Sixth Regiment West Virginia Volunteers
United States of America

       The Sixth Regiment West Virginia Volunteers Infantry was organized at Grafton, Mannington, Cairo, Parkersburg and Wheeling, W. Va., August 13 to December 26, 1861. The Sixth was attached to several Districts, such as the Railroad District, West Virginia, until March, 1862. the Railroad District, Mountain Department, until July, 1862, the Railroad District, 8th Army Corps, Middle Department, through September, 1862. They were later attached to the Railroad District, West Virginia, until January, 1863. Clarksburg, W. Va., the 8th Army Corps, to March, 1863. 6th Brigade, 1st Division, 8th Army Corps, to June, 1863.

       The Sixth Regiment continued until several other commands, such as, Wilkinson's Brigade, Scammon's Division, Dept. of West Virginia, to December, 1863. 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, West Virginia, to April, 1864. Kelly's Command, Reserve Division, West Virginia, to April, 1865. 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, West Virginia, to June, 1865.

       During all this time the purpose of the Sixth Regiment Infantry remained the same, duties of protecting and maintaining the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad which ran from Cumberland, MD through West Virginia to Parkersburg and Wheeling delivery troops, equipment, and supplies to assist the Union Forces during the Civil War.

       The Sixth Regiment was organized for railroad guard duty and served on line of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad by detachments, at various points west of Sleepy Hollow for the entire term. Raided from Fairmont to Valley River and Bootheville April 12, 1862 (Co. "A"). Had one skirmish at Valley River April 12 (Co. "A"), A skirmish at Big Bend June 7. A skirmish at Weston August 31 (2 Cos.). A skirmish at Weston September 3 (Detachment). A skirmish at Standing Stone September 28. The capture of St. George November 9 (Co. "B"). A skirmish at Johnstown April 18, 1863 (Detachment). A skirmish at Rowlesburg April 23. Rowlesburg and Portland April 26. Oakland, Md., April 26 (1 Co.). A skirmish at Bridgeport April 29 (Detachment), Fairmont April 29 (Detachment). Bridgeport April 30, Sutton August 26 (Cos. "G" and "I"). Was at Ball's Mills and on Elk River August 27 (Detachment). Also Bulltown, Braxton County, October 13, 1863 (Detachment). Another skirmish at Bulltown May 3, 1864 (Detachment), The South Branch Bridge July 4 (Detachment). Patterson's Creek Bridge July 4 (Detachment), Back Creek Bridge July 27 (Detachment), Cumberland, Md., August 1 (1 Co.), New Creek August 4 (2 Cos.), Bulltown August 20 (Detachment), Sutton August 24 (Detachment), Nutter Hill August 27 (Detachment), and New Creek November 28 (Detachment). The Regiment was mustered out June 10, 1865.

       The Regiments loses during service were listed as 8 Enlisted men killed or mortally wounded including 2 Officers and 167 Enlisted men by disease making a total of 177 dead.

Samuel Asbury McRobie
Private Company "O" Sixth Regiment West Virginia Volunteer Infantry, USA

       Samuel Asbury McRobie, was a Pvt. in Company “O” Sixth Regiment Infantry, USA. He volunteered on December 14, 1861 and reported for duty on December 30, 1861 in Oakland, MD enlisting for a period of three years He served honorably from that date until his discharge on December 19, 1864 at Oakland MD “Honorable discharge by reason of Expiration of Term of Service.”

       The only man that Samuel knew that he killed during the war did not happen while serving in WV. His company was located in Preston County and since it was just a short trip by the train to Oakland he requested a furlough to visit his family. While in Oakland, and in uniform, he was walking down the main street of Oakland and was confronted by a Confederate Soldier also a citizen of Oakland. He had no choice but to defend himself since the "Johnny Rep" was determined to kill him. As the fight progressed Samuel managed to reach for a pick handle on display in a wooden barrel on the porch of the General Store and struck the Confederate Soldier on the head. He left the scene of the fight and returned to his unit in Preston County, reporting what he had done. Being that the fight and subsequent death of the soldier happened in Oakland MD, a warrant was issue by the Sheriff of Westernport for the apprehension and arrest of Samuel A. McCrobie for murder.

       The Sheriff went to the Company “O” headquarters with the warrant and demanded that the US Army turn Samuel A. McCrobie over to the Sheriff for prosecution in Westernport. The Sheriff was informed by Samuel's commanding officer that since he was a member of the Union Army, his duty was to meet and destroy the enemy which he had done without hesitation. The Sheriff was also told that if by any chance the Confederate States of America would succeed in winning the war then Private McRobie would be available to be arrested. Of course, the war was won by the north so the warrant was never served and Samuel returned to Oakland, MD a free man and lived out his remaining years on his farm, today, located beneath Deep Creek Lake, a large resort area near Oakland.

       Samuel died on January 2, 1899 at the age of 59 leaving a widow and three children. Shortly after his death Sarah (Weimer) McRobie, his widow, applied for a Union Army veteran's pension and was awarded eight dollars ($8.00) per month which she drew until her death in 1919.