Importance of Cavalry

[OldBrainsHalleck]

Cavalry seemed to play a large role for both sides in many major battles of the Civil War. A prime example of the effectiveness of cavalry was the impressive defense mounted by Brig. Gen. John Buford's cavalry during the 1st day of the Battle of Gettysburg, which allowed the Union Army to maintain hold of the high ground, which eventually led to a Union victory at Gettysburg. Which battle, or event, involving cavalry in the Civil War is the most impressive, and why?

 

[JOHN42768]

Basically all Cavalry units played important roles. Being able to cover distances quickly, strike and depart before the enemy got their act together. Being the eyes and ears for their commanders gathering troop strength and geographic information allowing battle plans to formatted. Shock and Awe affect the actions of the enemy. Yes, there were some much more capable then others, but doubt any commander not wanting to have a cavalry unit attached.

 

[Billy Yank]

Brandy Station & Yellow Tavern come to mind. Brandy Station for the boost in morale it gave Union Cavalry under Alfred Pleasanton for holding their own against the vaunted Confederate Cavalry under J.E.B. Stuart and Yellow Tavern for the demoralizing effect it had on the Confederacy with the mortal wounding of Stuart.

 

[JerseyBart]

Paging @Eric Wittenberg

 

[leftyhunter]

Cavalry seemed to play a large role for both sides in many major battles of the Civil War. A prime example of the effectiveness of cavalry was the impressive defense mounted by Brig. Gen. John Buford's cavalry during the 1st day of the Battle of Gettysburg, which allowed the Union Army to maintain hold of the high ground, which eventually led to a Union victory at Gettysburg. Which battle, or event, involving cavalry in the Civil War is the most impressive, and why?

Something close to the third of Union regiments spent some or all of their time on counterinsurgency operations. Some Confederate cavalry did as well. I cover this in my thread "Compare and contrast Union vs Confederate counter guerrilla operations". In order to kill guerrillas efficiently one needs cavalry which was true even has recently as the 1980s.
Also cavalry raiders such has John Morgan, Jo Shelby , John Mosby and John McNeill could do real damage to the Union. General Stoneman and especially Colonel George Kirk of the 2nd North Carolina Mounted Infantry Union and the 2nd Florida Cavalry Union could do real damage to the Confederacy. Cavalry if used correctly was an invaluable tool for both sides.
Also Confederate guerrillas such has William Clarke Quantrill and Bloody Bill Anderson used horses to devastating effect against the Union. Unfortunately for Quantrill live by the hose die by the horse.
Leftyhunter

 

[atlantis]

Did the introduction of repeating rifles enhance or diminish the importance of cavalry?.

 

[johan_steele]

Forrest, Hampton & Stuart for the CS and quite frankly Minty, Grierson & Wilson in the west are all good starting points for the study of Cav use during the ACW. But the reality is that neither side really used Cav in the way of the Europe instead using Cav more as either light Cav or mounted infantry.

 

[Specster]

Quarntill and his ilk certainly did damage during the war but for the most part they were not in uniform, and murdered civil woman and children in contravention of war mores. I do not put him or his ilk on a penestal for a second.

For all the abuse Custer has taken over the years, day 3 at Gettysburg may have been much different had not Custer attacked the Confederate Calvary while greatly outnumbered. Custer seems to be currently hated by many but without the boy General, we sould be in poor shape all to often .

po

 

[atlantis]

Forrest, Hampton & Stuart for the CS and quite frankly Minty, Grierson & Wilson in the west are all good starting points for the study of Cav use during the ACW. But the reality is that neither side really used Cav in the way of the Europe instead using Cav more as either light Cav or mounted infantry.

Why the difference in how cavalry was employed?

 

[Irishtom29]

Why the difference in how cavalry was employed?

It might as simple as Americans preferring shooting guns (and often dismounting the better to do so) to the thrust and cut with steel.

 

[leftyhunter]

Did the introduction of repeating rifles enhance or diminish the importance of cavalry?.

It means cavalry charges may not be a great technique. On the other hand for mounted infantry repeating rifles are a real asset. Colonel Kirk was a major proponent of repeating rifles.
Leftyhunter

 

[johan_steele]

Why the difference in how cavalry was employed?

