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Were Civil War Cavalries Used Effectively?
Sarah Stanley
FYW- Battle of Autumn 1862
The Union
• The Army of the Potomac started
the way at a disadvantage. By
already starting behind the
Confederacy in horsemanship skills
and knowledge, the Union mounted
forces became an effective fighting
force, but was it too late?
• The horses that were gathered to
create the Union cavalry forces
were small and not raised for fast
and heavy riding.
“Dismount Parade of the 7th New York Cavalry in Camp” Photograph. 1862. Civilwarphotos.net
<http://www.civilwarphotos.net/files/cavalry.htm>
• Commanders were misguided to
model their cavalry forces after
those found in Europe because the
fighting style needed was
completely different.
• The use of a saber charge in battle
rarely resulted in positive results
and became more harmful than
useful.
• Mounted soldiers became used
more for raiding and scouting than
in actually battle because of their
ineffectiveness.
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How could they have been more effective?
• The cavalries’ greatest critics say that both the Union and the Confederacy did not use
their mounted forces effectively during the time of war. During many battles, the
cavalries suffered the least losses, and this was not because of their superb fighting
strategy and style. The spare use of the cavalry during the intense combat gave these
forces what could appear to be amazingly low casualty numbers. Unlike the famous
European cavalries, neither the North nor the South used their mounted riders during
the climax of a battle to determine the overall victor in the face-off. Many historians
have criticized the infamous “charge” of the cavalries as being on the most ineffective
fighting strategies utilized during the Civil War. With the advance of weapons from the
saber to firing muskets and riffles it was easier for an infantry to advance and fight in a
non-block formation than it was for the cavalries to organize themselves for a charge.
The scouting and rampaging duties of the cavalries became want they were known for.
But their skills were developed too little too late.
• But what could have made these forces
successful? Historian Paddy Griffith says that
there are four major components that increase
the success of the cavalry. One factor was the
element of faster mobility that cavalries held
over infantries. This could move a regiment
closer or farther away from the opposing force
faster, creating more opportunity for fighting
strategies to form. Secondly, cavalries need to
be flexible in their fighting style, if the
situation called for it the men must be prepared
to dismount and continue fighting on foot and
Griffith. "Civil War Cavalry: Missed
Opportunities.” Advertisment. Poster. MHQ; the
be prepared to win this way. They were soldiers
Quarterly Journal of Military History 1, no. 3 (April
1989) 62.
on horseback, the soldier part of the
description came first and that meant winning
the battle at all costs. The third factor was a
matter of patience as cavalries had to be willing
to hold back a reserve force that was able to
make a charge if the situation allowed. Lastly,
cavalries, as with any parts of a military
fighting force, needed to adjust and change
with the new technology of the age in order to
keep ahead of the enemy.
“Federal Cavalry Column” Photograph. 1862. Civilwarphotos.net
<http://www.civilwarphotos.net/files/cavalry.htm>
The Confederacy
“General J.E.B. Stuart” Photograph. Civilwar.org<
http://www.civilwar.org/education/history/biographies/jeb-stuart.html>
• They had the
advantage with
better horses and
more experienced
riders over the
cavalry from the
North.
• J.E.B. Stuart’s no
hold back fighting
style accounted
for many
Confederate
victories, but also
some faults.
Notes
Paddy Griffith. "Civil War Cavalry: Missed Opportunities." MHQ; the Quarterly
Journal of Military History 1, no. 3 (April 1989): 60-71. American: History and
Life.
• The
Confederate
cavalry
seemed to be
the naturally
superior at
the start of
the war, but
many fatal
mistakes and
the loss of key
leaders may
have changed
their
standing.
• Southern
cavalry
officers had
issues with
soldier
discipline
• At the
battle of
Gettysburg,
Confederate
cavalry
missed a
chance for
glory
because
they were
off
plundering.
Correspondent, "Suggestions from Paris." New York Times
(1857-1922), Jul 17, 1861.
http://search.proquest.com/docview/91577931?accountid=
11012.