The regiment was organized as the 2nd Ira Harris Guard in New York City between September 12 and December 19, 1861, initially under the special authority of the War Department.
[4] The regiment was, in fact, at first the protege of Senator Ira Harris, of New York, who had been instrumental in securing the authority for its formation.
[5][6] The recruiting headquarters were at 4 Pine Street, in Manhattan, and the first rendezvous for the command was at Camps Herndon and Scott on Staten Island.
[13] The regiment's new year began with each company receiving a keg of beer followed by a parade through the city ending with a reception.
At that point, the regiment's time was solely devoted to drills, inspections, guard duty, and learning cavlry tactics.
[14] The 6th New York earned a reputation for discipline and orderly conduct seldom enjoyed by a regiment quartered in a city.
[16] On Thursday, March 6, at 9.30 a.m. on the 6th, the 1st Battalion decamped and took train for Perryville, the rest of the regiment being under orders to follow for same place.
Rail cars that transferred between the two stations had to be pulled by horses along Pratt Street down ten blocks to the southwest to Camden Yards.
[note 5] Boarding the B&O at Camden at 10:00 a.m., the men started on the way to Perryville, arriving there at 1:30 p.m., and crossed the mouth of the Susquehanna to encamp there at the head of the Chesapeake Bay, opposite Havre de Grace.
[18] On Monday, March 17, morale improved as each company received ten horses, and all non-commissioned officers drew saddles.
[note 6] They were soon During Pope's Virginia Campaign, the 1st and 2nd Battalions scouted the country south of the Rapidan, and covered the evacuation of Fredericksburg and Aquia Creek.
[note 7] As a result on Thursday, September 4, the regiment crossed the Potomac and joined IX Corps as it left Washington.
[21] The 6th New York scouted the country between Maj. Gen. Sumner's II Corps[note 8] and the right wing, passing through Hyattsville, MD,[4] during its movement on Antietam.
William E. Beardsley[24] sent back reports of skirmishing with rebel pickets at Frederick and that a loyal citizen told him parts of Jackson's corps were preparing to leave.
[25] Being the first regiment to enter Frederick, Col. Devin led the two battalions in small scraps with the rearguard of Maj. Gen. D. H. Hill's division of Maj. Gen. MG Jackson's wing on that day and again on Friday, September 12.
[6][5] Beginning began at 7:00 am, the troopers heard a continual roar of musketry and artillery all around them, and the shells falling among them forced a change in position out of fire.
[29] On September 21, Sunday, four companies were sent east of Sharpsburg, to scout the predominantly Unionist Washington and Frederick Counties for Rebel activity.
[30] On Tuesday, the 6th New York crossed the Potomac and patrolled through Harper's Ferry noting the damage of Jackson's and A. P. Hill's assault just prior to Antietam.
The regiment remained attached to Burnside's IX Corps whose divisions stretched 20 miles (32 km) from Maryland Heights across the Potomac to Hagerstow.
To the astonishment of Washington, McClellan declined to pursue Lee across the Potomac, citing shortages of equipment and the fear of overextending his forces.
Attached to:[32] }} July, 1865 The official list of battles in which the regiment bore a part:[33][34][35][36][37][6] The 6th New York Volunteer Cavalry's detailed service is as follows (NOTE — Battles are Bolded, Italicized; campaigns are Italicized):[38][39][40] Regiment lost during service 9 Officers and 72 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 133 Enlisted men by disease.