Cavalry Protocol

[Wallyfish]

Eric Witttenberg's Farnsworth charge post got my attention. I just started reading his Gettysburg's Forgotten Cavalry Actions book. I jumped ahead and read appendix D to see what he says on Farnsworth charge's location.

In that discussion, Maj. William Wells in a letter writes that General Farnsworth horse was shot and David Truman a private in C company gave his horse to Farnsworth.

Was it common protocol for a private to dismount and give an officer their horse if the officers horse was shot out beneath them?

I am always amazed at the courage soldiers displayed. Being in a Cavalry action and being forced to go on foot by either your horse going down or giving your horse to an officer is remarkably scary.

My last question surrounds the Cavalry procedure for those who lost their horse in battle. It would be impossible for them to keep up with their comrades on horses on foot. What were they told to do?

Eric's book is very informative on these forgotten actions. It is always enjoyable reading new material.

 

[Frederick14Va]

It was not a general matter of taught protocol that Ive ever found... Soldiers in that era knew that your commanding officer being absent and missing from the ranks tended to severely hamper your collective efforts, coordination, direction, and duty on the field... Obviously the enemy would most likely target and chase down a ranking officer discovered on foot before they would a private soldier.... We find many such accounts on both sides of soldiers risking their own lives to rescue a fellow pard... an officer... or flag... either tossing him on the back of your own horse... or giving them yours.... Not unusual in that era.... Kinda like jumping on a grenade... its not something that protocol would generally dictate you do... just something personally chosen to do to save others.... They were soldiers indeed...

 

[GABoy]

Cavalry, I think, was mainly mounted soldiers on horses. Calvary was something I heard about in songs the old timers sang in church when I was little. That's all I really know about Calvary.

 

[Eric Wittenberg]

No formal protocol--it just happened.

And thank you for the kind words about the book. There are a lot of years of work in there.

 

[4065921]

Hi Wallyfish,
I was reading Civil War Quarterly, Volume 3 No 1, Spring 2016, and an article entitled "Jefferson Davis's Pets" by Cowan Brew, brought me back to your post. The article is about a cavalry regiment created by Secretary of War Jefferson Davis to fight the Cheyenne Indians. James E. B. Stuart was at the head of a company when it engaged the Indians on July 29th 1857. On page 34 it reads, "Stuart and his comrades followed in close pursuit, chasing the Indians like so many random doggies or loose cattle while the warriors made a life or death dash across the river. When Stuart's horse broke down, he hailed a private and commandeered his mount. Rank has its privileges."

I think this answers your question in that an officer leading a hot pursuit of an enemy must be able to stay in the battle to lead his men and if that means commandeering a mount from a junior then so be it.

An interesting antidote in that article is that during the battle Stuart was shot point blank in the chest by an Indian however due to the poor condition of the weapon, "a decrepit Allen Revolver", the bullet deflected off his breastbone and lodge behind his left nipple, he would live to fight another day."

 

[JPK Huson 1863]

Eric Witttenberg's Farnsworth charge post got my attention. I just started reading his Gettysburg's Forgotten Calvary Actions book. I jumped ahead and read appendix D to see what he says on Farnsworth charge's location.

In that discussion, Maj. William Wells in a letter writes that General Farnsworth horse was shot and David Truman a private in C company gave his horse to Farnsworth.

Was it common protocol for a private to dismount and give an officer their horse if the officers horse was shot out beneath them?

I am always amazed at the courage soldiers displayed. Being in a Calvary action and being forced to go on foot by either your horse going down or giving your horse to an officer is remarkably scary.

My last question surrounds the Calvary procedure for those who lost their horse in battle. It would be impossible for them to keep up with their comrades on horses on foot. What were they told to do?

Eric's book is very informative on these forgotten actions. It is always enjoyable reading new material.

Because I'm not an historian, really have no idea which is the best book out of these? There's no way to judge if you do not posses an extensive base of knowledge. They're all textbooks to me. Have to say this is my favorite- down to re-reading it and the footnotes, like chapters all by themselves. Also tied the rest of the battle together in a way that had been flatly missing

 

[Wallyfish]

Thanks for the replies. I just finished Eric's Gertysburg's Forgotten Cavalry Actions book and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Indeed those Calvary actions have escaped far too many people's attention these days. The lost opportunity chapter is a poignant reminder of what was squandered away late on July 3, 1863. Lots of new material for my eyes.

