"Dismounted cavalry fighting as infantry." Topic

I have too many Confederate dismounted cavalry to use as "conventional" dismounted cavalry. As suggested in my previous thread/question I could use them as an infantry unit formed of horseless cavalry.

Did such cavalry fighting as infantry retain their swords?

I doubt it. I don't think I'd want a sabre banging off my legs while trying to move at speeds meant for an infantryman. Be a heavy thing to be toting around if you didn't need it/ couldn't really use the thing effectively.

Working from memory here, but my readings of "de-horsed" CSA cavalry units in the Western theaters indicated a general conversion to infantry longarms and equipment as soon as practicable. I got the impression that quality breechloading and repeating carbines were often retained, typically as a minority of the unit's armament. Swords are right out, as per Gallowglass' comments.

When modeling said units for the table top, I mix dismounted cavalry figures with infantry figures in very light order. The presence of carbine armed figures not only distinguishes the unit, but can reflect either an incomplete reequippage or a purposeful retention.

Cavalry fighting dismounted for any length of time would almost certainly not carry sabers – way too much trouble carrying them around – certainly, when the Union command put Wilder's brigade onto horses, one piece of cavalry equipment that most troopers did not get were sabers!

I agree with mon ami perdu – a mix of dismounted cav plus infantry would be very appropriate – I actually have one such unit, including chap with a shotgun!

Thank you everyone. Now I have to figure out how to remove the sabres from the figures.

I doubt that many MOUNTED Confederate cavalry had swords either.

Many ACW castings with sabres can have them removed pretty easily with little damage to figures or fingers if you CAREFULLY use very sharp blades and have some good files to clean up the sharp cuts. Some other castings are much harder to convert. Hope you have the easier ones!