"The only thing that bothers me about the above method is this 14 February 1862 statement in the MO Adj General's office report for the origins of the 6th Missour Cavalry: 'The battalions of cavalry known as [Clark] Wright's, and [Samuel N.] Wood's battalions, and Captain Henry P.Hawkins' company are hereby consolidated and designated the 6th Regiment of Cavalry, Missouri Volunteers...The colonels of the regiments named above will immediately distribute parts of companies and unassigned recruits attached to their commands, among the organized companies of their respective regiments...' This could mean that Captain Hawkins had to spread his men out among two or three companies, but, of course, that would play havoc with the unit integrity that his company had developed in several months of campaigning. I personally doubt that he had to do that, but it is a possibility."

Bruce and Jim, I think this concerns new recruits and partially completed recruit companies that were in the process of forming when the consolidation occurred. No doubt Hawkins Company was an "organized company" as opposed to part of a company. While this Special Order 22 is included in the history of the 6th Missouri Cavalry in the Missouri Adjutant General's Report, it is just a partial extract from a much lengthier order referencing other regiments. Bruce, where you begin your quote from the special order--that is Paragraph VIII of the order. Paragraphs VI and VII also pertain to the 6th Missouri Cavalry. Omitted from the regimental history are Paragraphs I through V, which almost certainly pertain to other regiments and probably contain context regarding which would put that paragraph VIII in a clearer light. I suspect you are right on the money in regard to Company F, since it seems to have mustered in at Pilot Knob while the rest of the companies were from outside the area.