In the spring of 1862, William G. Phelan was authorized by Brig. Gen. M. Jeff Thompson to raise a regiment of cavalry. Phelan operated his recruitment out of Bloomfield, his hometown. Until is capture on May 11, 1862 by members of the First Wisconsin Cavalry, Phelan had little resistance raising four companies of cavalry in Stoddard County. Those members of Phelan's group that escaped capture show up in later regiments of cavalry (the 4th and 7th Missouri Cavalry Regiments). Unofficially his cavalry regiment was designated the 6th Missouri Cavalry but it never saw official recognition because it never reached the required number of men.
William G. Phelan
William G. Phelan was born in Dublin, Ireland in 1825. Originally his parents planned for him to enter priesthood, but in 1847 he chose to move to the United States instead. Phelan began his life in America in Cape Giradeau after a lengthy trip up the Mississippi River from New Orleans. In Cape, he taught Greek, Latin, and French. In 1850, he moved to Bloomfield where he entered the bar and practiced law. Phelan became a prominent member of the community, owned a nice home on a large farm where he employed four slaves. The home was a large plantation style home with trees that lined the walkway to road from the house. In the summer of 1861, Phelan joined and was then elected captain and adjutant of the 2nd Infantry Regiment, Missouri State Guard, a unit made up almost entirely of Stoddard County men. He was elected colonel of the regiment on September 10, 1862. The regiment disbanded in January 1862 at Camp Blanton near Clarkton, Missouri. The following spring Phelan began raising a cavalry regiment, but he was captured on May 11, 1862 by members of the 1st Wisconsin Cavalry before it was completed.
Phelan's Battalion
Was listed as 6th Missouri Cavalry, but never organized and designation was dropped.
Colonel William Gerald Phelan
1. John F Abshire, pvt. See also 7th Mo Cav
2. Edmond Allen, QM Sgt. Captured February 14, 1863 at Bloomfield, Mo.
3. James Arnold, Captured May 13, 1862 when Phelan was captured. Oct. 17, 1862 joined 7th
Missouri Company B. Was taken prisoner at date unknown. Admitted to U.S. hospital in St. Louis for diarrhea on
November 21, 1864. Released from hospital on December 18, 1864. He shows up again as paroled as private in
Company H, 9th Missouri Cavalry at Wittsburg, Arkansas, May 1865.
4. William Baker, Pvt. Captured May 20, 1862 Phelps Co.
5. Edmund B. Beard, Pvt. See also 7th Mo. Cav. Captured January 27, 1863. Bloomfield. Exchanged, City Point, VA April 1. Joined Co. I 6th Mo. Captured Vburg. Died of
dysentery, July 31, 1863.
6. James Buckley, Pvt. Captured May 13, 1862, when Phelan was captured. “Irish laborer, no fixed residence.”
Captured January 27, 1863 at Bloomfield. Joined Co. I, 6th Missouri Infantry and was captured at Champion Hill, MS.
Exchanged Sept. 30, 1864.
7. John Burke, Captured when Phelan was captured, Irish Laborer, no fixed residence.
8. Thomas M. Canaham, Pvt. Captured January 27, 1863. Died March 9, 1863 of Variola.
9. Abner L. Cate, Captured January 27, 1863. Exchanged at City Point, Va.
10. Nathaniel Cato, Company C. pvt. Captured November 27, 1862 in Stoddard County. Sent to Cairo under charge of
Capt. Boydston, 33rd Iowa Infantry Regt. Exchanged.
11. William H. Faucett (maybe Fossett), Pvt. Captured January 27, 1863 ,
12. David Fields, Pvt. See also 7th Mo. Cav. Captured January 27, 1863. Exchanged April 1, joined Company D, 6th Mo
outside of Vicksburg, captured and went home joined Company B, 7th Missouri Cavalry.
13. William F. Fields, Pvt. See also 7th Mo. Cav. January 27, 1863. Same as David.
14. V. N. Folbright, Pvt. Captured Greene Co. Mo., (maybe ark), August 15, 1863.
15. Calvin Gage, Pvt. See also 7th Mo. Co. B, Captured January 27, 1863.
16. John Hodgins, 2nd Lt. Co. A. Captured at Bloomfield, April 4, 1863.
17. Joseph A. Hope, Co. C, Pvt. Captured November 27, 1862. Sent to Cairo in charge of Cpt. Boydston, 33rd Iowa Rgt.
Infty. Exchanged. Appears on a list of sick Confederates who were put off on the banks of the Mississippi River
from the Steamer Minnehaha at Greenville, Mississippi, December 31, 1862. List was dated January 2, 1863. Also
said Hope died on January 1, 1863.
