HISTORICAL NOTES:
The 6th Cavalry Battalion was formed late in 1862 with about 400 officers and men. It was attached to the Trans-Mississippi Department and served in Texas and Louisiana until December, 1864. At that time the unit disbanded.
FIELD OFFICERS:
Lieutenant Colonel Robert S. Gould and Major William W. Veser.
ASSIGNMENTS:
First attached to the 13th (Burnett's) Texas Cavalry, but remained with it only a short time when it was withdrawn and became an independent organization. Afterwards, it was placed in Randal's Brigade, Walker's Division, where it remained during the rest of the war.
BATTLES:
The service of this command was in the Trans-Mississippi Department and extended from the Northern part of Arkansas to Berwick Bay, Louisiana. It was engaged in the following battles, meeting and opposing Banks army in his march from Atchafalaya to Mansfield.
The first general battle in which it was engaged was the battle of Mansfield, Louisiana, which was followed closely by the battle of Pleasant Hill where Bank's army was routed and retreated to their transports at Atchafalaya.
Walkers's Division, of which this battalion was a part, was then ordered on a forced march to meet Steele's army then advancing on Shreveport from Little Rock, Arkansas. Steele having heard of Bank's defeat began a retreat towards Little Rock and was overtaken by Walker's division at Jenkin's Ferry on Sabine River where they engaged in battle under unfavorable circumstances, resulting in the loss of many men. Steele succeeded in crossing the river with his army in a demoralized condition and continued his retreat to Little Rock.
Walker's Division was then ordered back to Alexandria on the Red River after a hard campaign of several weeks' duration marching and fighting, the men being very exhausted. This division was in many small battles including "Nigger Hill," Poison Springs, and was marched during hard weather to the relief of Arkansas Post, arriving just too late to render assistance.
ROSTERS:
The roster of this regiment contains the names of 718 men.
Company A, Captain Tullis, of Trinity County
Company B, Captain Viser, of Madison County
Company C, Captain James McLean of Houston County
Company D, Captain W. D. Wood of Leon County
Company E., Captain J. T. Heflin of Houston County