northern Virginia. The unit was organized by Colonel Jubal E ...

were also assigned to Ewell's Division under Col. Thomas T. Munford's command to reinforce Gen. Stonewall Jackson in the Shenandoah Valley. The unit later served in Robertson's, “Grumble” Jones', Lomax's, and Payne's Brigade, Army of Northern Virginia. It fought in Jackson's Valley Campaign and in the conflicts at Second Bull Run, Brandy Station, Upperville, Fairfield, Bristoe, Mine Run, The Wilderness, Todd's Tavern, Spotsylvania, Haw's Shop, and Cold Harbor. The regiment went on to take part in Early's Shenandoah Valley operations and the Appomattox Campaign. Only 3 men surrendered on April 9, 1865, as most of the cavalry cut through the Federal lines and later disbanded. The field officers were Colonels Charles W. Field, Thomas Flournoy, John S. Green, and Julien Harrison; Lieutenant Colonels J. Grattan Cabell and Daniel T. Richards; and Majors Cabell E. Flournoy and Daniel A. Grimsley.

Field officers

*Colonel Charles W. Field *Colonel Thomas S. Flourney, Commanding Officer on the Sharpsburg CampaignAntietam: 6th Virginia Cavalry
/ref> *Colonel John S. Green *Colonel Julien Harrison *Lieutenant Colonel J. Grattan Cabell *Lieutenant Colonel Daniel T. Richards *Major Cabell E. Flournoy *Major Daniel A. Grimsley

References

*{{USGovernment, url=http://www.civilwar.nps.gov/cwss/regiments.cfm, title=Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, agency=National Park Service Units and formations of the Confederate States Army from Virginia 1861 establishments in Virginia Military units and formations established in 1861 1865 disestablishments in Virginia Military units and formations disestablished in 1865

Field officers

See also

References