Well, Morgan finally tried to bite off more than he could digest. Its the price of boldness.
Total Failure! Is not the price of Boldness. Plus, what did the raid accomplish except lose about couple thousand horses and men....It did not help Lee in PA. if I remember right Morgan's raid corresponded with Lee entering PA.
__________________
"States Rights are about States Wrongs" - Jesse Jackson
Stuart never got capture but was singled out for death by Grant. Morgan just not in Stuart league..
Dear Sir,
I appreciate your love for "Beauty". He most definetly is a Hero of the Confederacy and a most superb cavalry officer.
Did you know that Gen. Morgan was killed by one of his own men? A deserter from the Confederate Army. A galvanized Yankee who upon realizing that he had downed the infamous leader desecrated his remains. Did you know that he tossed Morgan's body over a horse's back and hauled the great general as if he were some type of beast? They treated him like a war trophy and put him on display for the rabble.
What does that say about Yankee honor?
I remember growing up and singing a little song :
Quote:
I wanted to be a cavalryman
And with John Hunt Morgan ride,
A Colt revolver in my belt
A sabre by my side.
I wanted a pair of epaulets
To match my suit of gray,
The uniform my mother made
And lettered C.S.A.
Let's agree to disagree sir. They were both fine men, heros of the Confederacy and great cavalry commanders.
Last edited by OldGreyWolf; 06-25-2008 at 11:12 AM.
Both great soldiers, Mr. King, but more partisans than regular cavalry. Guess I'm being picky, but these men did not funtion as cavalry. They raided Union installations, did their particular brand of work, and disappeared.
Guess it's a fine line that might be explored.
ole
__________________ I never knew a man who wished to be himself a slave. Consider if you know any good thing that no man desires for himself. A. Lincoln
As much as I like Forrest - Stuart has to have my vote. The Gray Ghost would be next.
__________________ Don
******************* "We Can, We Will" Website:http://www.myspace.com/dhpatrick Member of: American Legion, VFW, SCV Served with: 1st Sqdn, 9th US Cav Regt * 4th Sqdn, 9th US Cav Regt * V US Corps Ancestors with:
2d Miss Inf Regt * 2d Miss Inf State Regt * 26th Miss Inf Regt
32d Miss Inf Regt * 50th Ala Inf Regt * 58th Ala Inf Regt
8th Ga Inf Regt * 40th Ga Inf Regt * 4th Ark Inf Regt
3d Regt Arizona Bde (Tx State)
The best cavalryman was undoubtedly some unknown private - probably from a city because life is just that way.
But since the OP implies commander of cavalry, then you have to look at it a different way.
Which officer, if you were CinC, could you drop into any command in any geographic region and be sure of his trustworthiness, his efficiency, his ability to gain the confidence of his troops, and his willingness, ability, and potential for success in fighting the enemy.
That limits things considerably, and I think I can pick two out of the preceding discussion that would do all that.
Sheridan and his henchmen---Custer, Merrit, McKenzie, Devin and that bunch. They used cavalry as shock troops on the battlefield as was proper. They helped win major battles, the only cavalry that did so with perhaps an exception for Wilson at Nashville.
Generally Americans have made pretty poor cavalry, they always wanted to get off the horses and shoot the guns. Good at skirmishing and bushwacking but poor for heavy battle. Look at Reno on the Little Big Horn; instead of driving his attack home he dawdled, dismounted to shoot and was then routed. Had he been thinking like a real cavalryman he would've plowed through. Too bad they left their sabers behind, lances would have been handy too; Poles used both to good effect fighting Tatars and Cossacks on the Steppes.
Best cavalry of post medievil times were probably the Poles, then the Brits; the only American I can envision standing up to Polish Hussars or British heavies is Sheridan.
The role of cavalry changed year-to-year, if not month-to-month, throughout history. Armored knights on their chargers gave way to lancers and dragoons. The mounted charge became obsolete with the introduction of better defensive weapons. During the four years of the USCW, we saw the gallant charge fade in the face of screening and reconnoitering. (There a a few remarkable, traditional screaming charges, but the practical nature of cavalry had changed. Again.)
American cavalry considerably postdates the Mongols and Cossacks and the times when the cavalry was a primary striking force.
But, I ramble.(Did I welcome you to the board?) Sounds like you have a thing or two to teach us.
ole
__________________ I never knew a man who wished to be himself a slave. Consider if you know any good thing that no man desires for himself. A. Lincoln
CivilWarTalk.com -
A free and friendly Civil War community. 
Cornered 
Linear Mode
