The Sixth Pennsylvania Cavalry, also known as Rush’s Lancers, was a completely volunteer unit and one of the finest regiments to serve in the Civil War. Tracing their history from George Washington’s personal body guard during the Revolutionary War, many of the men of the Sixth Pennsylvania were the cream of Philadelphia society, including Richard H. Rush
When formed, they had a distinctive form of weapon issued to them, on the orders of Major General McClellan - a nine foot long wooden lance, tipped with an 11-inch steel blade. Each weighed about eight pounds, and were complete with a scarlet pennant, which unfortunately became a vivid target for Confederate sharpshooters. The troopers would soon find the lance to be useless and burdensome in the field; one trooper lamented that "the officers like it, but the men do not, and the officers wouldn't if they had to use it."
The lances would be turned in on May 24, 1863, about a month before their service at Gettysburg. The men were then issued Sharps single-shot, breech-loading carbines, and assigned to the Reserve Brigade of the Army of the Potomac.
This product was added to our catalog on Thursday 01 January, 1970.
