Union service · West Virginia

6th West Virginia Infantry

Discover the people remembered in this unit and the family stories shared by our community.

Regiment archive

Names remembered

30 entries

Company Unknown

Private

No family notes have been added.
Contributor Karen Post CartwrightDate added 7/7/2006

Company Unknown

Rank unknown

James was born in Fairmont, Wv. and died and interred at Mt. Braddock, Penna. He was married to Nancy Edwards. He also worked for the B&O railroad.
Contributor Wesley CambpellDate added 7/11/2011

Company A

Private

I have Jacob's pention records. He is my great grand father. Oral history says Jacob and his brother William Henry Harrison Daugherty were both in this war one fought for the south(William) and one fought for the North (Jacob). Jacob was born Aug 5 1826 and served from 1884 thru 1885. Was released because of Lung Disease..
Contributor Melissa Daugherty HarrisDate added 11/14/2006

Company A

Private

George Seaton Smith is my great grandfather...this information obtained from: Bureau of Pensions record, '$30.000 per month, commencing March 27, 1925'...
Contributor Seva D. HickmanDate added 7/17/2011

Company A

Private

Aaron was my Great Uncle from Baxter, WV. He was a musician with the 6th.
Contributor Kim (Thorne) SharpDate added 6/16/2005

Company B

Private

B.Nov 14 1814 Trigg Giles Co. Virginia D. Feb 15 1888 Athens Mercer W.VA. Enlisted Sep 15 1864 Clarksburg WVA. PVT ,Farmer .
Contributor trisstricklandDate added 11/11/2012

Company C

Private

Henry Scott, Private, Company C 6th West Virginia Infantry. In Service Sept. 12, 1864 until June 10, 1865.
Contributor Luci RossDate added 12/18/2008

Company D

Private

No family notes have been added.
Contributor Larry F. DotsonDate added 3/24/2006

Company E

Sergeant

The 6th West Virginia Volunteer Infantry was organized in August 1861,and mustered out in June 1865 with 14 companies of 100 men each. Their mission in the Civil War was to protect the Baltimore and Ohio and Northwestern Virginia Railways from Confederate forces. 41 soldiers were killed in action, however several hundred died from wounds and disease. The companies were detached along the railway and engaged in many skirmishes and battles...in a sense they were guerilla fighters. The record keeping of the subordinate officers were not well kept and headquarters were recording larger battle engagements. It has been noted that the Union army may have contained more conspicuous regiments, but it contained no more faithful defenders of the nation's cause than the 6th WV Volunteer Infantry.
Contributor david mason shaverDate added 5/8/2012

Company F

Corporal

He died from injuries sustained in a train wreck heading to be mustered out near Wheeling WV.
Contributor Robert C Griffith JrDate added 11/19/2008

Company F

Private

No family notes have been added.
Contributor Charles E. Forquer Jr.Date added 3/19/2006

Company F

Private

From Grafton, WV My great uncle
Contributor Andy RidenourDate added 9/20/2024

Company G

Private

No family notes have been added.
Contributor Ross WardDate added 12/13/2011

Company G

Private

I have quite a collection of information on the 6th WV and would be willing to share information with others who are interested.
Contributor Harley P. DakinHomepage http://harleydakin.tripod.com/Date added 12/14/2005

Company G

Private

No family notes have been added.
Contributor Karen Post CartwrightDate added 7/7/2006

Company G

Sergeant

I am very interested in any and all information on my Great Grandfather Thomas G. Steele. He was born on 4/26/1846. He spent time in the 4th WV Calvary and then a few months in the 6th WV Calvary. He was honorably discharged in Levenworth, KS. He married my Great Grandmother Elizaboth (Jones) Steele in Little Falls County, WV. He was a farmer by trade, a member of the Christian Churcj amd was a Democrat. He belonged to many Lodges.
Contributor Janet C. (Steele) RayDate added 11/20/2006

Company H

Private

No family notes have been added.
Contributor Steven MarquisDate added 12/13/2011

Company I

Private

Please can you add my relative to your database ? He should be added to the 6th Regiment West Virginia Infantry. Also please can you help me to understand certain features of George's records. I am a complete beginner and live in England. George is my GGfather and was born in England in 1817. On his records he seems to have spent several spells in hospital - most notably in USA General Hospital in Cumberland, Maryland. The word 'loss' is mentioned so does this mean he lost a limb or does it have another meaning ? I think George survived the actual conflict but must have died before 1871 as his widow returned to the UK with 5 children in tow. She remarried in the UK in 1872. I have only just found George so I am fascinated to learn more - I just need some help ! With kindest regards, Anne Marie Ainsley from England.
Contributor Anne Marie AinsleyDate added 1/1/2012

Company I

Private

Any information on this man would be highly appreciated
Contributor Rich ToddDate added 10/21/2006

