6th Michigan Cavalry

[Legion Para]

Id tag which belonged to James M. Wilson of Custer's 6th Michigan Cavalry. Wilson would enlist with Co. C. starting in October, 1862. James and the rest of the 6th Michigan would see their first action under Custer at the Battle of Hanover fighting against the Army of Northern Virginia as part of Lee's Gettysburg Campaign in late June, 1863. On July 3rd they would play a major role in defeating Jeb Stuarts attempted cavalry thrust around the Union Army's right flank. Wilson for some reason was transferred into the Veteran Reserve Corps that September. If he was wounded during the fight at Gettysburg I could find no record of it or any record at all of the reason for the transfer. Seven months later he would be discharged for a disability. The tag features a bust of Lincoln on the front and the reverse reading, " J. M. Wilson CO.C. 6th MICH. CAVALRY. DWAIT. HURON CO. MICH". The word "DWAIT" refers to Dwight County in which James's home town of Caseville resides. If you look under Lincoln's shoulder you can clearly see the engravers name F.B. Smith. This particular disc is documented as having been purchased by members of the of the 6th Michigan Cavalry and more specifically Co. C. Larry Maier and Joseph Stahl verify the fact in the book titled "Identification Discs of Union Soldiers in the Civil War". This example was just recently purchased out of Au Sable, Michigan which is in close proximity to Caseville. James is buried there in Caseville Township.

 

[gocarp70]

View attachment 119241

View attachment 119242

Where can i find a copy of this book?

 

[gocarp70]

View attachment 119241

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Legion para,
where can i acquire a copy of "The Comrades", my third great grandfather was a Corporal in the 6th Michigan Volunteer Cavalry, Company F, and i am very interested in there history.

 

[dmharvey79]

Here is a question I have:

================================================

Background

Company D, 6th MI CAV started with the following officers:

• CPT Royce, David G.
• 1LT Shipman, Seymour
• 2LT Rogers, Horace B.
• 2LT Seager, Schuyler F.

-----------------------------------

• 1LT Shipman was wounded in action at Hunterstown, PA (02 July 1863) and subsequently discharged on 05 July 1864.
• CPT David G Royce was killed in action at Falling Waters (14 July 1863).
• I am unable to find much on 2LT Rogers' service. (pension bill)
• 2LT Seager served through the end of the war and died on 06 November 1883. (photo)

================================================

Who was/were the commander(s) of Company D, 6th MI CAV after the death of CPT Royce? Same for the company's junior officers?

Any answers, or other information specific to Company D, is greatly appreciated.

 

[Sowbelly and Hardtack]

6th Michigan Cavalry Group which was on The Antiques Road Show.

Antiques Roadshow | PBS

Check out Joel Bohy's ANTIQUES ROADSHOW appraisal of this Civil War 6th Michigan Cavalry Soldier Journals from Virginia Beach, Hour 2!

www.pbs.org

 

[Sowbelly and Hardtack]

6th MICHIGAN CAVALRY ID'D CAPTAIN'S FATIGUE BLOUSE: CAPT. WILLIAM HYSER, MICHIGAN CAVALRY BRIGADE

6th MICHIGAN CAVALRY ID’D CAPTAIN’S FATIGUE BLOUSE: CAPT. WILLIAM HYSER, MICHIGAN CAVALRY BRIGADE — Horse Soldier

 

[Sowbelly and Hardtack]

Roster of the survivors of the 1st, 5th, 6th and 7th cavalry regiments of Michigan, constituting the Custer Michigan Cavalry Brigade, 1863-1865.

 

[dmharvey79]

6th MICHIGAN CAVALRY ID'D CAPTAIN'S FATIGUE BLOUSE: CAPT. WILLIAM HYSER, MICHIGAN CAVALRY BRIGADE

6th MICHIGAN CAVALRY ID’D CAPTAIN’S FATIGUE BLOUSE: CAPT. WILLIAM HYSER, MICHIGAN CAVALRY BRIGADE — Horse Soldier

Thanks! Now I just need to find out who commanded the company between JUL63 and MAR64. One step closer...

 

[6thMichCav]

Needless to say, seeing this thread renewed makes me happy.

 

[dmharvey79]

Needless to say, seeing this thread renewed makes me happy.

