"Forrest and Wilson: The development of cavalry in the ACW" Topic

"By the nineteenth century, war in Europe had evolved into an affair of close-order infantry armed with muskets, field artillery, and several types of cavalry. At this time, there were essentially three types of mounted troops – heavy cavalry, light cavalry, and Dragoons. They were called upon to accomplish a variety of tasks, ranging from reconnaissance to charging infantry. The basic role of cavalry in European armies was scouting, screening, pursuit, and so on, serving as adjuncts and supports to the infantry and artillery.

The heavy cavalry main role however, was to be a strike force that could play a significant role in battle had the function of being shock troops. Composed of big men on powerful horses, usually wearing metal helmets and body armor, their prime tactical function was the massed charge against enemy infantry, a tactic that worked well in the open plains of Europe against the weaponry of the day. However, the advent of rapid advances in weapons technologies began to make the standard cavalry techniques obsolete and deadly. The new rifled artillery barrels and projectiles gave them longer and more accurate effective ranges, making mounted formations easy targets. More effective firearms had slowly reduced heavy cavalry’s role, and saw its role reduced to screening infantry movements, scouting the enemy, and occasionally raiding deep into enemy territory to disrupt lines of supply and communication. This was indeed, the situation at the outbreak of the American Civil War….."
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Amicalement
Armand

Interesting with a good bibliography. One of the books quoted, Yankee Blitzkrieg, led to two newer books on Wilson's Alabama-Georgia campaign, Wilson's Cavalry Corps and Wilson's Raid. All three are available on Amazon as $10 USD Kindle editions.

Jim

Glad you enjoyed it my friend!.

Amicalement
Armand

I've read Yankee Blitzkrieg. Good book.

Thanks!.

Amicalement
Armand