Civil War Mounted Infantry

[10th Michigan Infantry]

In my rather recent studies of the February 1864 Florida Expedition, and the Battle of Olustee which followed, I became quite intimately acquainted with the 40th Massachusetts Mounted Infantry, commanded by Colonel Guy Henry. It led me to a bigger question which I hope to ask here, what was the exact purpose of mounted infantry during the Civil War? It seems like Henry's regiment was used just like any other cavalry regiment during the Florida Campaign, and were specifically put inside of Seymour's Cavalry Brigade. Was mounted infantry simply used like cavalry, or did they have a specific and unique role?

 

[7thWisconsin]

This subject has been popular lately. Here´s a thread with a lot of answers for your questions:

What is a "Mounted Infantry?" | Questions? Ask Here! No Stone Left Unturned!

What is a "mounted infantry" and what are the ways they differ from a cavalry? In all honesty, I thought I had a good idea what the answer was, but then started seeing the mounted infantries listed in the Battle Order alongside the cavalries, and now I am all confused.

civilwartalk.com

 

[RedRover]

The cavalry could fight on horseback, with saber/pistol, or perhaps even carbine in hand. Perhaps more often fought on foot, with carbines, in skirmish order, and so were much like "mounted riflemen." Did not have bayonets, and were not considered capable or suitable to deliver or receive "shock" of an opposing infantry line of battle on foot.

The mounted infantry had rifles with bayonets, and were principally to fight only dismounted, and could do so in close order in line of battle, or in skirmish lines, as necessary.

The mounted infantry, acting with the cavalry, when necessary could form an infantry-line-of-battle to back up the cavalry. For example, at the Battle of Mansfield, Louisiana in 1864, when the Union cavalry formed on the flanks, the mounted infantry units attached formed as infantry to back up their skirmish lines.

From 1880: