Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Company F, 6th US Cavalry Roster, Part I

Company F was recruited in Pittsburgh by Lieutenant Hancock T. McLean. By January 1862, he would command the company, as Captain Joseph H. Taylor had moved to Brigadier General E.V. Sumner's staff in November 1861.

The company was officially organized on August 16, 1861 at Camp Scott, near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Its captain was Joseph H. Taylor, nephew of former president Zachary Taylor. The first lieutenant was his first cousin, Hancock Taylor McLean. No second lieutenant was assigned until Isaac M. Ward was assigned to the company on November 5, 1861. Captain Taylor left the company that same month for a variety of staff positions, and McLean and other lieutenants commanded the company throughout the war. A total of 182 enlisted men served in the company during the war, 31 of whom joined from volunteer units in the fall of 1862. The majority of these soldiers came from the 3rd Wisconsin Infantry, the 1st Minnesota Infantry, and the 9th Pennsylvania Reserve Corps. 52 of them joined the regiment in the fall of 1864, many as draftees or their substitutes.

The roster below lists all of the enlisted men assigned to the company during the war. The rank listed is the highest rank achieved. The date listed is the date the soldier enlisted into the 6th US Cavalry. The officers are not posted, as they appear in separate Fiddler's Green entries.

Brown, John M., First Sergeant, July 1, 1861. Enlisted as a private at Pittsburgh by LT McLean at age 23. Acting 1SG of Company F in March 1863. Discharged at the expiration of his term of service on July 1, 1864 at Lighthouse Point, Va.

Swartz, Emil, First Sergeant, 1861. Enlisted into Co E, 1st US Cavalry October 1, 1855 by Captain Sturgis in Harrisburg, PA. Re-enlisted into the same company by LT Ingraham at Fort Smith, AR on September 1, 1860. Transferred to 6th US Cavalry, date unknown. First Sergeant of company during Peninsula Campaign. Discharged for disability in camp near Falmouth, VA as a First Sergeant. Enlisted into General Service, Adjutant General's Office, HQ Army by MAJ Williams on February 26, 1863. Discharged at the expiration of his term of service on February 26, 1868 in Washington, DC, a sergeant. Born in Berks County, PA. Originally enlisted at age 25, auburn hair, blue eyes, fresh complexion, 5'8" tall. Former trade, butcher.

Wallace, Robert, First Sergeant, July 6, 1861. Enlisted in Pittsburgh by LT McLean. Discharged at the expiration of his term of service on July 6, 1864 at Lighthouse Point, VA as a sergeant.

Buckton, John, Sergeant, July 10, 1861. Enlisted in Pittsburgh by LT McLean. Discharged at the expiration of his term of service on July 10, 1864 at Lighthouse Point, VA, a sergeant.

Croy, Levi B., Sergeant, July 3, 1861. Enlisted at Pittsburgh by LT McLean, age 32. Promoted to sergeant September 1862. Captured at battle of Fairfield, July 3, 1863. Discharged in the field at the expiration of his term of service on July 3, 1864.

Everson, Richard, Sergeant, July 3, 1861. Born Newport, England. Enlisted in Pittsburgh by LT McLean, age 40. Described as short. Promoted to Commisary Sergeant before the Regiment reached Washington. Discharged at the expiration of his term of service on July 5, 1864 at Lighthouse Point, VA.

Hutchison, William, Sergeant, October 28, 1862. Enlisted in Knoxville, MD by LT Claflin. Reenlisted on February 9, 1864 at Camp 6th Cavalry, VA by LT Tupper. Discharged February 8, 1867 at the expiration of his term of service in Jacksboro, TX as a sergeant.

McMasters, Robert H., Sergeant, July 6, 1861. Enlisted in Pittsburgh by LT McLean. Discharged at the expiration of his term of service at Lighthouse Point, VA on July 6, 1864 as a sergeant.

Piedfort, Albert, Sergeant, August 15, 1863. Born in Havre, France. Enlisted in New York City by CPT Arnold. Discharged at the expiration of his term of service on August 15, 1868 at Fort Larned, KS as a sergeant.

Stinson, Sam'l. F., Sergeant, December 7, 1864. Enlisted in Philadelphia by CPT Rodenbough. Discharged at the expiration of his term of service on December 6, 1867 at Camp Wilson, TX as a sergeant.