18. Samuel J. Kelly, Pvt. Captured March 24, 1863, Stoddard County. Captured near Bloomfield, turned over by General McNeil commanding Bloomfield, listed as with “Jeffries Band.” Sent to St. Louis.
19. William Kingsley, “Irish Bill,” See also, Kinsley, 7th Mo. Cav. Captured when Phelan was captured. Irish Laborer no fixed residence.
20. James S. Lewis (same as James M. Lewis), Pvt. Captured May 15 or 18, 1862, Bloomfield. One remark said that he
was under “charges.” Labeled as guerrilla.
21. Reuben H. Massey, Pvt. Captured when Phelan was captured. Died August 20, 1862.
22. Dennis, McCarthy, Pvt. Captured when Phelan was captured. Irish laborer, no fixed residence.
23. Des S. Morgan, Co. F and A. Pvt. Captured November 27th, 1862. Sent to Cairo via 33rd Iowa. Died January 14, 1863 of Pneumonia.
24. William G. Phelan, Colonel, Formally of 2nd Missouri Inf of 1st Division MSG. Captured May 14, 1862. Captured again, November 27, 1862. Stoddard County. Sent to Camp Chase, OH, arrived there January 31, 1863. 5’8” Tall, 40 years old, blue eyes, dark hair
and complexion. Exchanged May 28, 1863.
25. John Philips, Pvt. Captured Bloomfield, January 28, 1862. Died March 1, 1863, Eartritis.
26. William Pratt, Pvt. Captured when Phelan was captured.
27. Robert Rainey or Raney, Pvt. Died of Diarrhea April 12, 1863 in Petersburg Va, North Carolina Hospital.
28. Francis M. Singleton, Pvt. Captured when Phelan was captured.
29. P. T. Slaton or Slayton, Pvt. May 13, or when Phelan was captured.
30. Shelby Slayton or Slaton, Pvt. Captured When Phelan was captured
31. William A. Smith, Pvt. Captured when Phelan was captured.
32. James Ward, Pvt. Captured when Phelan was captured.
33. William Watkins, captured when Phelan was Captured.
34. William S. Welch, no further record
35. William W. Whayne, Pvt. Chaplain, Captured at home (Green Co., Ark), May 20, 1862 - Sent towards Cairo by steamboat Belle Memphis under guard of 37th Iowa Vol. Commanded by H. Young, 2nd Lt. To be sent through the lines by special order 167, Prov. Genl, Dept of the Mo.
36. Walter Wheeler, Pvt. Co. F and C. Captured November 27, 1862. Sent to Cairo under charge of Capt. Boydston, 33rd Iowa Infantry.
37. William V. White, Pvt. Captured Dunklin Co, Mo, August 22, 1862. Listed in Powers’ Co. In Feb 1863 he was 39 years
old, lived in Dunklin Co, born in Murray County, Tennessee. Said that he signed up September 1, 1861 by Cpt. Cole in Camp Hunter, New Madrid County, for 6 months service. Said he could serve his four months voluntarily or forcibly go with them anyway. Was discharged and then captured at home. Said while at home he often went to
Col. Moore’s union camp and then Major Jackson’s, he never joined because he thought it was illegal. Said he was drummer under Col. Phelan and took part in no skirmishes. Only Jackson’s forces were nearby as far as Confederates were concerned. When asked if he was a Southern sympathizer he said yes, when asked if he
desired for South to be put down in the war, he replied, “I don’t know.” Owned no slaves, had a wife and 7 children,
was a farmer. Two brothers fought for South.
38. Henry Whittenburg, Pvt. Company C, also Whittenberg.
39. Berry W. Williams, Pvt. Captured when Phelan was.
40. Barry Winters, no further record.
1. John F Abshire, pvt. See also 7th Mo Cav
2. Edmond Allen, QM Sgt. Captured February 14, 1863 at Bloomfield, Mo.
3. James Arnold, Captured May 13, 1862 when Phelan was captured. Oct. 17, 1862 joined 7th
Missouri Company B. Was taken prisoner at date unknown. Admitted to U.S. hospital in St. Louis for diarrhea on
November 21, 1864. Released from hospital on December 18, 1864. He shows up again as paroled as private in
Company H, 9th Missouri Cavalry at Wittsburg, Arkansas, May 1865.
