Old Contemptible  | 03 Jul 2024 11:57 p.m. PST |
Top five from this list and any I might have left out. Turner Ashby William W. Averell John Buford Louis Henry Carpenter Philip St. George Cooke George Armstrong Custer Ulric Dahlgren Elon J. Farnsworth Nathan Bedford Forrest Lot Smith David McM. Gregg Benjamin Grierson Wade Hampton John D. Imboden Jesse James Frank James Albert G. Jenkins William E. "Grumble" Jones Judson Kilpatrick Fitzhugh Lee W.H.F. "Rooney" Lee Lot Smith John S. Marmaduke Wesley Merritt John Hunt Morgan John S. Mosby John Pelham Alfred Pleasonton William Quantrill Beverly Robertson Thomas L. Rosser Joseph O. "Jo" Shelby Philip Sheridan David S. Stanley George Stoneman J.E.B. Stuart Alfred Thomas Torbert Earl Van Dorn John A. Wharton Joseph Wheeler James H. Wilson Cole Younger |
Murvihill | 04 Jul 2024 3:21 a.m. PST |
Not sure I could name the top five, but I'd have to give the win to Nathan Bedford Forrest. Kind of bittersweet, because in the end all he did was extend the misery. |
35thOVI  | 04 Jul 2024 4:36 a.m. PST |
🤔 Murvihill, would have to agree. He could lead all aspects. But not an easy man to get along with and have as a subordinate. |
Frederick  | 04 Jul 2024 5:27 a.m. PST |
Tough to name top five but Stuart, Mosby, Forrest and Hampton spring to mind – and Buford if for no other reason than his central importance in determining where and how Gettysburg was fought As a note, Kilpatrick's troopers called him "Killcavalry" for a reason |
donlowry | 04 Jul 2024 7:30 a.m. PST |
For leading a raid, countering an enemy raid, or actually fighting in a battle, you couldn't beat Forrest. He was not so great, however, in serving as the eyes and ears of his army. Stuart was better at that. For a good, all-round, very reliable, unspectacular cavalry commander, it would hard to beat Gregg. If you want all that plus spectacular, go with Custer. |
Grattan54  | 04 Jul 2024 9:09 a.m. PST |
Forrest Morgan Wheeler Wilson Sheridan Jesse and Frank James were not cavalry leaders. They rode with Quantrill and Anderson but never commanded. Plus, they were guerilla fighters not cavalry. |
TimePortal | 04 Jul 2024 10:22 a.m. PST |
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smithsco | 04 Jul 2024 2:17 p.m. PST |
Forrest, Mosby, Grierson, Buford (he was always good but Gettysburg is too important to leave him off), and Sheridan. Stuart is overrated. |
robert piepenbrink  | 04 Jul 2024 2:24 p.m. PST |
Stuart, Hampton, Forrest, Custer, Buford. But a very different five might be just as defensible. |
TimePortal | 04 Jul 2024 7:15 p.m. PST |
My list was primarily CSA since they did more with less resources. Wilson was a raider in Alabama who operated without support from Sherman. |
HMS Exeter | 05 Jul 2024 1:07 a.m. PST |
Does ACW "Cavalry" really meet the definition? I had always operated under the sense that it fit more under "mounted infantry." Not wanting to set of a row or flame war, but I don't think European experts of that day would consider them cavalry, in the purest sense. |
Bill N | 05 Jul 2024 4:05 a.m. PST |
Yes ACW cavalry does meet the definition. The better question might be whether some of those were leaders of cavalry specifically v leaders of mounted troops generally. To my mind Wade Hampton was the best "cavalry" commander in the Confederate army. For "mounted troops generally", no question it is Forrest. Ashby, a sentimental favorite, doesn't last long enough. On the U.S. side, Buford for either. My match thrown on gasoline: I don't see Sheridan as a great commander of mounted troops. His successes in the Valley were as commander of an army composed primarily of infantry. |
Cleburne1863 | 05 Jul 2024 4:11 a.m. PST |
Sure are a lot of nobodys on this list to choose from. |
cavcrazy | 05 Jul 2024 5:37 a.m. PST |
George Armstrong Custer was the best cavalry commander in the Civil War, from beginning to end. |
35thOVI  | 05 Jul 2024 9:27 a.m. PST |
Still go #1 with Forrest. Hampton was as said, good with cavalry. For the North, seems almost like a draw between, Buford, Gregg, Wilson and Custer, (depends on the scenario of what you wanted to accomplish). Mosby, Morgan and those like them, were more raiders. Although good at what they did. Stuart, I can't put up there. His successes were more when Union Cavalry was at best, poor. He deteriorated as a war progressed and Union cavalry became better. Reminds me a lot of Prince Rupert. Would have been interesting to see how Farnsworth would have turned out, if "Kill Cavalry" had not stupidly wasted his life and others at Gettysburg. But like everyone else, only opinion. 🙂 |
doc mcb | 05 Jul 2024 1:07 p.m. PST |
Wilson very nearly got his division wiped out on the Southside Raid. By Hampton. And Custer nearly had his last stand at Travilian Station. |
TimePortal | 05 Jul 2024 1:17 p.m. PST |
I have read several late 1800s books on Sheridan. IMHO, many felt that Sheridan got the cavalry commander label from the Indian Wars, not ACW. |
cavcrazy | 05 Jul 2024 2:31 p.m. PST |
GAC was the first Union commander to capture a Confederate battle flag. Custer actually captured more battle flags, more supply wagons, and more prisoners and artillery than anyone else. Was he impulsive and brash? Most definitely, but all great cavalry commanders were. He would have been spectacular in the Grande Armee |
cavcrazy | 05 Jul 2024 2:34 p.m. PST |
Let's not forget that the table that Lee signed the Confederate surrender on was sent to Elizabeth Custer with a note saying, "That no one man was more responsible for the outcome of this war than your gallant husband." |
Cleburne1863 | 05 Jul 2024 5:02 p.m. PST |
Custer Hampton Buford Forrest William "Red" Jackson |
Tortorella  | 06 Jul 2024 6:45 p.m. PST |
Hampton, Buford, Grierson, Mosby, Morgan – I am fond of the raiders, Grierson was both a good commander and famous for his raid. |
marmont1814  | 07 Jul 2024 3:02 a.m. PST |
Nathan Bedford Forrest without a doubt |
DJCoaltrain | 22 Jul 2024 6:14 p.m. PST |
Forrest was a spectacular pain in the butt for the North. Buford's decisions and performance at Gettysburg – legendary. Custer & Stuart bold, reckless, and heirs of Murat's spirit. Gregg & Hampton as solid unadorned backstops. |