Virginia 6th Cavalry Regiment

Historical Notes:
The Virginia 6th Cavalry Regiment completed its organization in November 1861, at Manassas, Virginia. Men of this unit were raised in Loudoun, Rappahannock, Clarke, Rockingham, Pittsylvania, Fairfax, Halifax, Fauquier, and Orange counties. It fought in Jackson's Valley Campaign and in the conflicts at Second Manassas, 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. Officers:
Colonels Charles W. Field, Thomas S. 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. Assignments:
Robertson's, W. E. Jones', Lomax's, and Payne's Brigade, Army of Northern Virginia. Battles:
Jackson's Valley Campaign
Seven Days' Battles
Second Battle of Bull Run
Battle of Antietam
Battle of Fredericksburg
Battle of Chancellorsville
Battle of Brandy Station
Battle of Gettysburg
Bristoe Campaign
Overland Campaign
Siege of Petersburg
Valley Campaigns of 1864
Appomattox Campaign
Battle of Five Forks
Rosters:
The roster of this unit contains the names of 2777 men.

Company A (Dulany Troop or Loudoun Dragoons) - many men from Loudoun County
Company B (Rappahannock Cavalry) - many men from Rappahannock County
Company C (Rockingham Cavalry, River Rangers) - many men from Rappahannock County
Company D (Clarke Cavalry) - many men from Clarke County
Company F (Fairfax Company) (Washington's Home Guard)(The Powell Troop) or(General Johnston's Bodyguard Company) - many men from Fairfax County
Company G ( Flournoy Troop) - many men from Halifax County
Company H (The Wise Dragoons) - many men from Fauquier County
Company I (Orange Rangers) - many men from Orange County
Company K (The Loudoun Cavalry or Leesburg Cavalry)
Bibliography for Research:
Hopkins, Luther W. From Bull Run to Appomattox: A Boy's View. Baltimore: Fleet McGinley, 1908. 219 p. Davenport, IA Eastern Digital Resources. E605H79.

Musick, Michael P. 6th Virginia Cavalry. Lynchburg, VA: Howard, 1990. 177 p. E581.6.6th.M87.

Opie, John N. A Rebel Cavalryman with Lee, Stuart and Jackson. Davenport, IA Eastern Digital Resources. reprint of 1899 ed. 336 p. E605O612.

Swank, Walbrook D. Confederate Letters and Diaries, l86l l865. Charlottesville, VA: Papercraft, 1988. E605C66. See pp. 163 82 (11 photocopied pages) for diary of William W. Downer.

Wallace, Lee A., Jr. A Guide to Virginia Military Organizations, 1861 1865. Lynchburg, VA: H.E. Howard, 1986. pp. 46 47 (1 photocopied page). E581.4W35. (Brief unit history).

The following pertinent personal papers are in the U.S. Military Institute's Manuscript Archive:

Nelson, Hugh & Washington (Letters) LeighColl Bk 2: 24 27

Rucker, Samuel B. CWMiscColl

Stone, James C. CWMiscColl

Crute, Joseph Units of the Confederate States Army Midlothian, VA: Derwent Books, 1987. Concise summary of the units service.

Sifakis, Stewart. Compendium of the Confederate Armies...Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, The Confederate Units and the Indian Units. Westminster, MD: Willow Bend Books, 1995. (2 photocopied pages). E547S53.

Southern Historical Society The Southern Historical Society Papers. Cartersville, GA: Eastern Digital Resources, 1998.

U. S. Government Printing Office. Official Records of the American Civil War Davenport, IA. Eastern Digital Resources.

Brock, R. A. The Appomattox Roster. Cartersville, GA: Eastern Digital Resources, 1998.
Originally published as Volume 15 of the Southern Historical Society Papers in 1887 by The Society, Richmond, VA. This book contains 56,000 names of men who surrendered at Appomattox. It shows the mans unit of service and some additional notes.
Rigdon, John C. - Editor Civil War Soldiers Service Records - Virginia. 2012. Davenport, IA Eastern Digital Resources.

Rigdon, John C. - Editor Virginia Civil War Soldiers Index. 1996. Davenport, IA Eastern Digital Resources.

Confederate Military History, Extended Edition. Vol. 4: Virginia. Cartersville, GA: Eastern Digital Resources, 1998. 1295 p. E484C65.1987v4. Contains numerous, scattered references to Virginia units.