"ACW Cavalry horse colours" Topic

In general,were ACW cavalry buglers mounted on gray or bay horses?

Like most ACW cavalry, they were mounted on whatever they could get. Much of the Southern cavalry provided their own mounts, so horses could be any color. If some regimental commander made the effort to mount his buglers on a special color of horse, I am not aware of it.

No indication in the ALabama records of specific color horses for specific regiments especially after 1860.

Their are indications that pre-war militia unit company commanders who outfitted their own units attempted to do so. However these would have been merged at muster depots with other companies of mixed horse colors even in 1861.

Could Officers preferred cetain colors for them and their key personnel such as buglers? yes that is possible but not an entire unit of the same color.

As I recall, the tradition of buglers on greys did not cross the Atlantic, and as noted most cavalry regiments did with what they could – pre-Civil War, the US government was not terribly enthusiastic about keeping up expensive cavalry regiments – there were a grand total of five mounted regiments in the pre-war army, the 1st Mounted Rifles, 1st and 2nd Cavalry and 1st and 2nd Dragoons

So – you are pretty much free to paint horses any colour you would like

Thanks, I'd never seen it mentioned anywhere so I wasn't sure.

While the south used anything available for horses, the Union cav was more selective through out the war, particularly in the East. Unlike the south, The US army set up a centralized procurement system and weeded out undesirable colors and breeds. The system bought over 600,000 horses for the army. The Army preferred and bought horses of the "Morgan" breed. Although, they also bought walkers, throughbreds, etc. if that was all that was available. 4 to 5 years old. They preferred bay (red/brown), black, and chestnut. No paints, etc with gaudy coloring allowed. Solid color preferred, but socks, stars, etc acceptable. Of these they only wanted mares and geldings.

In opposition the southern rider was required to provide their own horse at their own expense. Therefore, they bought what was available, they liked, they could steal, and/or could afford. Their choice.