Walsh, Michael, Sergeant, July 4, 1861. Enlisted in Pittsburgh by LT McLean. Discharged at the expiration of his term of service on July 4, 1864 at Lighthouse Point, VA as a sergeant.

Wiederway, Frank, Sergeant, August 8, 1861. Originally enlisted into Company G in Rochester, NY by CPT Cram. Transferred from Company G to Company F, February 27, 1864. Re-enlisted into Company F by LT Tupper at Brandy Station, VA as a private.

Bopenhagen, August, Corporal, July 3, 1861. Born in Germany. Enlisted in Pittsburgh by LT McLean at age 21. Discharged at the expiration of his term of service on July 3, 1864 at Lighthouse Point, VA.

Donaldson, James, Corporal, July 29, 1861. Captured at the battle of Funkstown, MD as a corporal on July 7, 1863. Discharged July 29, 1864 at the expiration of his term of service as a private.

Froben, Louis H., Corporal, July 3, 1861. Also Von Froben. Born in Germany. Enlisted in Pittsburgh by LT McLean, age 21. Discharged at Light House Point, VA July 3, 1864 at the expiration of his term of service. Enlisted into General Service by LT Carpenter in Washington, D.C. on August 10, 1864. Discharged September 20, 1866 per Special Order 464, Para. 1, HQ Army, AGO, September 18, 1866.

Simonet, Peter, Corporal, July 25, 1861. Enlisted in Pittsburgh by LT McLean. Discharged at the expiration of his term of service on July 25, 1864 as a corporal.

Slattery, Michael, Corporal, July 5, 1861. Enlisted in Pittsburgh by LT McLean. Discharged at the expiration of his term of service on July 5, 1864 as a corporal.

Closz, John, Bugler, July 22, 1861. Also Closs. Enlisted in Pittsburgh by LT McLean. Transferred Company F to regimental band November 6, 1861. Discharged July 22, 1864 at the expiration of his term of service at Camp 6th Cavalry, VA.

Curthin, John, Bugler, July 22, 1861. Enlisted in Pittsburgh by LT McLean. Discharged at the expiration of his term of service in the field on July 22, 1864 as a bugler.

Dietz, Frank A., Bugler, July 23, 1861. Enlisted in Pittsburgh by LT McLean. Discharged for disability on January 12, 1863 in Washington, DC, a bugler.

Adams, Benjamin F., Private, November 21, 1864. Born in Montreal, Canada. Enlisted in Cincinatti by CPT Gordon. Deserted October 15, 1865.

Aldrich, William, Private, November 7, 1862. Enlisted in Knoxville, MD by LT Coats. Discharged at the expiration of his term of service on June 20, 1864 as a private.

Archible, John, Private, July 29, 1864. Enlisted in Rochester by LT Simson. Deserted July 24, 1865.

Armbruster, Jacob, Private, July 9, 1861. Enlisted in Pittsburgh by LT McLean. Discharged July 9, 1864 at the expiration of his term of service, a private.

Bailey, Cloyed, Private, December 10, 1864. Enlisted in Cincinatti by LT Sweatman. Deserted January 31, 1865.

Bailey, George, Private, December 16, 1864. Enlisted in Cincinatti by LT Sweatman. Deserted January 29, 1865.

Baker, Archibald, Private, October 27, 1864. Enlisted in Cincinatti by CPT Gordon. Deserted December 10, 1865.

Balk, Stephen S., Private, July 1, 1861. Enlisted in Pittsburgh by LT McLean. Dropped by appointment as 2nd LT, 6th US Cavalry, August 26, 1861.

1 comment:

Salvarsan said...

Hi -

The William Hutchison listed above is a nephew of my gr-gr-gr-grandfather. I was research William, because I read this in his father's biography:

"William enlisted at the age of 16, in the 3rd Wisconsin; from which he transferred to the 5th Cavalry. He was orderly for Gen McClellan in the Peninsula Campaign and also for Gen Sheridan, while that general was in command of New Orleans."

[We know now that it was the 6th Cav, not the 5th]

I have confirmed he served in the 3rd Wisconsin until Oct 1862, and served in Company F, 6th Cavalry from Oct 1862 until his death in Sep 1867 from Yellow Fever. He had a short break in service between Feb and Apr 1867, which I think accounts for his rank at time of death - Corporal.

I have not been able to confirm his service as "orderly to Generals".

I will be sending for his military records - what there may be of them.

Could you point me toward any other resources that might confirm his assignment to the Generals?

Thanks in advance...