I have posted about it elsewhere, but my 2nd and 3rd great-grandfathers both served in Company D, 6th MI CAV.

Hardford Harding enlisted at age 18 and his father, Ira Harding (aged 43), enlisted shortly after him. Both served with the 6th from the start, Ira was killed in action on 16 September 1863, and Hartford served through the end of the war (likely becoming a bugler at some point). There is copy of Hartford's letter to inform his mother of Ira's death on another thread here.

I have done a lot of reading and research as I try to learn more about their service/experiences. Also, I now live about an hour north of the site where Ira was killed in action (Raccoon Ford) and I plan to visit that area with my sons this September.

 

[Sowbelly and Hardtack]

Battle of Falling Waters
Union Cavalry Charges Confederate Rear Guard
— Gettysburg Campaign —

Battle of Falling Waters Historical Marker

On July 14, 1863, fighting erupted here at about 11 A.M. between Confederate General Henry Heth’s Army of Northern Virginia rear guard and advance units of General George G. Meade’s Army of the Potomac. (A historical marker located in Falling Waters in Washington County, Maryland.)

www.hmdb.org

"Captain James Harvey Kidd of the 6th Michigan Cavalry was wounded in the foot at this battle. Helped to a nearby house, he remembered "that shells from the enemy batteries hurtled around" and worried that "one would come crashing through the building."
Courtesy Bentley Library
University of Michigan

 

[6thMichCav]

Battle of Falling Waters
Union Cavalry Charges Confederate Rear Guard
— Gettysburg Campaign —

Battle of Falling Waters Historical Marker

On July 14, 1863, fighting erupted here at about 11 A.M. between Confederate General Henry Heth’s Army of Northern Virginia rear guard and advance units of General George G. Meade’s Army of the Potomac. (A historical marker located in Falling Waters in Washington County, Maryland.)

www.hmdb.org

View attachment 477359

"Captain James Harvey Kidd of the 6th Michigan Cavalry was wounded in the foot at this battle. Helped to a nearby house, he remembered "that shells from the enemy batteries hurtled around" and worried that "one would come crashing through the building."
Courtesy Bentley Library
University of Michigan

My GGG grandfather was likely in that charge (Co F). No foot deployment meant no horse holders.

 

[dmharvey79]

I need to make a drive to Falling Waters, and several other key sites associated with the 6th MI CAV, soon. Most of them are less than an hour from me, and Buckland Mills is less than 15 minutes away. I've been holding off until my boys are a little older, although I did take my youngest to a cavalry reenactment at Brandy Station recently (he lasted about 20 minutes, haha).

For now, I am focusing on researching and understanding the various engagements, for background and context (from the 6th MI CAV perspective) when I finally get the chance to put boots on the ground. My sons and I will be at Raccoon Ford on September 16th of this year, to pay our respects to PVT Ira C. Harding on the 160th anniversary of his death there.

I'm happy to link up with anybody who happens to be in the area to visit battlefields in the Northern Virginia or southern Maryland area, or wants to collaborate on research projects relating to the 6th MI CAV. I'm by no means an expert, but I'm eager to learn!

 

[Sowbelly and Hardtack]

Cedar Springs Post Newspaper | Tag Archive | 6th Michigan Cavalry

I highly recommend Rosencrans' book "The Comrades" if you are interested in Company F of the 6th Michigan Cavalry.

Count Phelps, the great-great-grandfather of Sharon Jett, served in Company A.

 

[Sowbelly and Hardtack]

A VIRTUAL CEMETERY CREATED BY RICHARD HOWELL
Sixth Michigan Cavalry
These men all served in or were associated with the 6th Michigan Cavalry during the Civil War.

Sixth Michigan Cavalry: a Virtual Cemetery - Find a Grave

These men all served in or were associated with the 6th Michigan Cavalry during the Civil War

www.findagrave.com

 

[major bill]

This week I was at a small antique mall in Michigan and saw something interesting. It was an very old photo album with photo of Custer's Brigade. When the owner opened up the glass case It was full (over 35) reproduction photos of the Custer Brigade. Sadly they was just well done modern copies put in the photo album. Still I got it for a song so I bought it anyway. At first it did look original.