I was planning to spend time on the South Cavalry battlefield during my next sojourn to Gettysburg. So I wanted to read up on the subject. I knew so little about those actions.

For instance, I have driven by or stopped at the William Wells monument countless of times. I love that monument but if someone asked me to describe what he did at Gettysburg, I doubt I could adequately explain his connection to Elon Farnsworth's charge. But now I think it is burned into my memory bank through this book. I always related Gettysburg Cavalry actions to day one Buford's efforts and the East and South Cavalry fields. I never remembered that the Round Top area had a Calvary action.

Now back to my initial question, I assumed that things just happened when officer's horses went down and that rank indeed has it's privileges for a new mount. Thanks for the comments. But what happened to a common cavalryman who lost his mount in a charge? Was it another just happened scenario that everyman was for themselves? Did other cavalryman allow them to double ride on their mount? Riderless cavalryman on foot had to be a particularly scary experience!

 

[Eric Wittenberg]

Thanks for the replies. I just finished Eric's Gertysburg's Forgotten Calvary Actions book and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Indeed those Calvary actions have escaped far too many people's attention these days. The lost opportunity chapter is a poignant reminder of what was squandered away late on July 3, 1863. Lots of new material for my eyes.

I was planning to spend time on the South Calvary battlefield during my next sojourn to Gettysburg. So I wanted to read up on the subject. I knew so little about those actions.

For instance, I have driven by or stopped at the William Wells monument countless of times. I love that monument but if someone asked me to describe what he did at Gettysburg, I doubt I could adequately explain his connection to Elon Farnsworth's charge. But now I think it is burned into my memory bank through this book. I always related Gettysburg Calvary actions to day one Buford's efforts and the East and South Calvary fields. I never remembered that the Round Top area had a Calvary action.

Now back to my initial question, I assumed that things just happened when officer's horses went down and that rank indeed has it's privileges for a new mount. Thanks for the comments. But what happened to a common calvaryman who lost his mount in a charge? Was it another just happened scenario that everyman was for themselves? Did other calvarymen allow them to double ride on their mount? Riderless calvaryman on foot had to be a particularly scary experience!

I'm glad to hear that you enjoyed it, and thank you for the very kind words.

If you lost your mount, you either found another, or you were a pedestrian.

 

[pamc153PA]

I'm glad to hear that you enjoyed it, and thank you for the very kind words.

If you lost your mount, you either found another, or you were a pedestrian.

I think they called those infantry.

 

[War Horse]

Remember Federal cavalry had their hoses supplied by the government. Confederate Cavalry supplied their own horses. If your mount broke down of was killed you needed to provide your next mount or you simply became infantry. Many men were given ferlows to return home for the purpose of securing a new mount. A practice that was problematic to say the least.

That being said I suppose a Ferderal officer was well within his right to order a soldier to surrender his mount. I'm not so sure a Confederate soldier would be so inclined. I do believe many of the Confederates had multiple mounts in their procession. I know Stuart and Forrest did.

Good question.

 

[FarawayFriend]

I think they called those infantry

you needed to provide your next mount or you simply became infantry

May I ask a bloody beginner's question? Did they really become infantry? If so , what is then "dismounted cavalry"?
What is the difference?
Sorry for my ignorance ...

 

[War Horse]

May I ask a bloody beginner's question? Did they really become infantry? If so , what is then "dismounted cavalry"?
What is the difference?
Sorry for my ignorance ...

They actually did become infantry. JEB Stuart had a large number of them. They were often referred to as dismounted cavalry but a soldier without a horse is infantry. The term dismounted cavalry is also used when light cavalry elect to dismount and fight as infantry. I do not believe a dragoon would dismount. Hopefully someone will come along that can do a better job of answering your question. This is what I believe.