Company K

Private

No family notes have been added.
Contributor Penny CollinsDate added 1/9/2017

Company K

Private

No family notes have been added.
Contributor LorenDate added 8/11/2013

Company L

Private

No family notes have been added.
Contributor Blair CarlsonDate added 7/7/2007

Company L

Rank unknown

Seeking information about John Arthur. I am his great-great grandson. I knew both of his sons in their elder years, but little of John is known. I do know that he moved to Pittsburgh after the war. I also believe that he had brothers who were in the Confederate Army.
Contributor Richard J. ArthurDate added 2/25/2011

Company L

Private

No family notes have been added.
Contributor Ron DarrahDate added 1/5/2012

Company L

Private

No family notes have been added.
Contributor Ron DarrahDate added 1/5/2012

Company L

Private

Elijah D. Goff (sic) enrolled in the 173rd Militia in Preston County under J.H. Shafer in Company D on June 23, 1863 at Rowlesburg. However, the record did not record a period of service and under comments indicated 'enlisted in cavalry for a period of six months.' His military records indicate he enlisted into Co. L, 6th Regiment WV Infantry on June 24, 1863. I cannot explain this discrepancy and suspect he was able to switch from the militia to the Volunteer Army. Perhaps he visited the wrong recruiter on the first day! This was only two months after Confederate General 'Grumble: Jones had threatened Preston County in April and it was especially frightening for families living along the B&O in Newburg where Elijah, his wife and children were living. For the first year after the marriage of Elijah and Martha Ellen Warthen, they lived within a mile of Evansville for a year. Then they moved to the Orr farm and then to Newburg where they lived near the B&O. They were listed in the 1860 census of Preston County. It was while Elijah was working in the coal mines near Scotch Hill (close to Newburg) that he joined the militia and then the army. Elijah enlisted Co. L of the 6th WV Infantry in the rank of musician and he served first at Parkersburg as a fifer for the company. At the time they had 3 children: Martin Luther (b. Oct 16, 1860), Arbell Delilah (b. Sep 1, 1861), and Charles Oliver Gough (b. Feb 10, 1863). Within a few months of enlistment, Elijah was transferred to Rowlesburg. Ellen moved her family to Rowlesburg to be near him, but shortly thereafter his company was transferred to New Creek. It was there that Elijah was among those men who were captured and taken to prison in Richmond, VA on Nov 28, 1864. He was paroled at Aikens'Landing, SC on Feb 17, 1865 and given 30 days furlough starting March 3, 1865. When Elijah returned from prison, either his wife moved near the hospital in Grafton or had been living there because, instead of being admitted to the hospital, he lived at home where the hospital steward brought medication to him. Elijah had scorbutus with a running sore on his back the size of a man's hand. Even after 30 days of treatment, it did not heal properly. Nevertheless,he returned to his regiment in late April 1865. He was unable to carry out his assignments, but was mustered out with his regiment on June 10, 1865. Ellen stated that Elijah started with 'head trouble' while on leave in March and gradually deteriorated over the next few years. After the war, they had more children including Francis Asbury (b. May 17, 1866), William Thomas (b. Oct 17, 1867), Ulysses Grant (b. April 18, 1869), John Wesley (b. July 15, 1870) and Mary Alice Gough (b. Feb 10, 1872). Elijah attempted to support his family by working at a quarry, but couldn't do the job. Then he went to work at the B&O shops in Grafton as a helper to the molders and again couldn't handle his assignments. He gradually became worse, threatened to kill Ellen and complained there was a conspiracy against him. He was finally admitted to the WV Hospital for Insane at Weston on Jan 8, 1872. The 1880 census of Taylor Co. revealed that Ellen Gough attempted to support her family by washing railroad cars. There was very little change in Elijah and in 1901 he was still in the hospital. Unfortunately, he never recovered and died there on Sept 17, 1905. Janet's note: He received a pension for his war service. It stated that he never recovered from his treatment in prison.
Contributor Janet Gough McMurrayDate added 7/3/2008

Company L

Captain

Enlisted 12 Aug 1861 at Mannington at the age of 28. West Virginia Sixth Infantry.
Contributor Tom BrowningHomepage chiefmot@yahoo.comDate added 1/29/2026

Company M

Private

The 6th West Virginia was mustered into Federal service on August 13, 1861, at Grafton, Mannington, Cairo, Parkersburg and Wheeling, in western Virginia. The regiment spent most of its service guard the Baltimore & Ohio railroad line, fighting numerous small skirmishes against Confederate raiders and bushwhackers. The regiment was mustered out of Federal service on June 10, 1865. Future Nebraska Congressman George Washington Emery Dorsey was a major in the 6th West Virginia.
Contributor David James BinegarHomepage www.wvpds.orgDate added 3/14/2008

Company M

Corporal

No family notes have been added.
Contributor Jack RobbinsDate added 9/24/2008

Company Field & Staff

Private

I found that my 3rd great grandfather was a Private in company "P." I found something that said he enlisted october 7th, 1861. Not sure any other information Would LOVE more info!!!
Contributor Alex LindenDate added 5/9/2026

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