United States Regiments & Batteries > U.S. Regulars


The 6th United States Infantry Regiment lost 2 officers and 29 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded and 1 officer and 43 enlisted men to disease during the Civil War. It is honored by a monument at Gettysburg.

1861
April In California
October 31 –
January 31
Regiment concentrated in Washington, D.C. Attached to Sykes’ Regular Infantry, Reserve Brigade, Army of the Potomac for duty in the Defenses of Washington
1862
January 7 Lieutenant Colonel Hannibal Day of the 2nd United States Infantry was promoted to colonel in command of the regiment
March 10 Moved to the Virginia Peninsula.
April 5-May 4 Siege of Yorktown, Va.
May Assigned to 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 5th Army Corps, Army Potomac
June 7 Colonel Backus died in Detroit. Colonel Hannibal Day from the 2nd Infantry took over command.
June 25-July 1 Seven days before Richmond
June 26 Battles of Mechanicsburg
June 27
Gaines’ Mill

Commanded by Captain Thomas Hendrickson, who had his horse killed under him. Captain R. W. Foote was killed, and Lieutenants H. A. F. Worth and D. D. Lynn were wounded. Five enlisted men were killed and 61 wounded.

June 30 Turkey Bridge
July 1
Malvern Hill

Captain Bootes was breveted major for meritorious service in the battle.

July-August At Harrison’s Landing
August 16-2o Movement to Fortress Monroe, then to Warrenton
August 28 To Centerville
August 28-
September 2
Pope’s Campaign in Northern Virginia
August 29 Battle of Groveton
August 30
Second Battle of Bull Run

The regiment lost 6 enlisted killed and Lieutenants C. M. Pyne, A. W. Bickley, and J. P. Schindel, and twenty-five enlisted men wounded.

September 6-22 Maryland Campaign
September 16-17
Battle of Antietam

The regiment was on picket duty under the command of Captain Levi C. Bootes.

September 19-20 Shepherdstown Ford
September 21 At Sharpsburg, Md.
October 29-November 19 Movement to Falmouth, Va
November 3 Snicker’s Gap
Decmber Bivouacked on the north bank of the Rappahannock overlooking Fredericksburg.
December 12-15
Battle of Fredericksburg

Five enlisted men were killed, and 2nd Lieutenant James McKim, Sergeant Thetard, Corporal Kelley and 18 other enlisted men were wounded. Captain Bootes was breveted lieutenant colonel for meritorious service in the battle.

December 17 Returned to camp north of the Rappahannock on Potomac Creek
1863
January 20-24 “Mud March”
April 27-May 6 Chancellorsville Campaign
April 27 Left camp for Harwood Church
April 29 Crossed the Rappahannock at Kelly’s Ford, then after dark crossed the Rapidan at Ely’s Ford, camping on its south bank
April 30 Moved 3/4 miles past Chancellorsville and bivouacked
May 1-5
Battle of Chancellorsville

The regiment lost one enlisted man killed and 23 wounded.

May 3 Two men were wounded in a skirmish on picket duty
May 6 Retreated north across the Rappahannock at U.S. Ford and marched 16 miles to its old campground on Potomac Creek.
June 4 Left camp for Benson’s Mills
June 11-July 24 Gettysburg Campaign
June 13 Left Benson’s Mills for Aldie, Virginia
June 22 Arrived Aldie
June 27 Left Aldie and crossed the Potomac at Edwards’ Ferry
June 28 Attached to 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, 5th Army Corps. Colonel Hannibal Day joined the Army of the Potomac and was given command of the brigade.
June 30 Arrived at Unionville, Maryland
July 2-3
Battle of Gettysburg

Captain Levi C. Bootes commanded five Companies while Colonel Day commanded the brigade..

From the monument on Houck’s Ridge at Gettysburg:

July 2 Arrived in the morning and took position near the line of the Twelfth Corps. The Regiment with the Brigade moved from the right to the left of the line and at 5 p.m. advanced across Plum Run near Little Round Top and supported the Second Brigade in its advance to the crest of the rocky wooded hill beyond and facing to the left engaged the Confederates but returned under a deadly fire on both flanks and from the rear after the Confederates got possession of the Wheatfield in the rear of the Brigade and took position on Little Round Top.

July 3 Remained in the same position

July 4 The Regiment with the Brigade made a reconnaissance and developed a force of the Confederate Infantry and Artillery in front.

Sergeant I. Thetard was mortally wounded, seven privates were killed, and 2d Lieutenant Thomas Britton, eight non-commissioned officers and thirty privates were wounded. Captain Bootes was breveted colonel for meritorious service in the battle.

July 4 The brigade was ordered toward Emmitsburg Road, then returned to the Little Round Top area and was ordered to picket the Devil’s Den. Picket firing continued until after dark.
July 5 Picket line was advanced beyond Emmitsburg Road. At 5 p,m, on the march, camping 4 miles north of Emmitsburg
July 5-24 Pursuit of Lee
August 1 Colonel Day retired from active servce. Colonel E. A. King was promoted from the 19th Infantry to command the regiment.
August 16-11 Moved to New York City and attached to Dept. of the East due to the draft riots. Commanded by Captain Montgomery Bryant, the regiment camped in Washington Park and performed provost duty.
August 11 Moved to Fort Hamilton, N. Y. Harbor under the overall command of Colonel Day. The regiment was consolidated into two companies, H & L, and drilled as heavy artillery.
September 20 Colonel King was killed commanding a brigade at Chickamauga. Colonel J. D. Greene was promoted from the 17th Infantry to take command.
October 20 Captain Levi C. Bootes was promoted to Major in the 17th Infantry.
1865
May 17-21 Sailed to Savannah, Ga. on the steamer Star of the South, remaining there until until October