 

[Eric Wittenberg]

They actually did become infantry. JEB Stuart had a large number of them. They were often referred to as dismounted cavalry but a soldier without a horse is infantry. The term dismounted cavalry is also used when light cavalry elect to dismount and fight as infantry. I do not believe a dragoon would dismount. Hopefully someone will come along that can do a better job of answering your question. This is what I believe.

It's not quite that simple.

Stuart coined the term "Company Q" for his dismounted men. Whatever you did, you didn't want to be a member of Company Q. If you were, you were a pedestrian until you found a replacement mount, whether it be a mule or a farm nag. For Confederate cavalrymen, if it was between campaigns, you would be permitted to go home to get a new mount.

If you were a Union trooper, you waited until you were provided with a new mount if you were unable to forage one in the countryside. Sometimes, you would be impressed into service in an infantry role.

Dismounted cavalry was a formal term for units that had originally been raised and designated as cavalry but then formally dismounted and turned into infantry, but still with the designation of dismounted cavalry.

 

[War Horse]

It's not quite that simple.

Stuart coined the term "Company Q" for his dismounted men. Whatever you did, you didn't want to be a member of Company Q. If you were, you were a pedestrian until you found a replacement mount, whether it be a mule or a farm nag. For Confederate cavalrymen, if it was between campaigns, you would be permitted to go home to get a new mount.

If you were a Union trooper, you waited until you were provided with a new mount if you were unable to forage one in the countryside. Sometimes, you would be impressed into service in an infantry role.

Dismounted cavalry was a formal term for units that had originally been raised and designated as cavalry but then formally dismounted and turned into infantry, but still with the designation of dismounted cavalry.

Eric, what exactly is the difference between light cavalry and a Dragoon?

 

[Eric Wittenberg]

Eric, what exactly is the difference between light cavalry and a Dragoon?

These distinctions became obsolete in 1861 when all were designated as cavalry.

Light cavalry consists of lightly armed and lightly armored troops mounted on horses. The missions of light cavalry were the traditional roles: scouting, screen reconnaissance, raiding skirmishing, and communications. They were typically armed with sabers, pistols and carbines.

Dragoons were trained to fight equally effectively mounted or dismounted. They could fight like infantry, or perform the duties of light cavalry.

 

[chellers]

It's not quite that simple.

Stuart coined the term "Company Q" for his dismounted men. Whatever you did, you didn't want to be a member of Company Q. If you were, you were a pedestrian until you found a replacement mount, whether it be a mule or a farm nag. For Confederate cavalrymen, if it was between campaigns, you would be permitted to go home to get a new mount.

If you were a Union trooper, you waited until you were provided with a new mount if you were unable to forage one in the countryside. Sometimes, you would be impressed into service in an infantry role.

Dismounted cavalry was a formal term for units that had originally been raised and designated as cavalry but then formally dismounted and turned into infantry, but still with the designation of dismounted cavalry.

Thanks for your reply, Eric.

What became of the saddles of abandoned horses?

 

[War Horse]

These distinctions became obsolete in 1861 when all were designated as cavalry.

Light cavalry consists of lightly armed and lightly armored troops mounted on horses. The missions of light cavalry were the traditional roles: scouting, screen reconnaissance, raiding skirmishing, and communications. They were typically armed with sabers, pistols and carbines.

Dragoons were trained to fight equally effectively mounted or dismounted. They could fight like infantry, or perform the duties of light cavalry.

So there were no Dragoons during the civil war. Thank you, I've often wondered what the difference was.

 

[Eric Wittenberg]

Thanks for your reply, Eric.

What became of the saddles of abandoned horses?

Sometimes, the members of Company Q carried them. Or they were put in wagons. Seldom were they abandoned.

 

[Eric Wittenberg]

So there were no Dragoons during the civil war. Thank you, I've often wondered what the difference was.

You might find this very old piece on my blog interesting. It discusses the elimination of the various categories of mounted service in the U.S. Army in 1861.

http://civilwarcavalry.com/?page_id=11

 

[E_just_E]

So there were no Dragoons during the civil war. Thank you, I've often wondered what the difference was.

The 1st NY Dragoons will disagree with that

The Regular Army Dragoon regiments (1st & 2nd US Dragoons) were re-designated as cavalry by the Act of August 3, 1861.

So technically, there were Dragoons during the Civil War.