A lot of it was terrain, an example would be Shiloh or Chickamauga for that matter. Best way I can think to describe it is from a miniature wargamers perspective: in most battlefields you would use green felt or such to indicate forest and the rest of the field would be open fields. For an ACW game on either battlefield you would have to use a felt patch to denote clearings. Really unless you are talking about the west or northwest at the time trees covered the fields of battle and campaign. there just wasn't the room to deploy Cavalry in a traditional European sense which favored lancers and heavy cavalry conducting grand mounted charges. But light Cav used for scouting or mounted infantry used to quickly shift troops where they were needed most was ideal for fighting in the US at the time. The use of the breach loading carbine and later Spencer rifle/carbine allowed light Cav to become excellent mounted infantry.

US Cav facing the various Native American Plains tribes and the tribes of the SW had to be HIGHLY mobile to hope to catch and bring to battle the Lakota, Cheyenne, Kiowa, Comanche, Apache etc which is where light Cav excelled and even then it was pretty difficult as those US Cav boys were facing some of the finest horseman on the planet.

I hope that explains some of my reasoning.

 

[leftyhunter]

Quarntill and his ilk certainly did damage during the war but for the most part they were not in uniform, and murdered civil woman and children in contravention of war mores. I do not put him or his ilk on a penestal for a second.

For all the abuse Custer has taken over the years, day 3 at Gettysburg may have been much different had not Custer attacked the Confederate Calvary while greatly outnumbered. Custer seems to be currently hated by many but without the boy General, we sould be in poor shape all to often .

po

I am not arguing Quantrill was a real sweet kind guy. I am arguing that horses are a real asset for raiders and guerrillas. Horses are also a real asset for counter raiders and counterinsurgency. It most often takes a horse to counter a horse.
Leftyhunter

 

[atlantis]

Thanks guys for the input.
Would autumn of 63 be the high point for CS is cavalry? They are looking pretty ragged by autumn of 64.

 

[Georgia Sixth]

Cavalry seemed to play a large role for both sides in many major battles of the Civil War. A prime example of the effectiveness of cavalry was the impressive defense mounted by Brig. Gen. John Buford's cavalry during the 1st day of the Battle of Gettysburg, which allowed the Union Army to maintain hold of the high ground, which eventually led to a Union victory at Gettysburg. Which battle, or event, involving cavalry in the Civil War is the most impressive, and why?

In my research on my avatar the 6th Georgia Cav., I learned that during the north Georgia campaign of 1864, Wheeler's cavalry repeatedly were used to block Sherman's many flanking maneuvers, forcing the union army to stop and deploy and engage. The horsemen would fight like infantry to buy time for the "legit"CSA infantry units to show up. In a several of the engagements in that campaign, the shooting began with CS cavalry in combat with US infantry.

 

[leftyhunter]

In my research on my avatar the 6th Georgia Cav., I learned that during the north Georgia campaign of 1864, Wheeler's cavalry repeatedly were used to block Sherman's many flanking maneuvers, forcing the union army to stop and deploy and engage. The horsemen would fight like infantry to buy time for the "legit"CSA infantry units to show up. In a several of the engagements in that campaign, the shooting began with CS cavalry in combat with US infantry.

I am not to familiar with Wheeler' cavalry opposing Sherman's march through Georgia. Didn't Sherman have some cavalry escort such has the 1st Alabama Cavalry Union? How well did Union Cavalry do against Wheeler?
Leftyhunter

 

[E_just_E]

I think that the importance of cavalry is overstated. Cavalry was mainly used for raids and destructive operations

 

[Drew]

I am not to familiar with Wheeler' cavalry opposing Sherman's march through Georgia. Didn't Sherman have some cavalry escort such has the 1st Alabama Cavalry Union? How well did Union Cavalry do against Wheeler?
Leftyhunter

Wheeler's cavalry opposed Sherman in Georgia, to be sure. In fact, there were probably enough Confederate forces there to have successfully repulsed Sherman. The problem was command break down, too many cooks in the kitchen. That's ultimately Jeff Davis' fault.

 

[Drew]

I think that the importance of cavalry is overstated. Cavalry was mainly used for raids and destructive operations

Reconnaissance. You've got to know where your adversary is and what he's up to. This has got to be communicated to Army commanders. Cavalry in the Civil War was very important.

 

[unicornforge]

Cavalry was also used for screening... that is trying to hide what the rest of the army was doing from the enemy. ..... Grant also had to go through the Wilderness because Mosby would have otherwise attacked his supply line and otherwise harassed his army. (according to my understanding of what was said in the book: "A Civil War Treasury" by Nofi)