Overview
The 70th Pennsylvania Regiment, also known as the 6th Pennsylvania Cavalry, served in the Union Army during the American Civil War as a cavalry regiment. Organized primarily in Philadelphia, with Company G from Berks County, the regiment was mustered into United States service between August and October 1861 for a three-year term. The unit was notable for its early armament with lances in addition to standard cavalry weapons, and it gained distinction for its service in the Eastern Theater, participating in numerous major campaigns and battles.
The 6th Pennsylvania Cavalry was authorized by the War Department on July 27, 1861, with Richard H. Rush, a West Point graduate and former U.S. artillery captain, as its first colonel. The regiment was attached to various brigades and divisions throughout its service, including the Reserve Brigade of the Cavalry Corps, Army of the Potomac. It was consolidated with other regiments at the end of its service in August 1865.
Organization & Service
The regiment was raised in Philadelphia, with Company G recruited from Berks County, and mustered into service at Philadelphia from August to October 1861. Colonel Richard H. Rush was given authority to recruit the regiment, which was initially equipped with lances, pistols, and sabers. The regiment received its colors in late 1861 and moved to Washington, D.C., in December, quartered at Camp Barclay on Meridian Hill.
In May 1862, the 6th Pennsylvania Cavalry joined the Reserve Brigade, 2nd Brigade (General Emory), Cooke’s Cavalry Division, and entered the Peninsular Campaign. The regiment participated in picketing, scouting, and was under fire at Hanover Court House, capturing prisoners. Elements of the regiment were engaged at Mechanicsville, Gaines’ Mill, White Oak Swamp, and Malvern Hill, often serving by detachments and suffering both combat and disease casualties.
After the Peninsula Campaign, the regiment returned to Washington and then participated in the Maryland Campaign, including Antietam. In October 1862, Companies L and M were added. The regiment was present at Fredericksburg but not heavily engaged, and participated in the “Mud March” of January 1863. It spent the winter at White Oak Church and Belle Plain Landing, and was reviewed by President Lincoln in April 1863.
The 6th Pennsylvania Cavalry took part in Stoneman’s Raid and was heavily engaged at Beverly Ford during the Gettysburg Campaign, suffering significant losses. It fought at Aldie, Middleburg, Upperville, and arrived at Gettysburg on July 2, 1863, serving on the extreme left near Round Top during the battle. The regiment was engaged in the pursuit of Confederate forces, including actions at Williamsport, Boonsboro, and Funkstown. Detachments conducted raids and captured prisoners during this period.
Throughout late 1863, the regiment was engaged at Brandy Station, the Rapidan, Buckland Mills, Sulphur Springs, and covered army trains during the Mine Run movement. It wintered at Culpeper, Virginia, with 140 men reenlisting as veterans. In early 1864, the regiment participated in Custer’s Raid and then joined the spring campaign as part of the Reserve Brigade, 1st Division, Cavalry Corps, under General Merritt. The regiment was engaged at the Wilderness, Sheridan’s Raids, Old Church, Cold Harbor, Trevilian Station, and Charles City Crossroads.
Later in 1864, the 6th Pennsylvania Cavalry joined operations in the Shenandoah Valley, fighting at Opequon and Smithfield. Companies A and B were mustered out in August, and the regiment was ordered to Remount Camp, Pleasant Valley, Maryland, where men whose terms had expired were mustered out in September. The regiment wintered at Hagerstown, received new recruits, and rejoined its brigade at Winchester in January 1865. It participated in Sheridan’s Raid to Lynchburg and the final campaigns of the war, including heavy fighting at Five Forks and White Oak Road. After Lee’s surrender, the regiment performed escort and guard duty, participated in the Grand Review in Washington, and was consolidated with the 2nd and 17th Pennsylvania Cavalry as the 2nd Provisional Cavalry, mustering out at Louisville, Kentucky, on August 7, 1865.
Research This Regiment Further
If you’d like to explore this unit’s history in more depth, regimental histories and Civil War reference works offer valuable detail.
Engagements & Campaigns
- Peninsular Campaign (1862): Hanover Court House, Mechanicsville, Gaines’ Mill, White Oak Swamp, Malvern Hill
- Maryland Campaign (1862): Antietam
- Fredericksburg (1862)
- Stoneman’s Raid (1863)
- Beverly Ford, Aldie, Middleburg, Upperville (June 1863)
- Gettysburg Campaign: Gettysburg (July 1863), Williamsport, Boonsboro, Funkstown
- Brandy Station (1863)
- Rapidan, Buckland Mills, Sulphur Springs, Mine Run (1863)
- Wilderness Campaign (1864): Wilderness, Sheridan’s Raids, Old Church, Cold Harbor, Trevilian Station, Charles City Crossroads
- Shenandoah Valley Campaign (1864): Opequon, Smithfield
- Final Campaigns (1865): Sheridan’s Raid to Lynchburg, Five Forks, White Oak Road
Casualties
According to available sources, the 6th Pennsylvania Cavalry suffered significant losses during its service. Fox’s Regimental Losses reports the following:
- Killed or mortally wounded: 7 officers, 72 enlisted men
- Died of disease: 2 officers, 130 enlisted men
- Total deaths: 211
Some details are incomplete in surviving primary sources.
Field Officers & Commanders
- Colonel Richard H. Rush
- Colonel Charles R. Smith
- Colonel Charles L. Leiper
- Lieutenant Colonel John H. McArthur
- Lieutenant Colonel Henry C. Whelan
- Lieutenant Colonel Charles L. Leiper
- Lieutenant Colonel Albert P. Morrow
- Major Charles R. Smith
- Major Robert Morris, Jr.
- Major John H. Gardiner
- Major J. Henry Hazleton
- Major Henry C. Whelan
- Major W. P. C. Treichel
- Major Benoni Lockwood
- Major James Starr
- Major Charles L. Leiper
- Major Albert P. Morrow
- Major Abram D. Price
- Major Charles B. Coxe
- Major B. H. Harkness
Regimental Roster
The full roster of the 70th Pennsylvania Regiment, 6th Pennsylvania Cavalry, including officers and enlisted men, is available for genealogical and historical research. The roster provides details on enlistment, rank, and service record for each member of the regiment.
To view the complete roster, visit the 70th Pennsylvania Regiment, 6th Pennsylvania Cavalry Roster page.
Sources & References
- Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volumes XI, XIX, XXVII, XXXVI, XXXIX, XLVI
- Pennsylvania Adjutant General’s Report
- Dyer, Frederick H., A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion
- Fox, William F., Regimental Losses in the American Civil War
- The Union Army, Federal Publishing Company, 1908, Volume 1
- Contemporary wartime reports and regimental documents