4. William Baker, Pvt. Captured May 20, 1862 Phelps Co.
5. Edmund B. Beard, Pvt. See also 7th Mo. Cav. Captured January 27, 1863. Bloomfield. Exchanged, City Point, VA April 1. Joined Co. I 6th Mo. Captured Vburg. Died of
dysentery, July 31, 1863.
6. James Buckley, Pvt. Captured May 13, 1862, when Phelan was captured. “Irish laborer, no fixed residence.”
Captured January 27, 1863 at Bloomfield. Joined Co. I, 6th Missouri Infantry and was captured at Champion Hill, MS.
Exchanged Sept. 30, 1864.
7. John Burke, Captured when Phelan was captured, Irish Laborer, no fixed residence.
8. Thomas M. Canaham, Pvt. Captured January 27, 1863. Died March 9, 1863 of Variola.
9. Abner L. Cate, Captured January 27, 1863. Exchanged at City Point, Va.
10. Nathaniel Cato, Company C. pvt. Captured November 27, 1862 in Stoddard County. Sent to Cairo under charge of
Capt. Boydston, 33rd Iowa Infantry Regt. Exchanged.
11. William H. Faucett (maybe Fossett), Pvt. Captured January 27, 1863 ,
12. David Fields, Pvt. See also 7th Mo. Cav. Captured January 27, 1863. Exchanged April 1, joined Company D, 6th Mo
outside of Vicksburg, captured and went home joined Company B, 7th Missouri Cavalry.
13. William F. Fields, Pvt. See also 7th Mo. Cav. January 27, 1863. Same as David.
14. V. N. Folbright, Pvt. Captured Greene Co. Mo., (maybe ark), August 15, 1863.
15. Calvin Gage, Pvt. See also 7th Mo. Co. B, Captured January 27, 1863.
16. John Hodgins, 2nd Lt. Co. A. Captured at Bloomfield, April 4, 1863.
17. Joseph A. Hope, Co. C, Pvt. Captured November 27, 1862. Sent to Cairo in charge of Cpt. Boydston, 33rd Iowa Rgt.
Infty. Exchanged. Appears on a list of sick Confederates who were put off on the banks of the Mississippi River
from the Steamer Minnehaha at Greenville, Mississippi, December 31, 1862. List was dated January 2, 1863. Also
said Hope died on January 1, 1863.
18. Samuel J. Kelly, Pvt. Captured March 24, 1863, Stoddard County. Captured near Bloomfield, turned over by General McNeil commanding Bloomfield, listed as with “Jeffries Band.” Sent to St. Louis.
19. William Kingsley, “Irish Bill,” See also, Kinsley, 7th Mo. Cav. Captured when Phelan was captured. Irish Laborer no fixed residence.
20. James S. Lewis (same as James M. Lewis), Pvt. Captured May 15 or 18, 1862, Bloomfield. One remark said that he
was under “charges.” Labeled as guerrilla.
21. Reuben H. Massey, Pvt. Captured when Phelan was captured. Died August 20, 1862.
22. Dennis, McCarthy, Pvt. Captured when Phelan was captured. Irish laborer, no fixed residence.
23. Des S. Morgan, Co. F and A. Pvt. Captured November 27th, 1862. Sent to Cairo via 33rd Iowa. Died January 14, 1863 of Pneumonia.
24. William G. Phelan, Colonel, Formally of 2nd Missouri Inf of 1st Division MSG. Captured May 14, 1862. Captured again, November 27, 1862. Stoddard County. Sent to Camp Chase, OH, arrived there January 31, 1863. 5’8” Tall, 40 years old, blue eyes, dark hair
and complexion. Exchanged May 28, 1863.
