6th Pennsylvania Cavalry | |
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Active | October 5th, 1861 – August 7th, 1865 |
Country | United States |
Allegiance | Union |
Branch | Cavalry |
Engagements | Battle of Hanover Court House Battle of Gaines' Mill Battle of White Oak Swamp Battle of South Mountain Battle of Antietam Battle of Fredericksburg[1] Stoneman's 1863 raid Battle of Brandy Station Battle of Gettysburg Battle of Bristoe Station Battle of Mine Run Battle of Yellow Tavern[2] Battle of Cold Harbor Battle of Trevilian Station Valley Campaigns of 1864 Siege of Petersburg Battle of Five Forks Battle of Sayler's Creek |
Pennsylvania U.S. Cavalry Infantry Regiments 1861-1865 | ||||
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The 6th Pennsylvania Cavalry was a Union Army cavalry regiment that served in the Army of the Potomac and the Army of the Shenandoah during the American Civil War. It was formed in 1861 as the Philadelphia Light Cavalry and the 70th Regiment of the Pennsylvania Volunteers by Richard H. Rush who also served as colonel from 1861 to 1862. At the request of Major General George B. McClellan, the regiment was equipped with lances which prompted the unit to be known as "Rush's Lancers." The lances proved ineffective in battle and the regiment was issued carbine rifles in 1863. The regiment served in many of the key battles in the Eastern theater of the American Civil War and were mustered out in August 1865.