25. John Philips, Pvt. Captured Bloomfield, January 28, 1862. Died March 1, 1863, Eartritis.
26. William Pratt, Pvt. Captured when Phelan was captured.
27. Robert Rainey or Raney, Pvt. Died of Diarrhea April 12, 1863 in Petersburg Va, North Carolina Hospital.
28. Francis M. Singleton, Pvt. Captured when Phelan was captured.
29. P. T. Slaton or Slayton, Pvt. May 13, or when Phelan was captured.
30. Shelby Slayton or Slaton, Pvt. Captured When Phelan was captured
31. William A. Smith, Pvt. Captured when Phelan was captured.
32. James Ward, Pvt. Captured when Phelan was captured.
33. William Watkins, captured when Phelan was Captured.
34. William S. Welch, no further record
35. William W. Whayne, Pvt. Chaplain, Captured at home (Green Co., Ark), May 20, 1862 - Sent towards Cairo by steamboat Belle Memphis under guard of 37th Iowa Vol. Commanded by H. Young, 2nd Lt. To be sent through the lines by special order 167, Prov. Genl, Dept of the Mo.
36. Walter Wheeler, Pvt. Co. F and C. Captured November 27, 1862. Sent to Cairo under charge of Capt. Boydston, 33rd Iowa Infantry.
37. William V. White, Pvt. Captured Dunklin Co, Mo, August 22, 1862. Listed in Powers’ Co. In Feb 1863 he was 39 years
old, lived in Dunklin Co, born in Murray County, Tennessee. Said that he signed up September 1, 1861 by Cpt. Cole in Camp Hunter, New Madrid County, for 6 months service. Said he could serve his four months voluntarily or forcibly go with them anyway. Was discharged and then captured at home. Said while at home he often went to
Col. Moore’s union camp and then Major Jackson’s, he never joined because he thought it was illegal. Said he was drummer under Col. Phelan and took part in no skirmishes. Only Jackson’s forces were nearby as far as Confederates were concerned. When asked if he was a Southern sympathizer he said yes, when asked if he
desired for South to be put down in the war, he replied, “I don’t know.” Owned no slaves, had a wife and 7 children,
was a farmer. Two brothers fought for South.
38. Henry Whittenburg, Pvt. Company C, also Whittenberg.
39. Berry W. Williams, Pvt. Captured when Phelan was.
40. Barry Winters, no further record.
Men Captured May 11, 1862 By the 1st Wisconsin Cavalry
Compiled by Paul Arnold
Men of Phelan’s group captured in May 1862 by members of the 1st Wisconsin Cavalry south of Bloomfield about ten miles. According to Major Henry Eggleston’s letters, when he spoke with Phelan after he was captured Phelan mentioned that he had forty men, this matches the record perfectly from the muster rolls of Phelan’s 6th Missouri Cavalry, which never received the official number designation because most of his men were captured before the regiment could be formed.
- Edmond G. Allen (6th Mo. Cav, Phelan)
- James Arnold (6th Missouri Cavalry, Phelan)
- Edmond B. Beard (6th Mo Cav, Phelan)
- James Buckley (6th Mo. Cav, Phelan)
- John Burke (6th Mo Cav, Phelan)
- John A. Campbell (2nd Mo Inf. MSG)
- James A. Cooper (2nd Mo. Cav. Co. F)
- Sparta V. Curtis (2nd Mo Inf. MSG)
- Jeremiah Furguson (Cpt. of Co. E, 2nd Mo Inf. MSG)
- Jesse Horton (6th Mo. Cav, Phelan)
- William Kingsley (6th Mo. Cav, Phelan)
- James M. Lewis (6th Mo. Cav, Phelan)
- Reuben H. Massey (6th Mo. Cav, Phelan)
- Dennis McCarthy (6th Mo. Cav, Phelan)
- John J. McCollom (2nd Inf. Rgt. MSG)
- Isaac Miller, (6th Mo. Cav, Phelan)
- Joseph J. Miller (Preston’s Mo. Cav Btn)
- Squire Owens (2nd Inf. Rgt. MSG)
- William Phelan (6th Mo Cav, Phelan)
- James M. Pratt (6th Mo. Cav, Phelan)
- William Pratt (6th Mo. Cav, Phelan)
- Francis Marion Singleton (6th Mo. Cav, Phelan, formally in 2nd MO MSG)
- Phiip Slayton (6th Mo. Cav, Phelan)
- Shelby Slayton (6th Mo. Cav, Phelan)
- William A. Smith (6th Mo. Cav, Phelan)
- James Ward (6th Mo. Cav. Phelan)
- William Watkins (6th Mo. Cav. Phelan)
- Berry W. Williams (6th M. Cav. Phelan)